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This quotation is significant because it shows Esperanza's fear of not being able to define herself, as she is afraid of inheriting what society places upon her. Specifically, she is afraid of the limitations her ethnicity will have on her, Esperanza does not want to be a product of Mango Street. She wants to create her own identity, breaking the boundaries society has placed upon her.
The Matrix scene demonstrates this very well, illuminating the implications of fate and destiny. Esperanza wants to be in control of her life, something which she fears she will not have.
successful writer.
Esperanza Esperanza and Esperanza’s an illusion. The underdog commercial by Versus shows how Esperanza will fight with passion to create a better self, despite her unfavorable odds.
Gender plays a huge role in this story because of how Mexican men are dominant over Mexican women. Once the women get married, they’re supposed to stay home and serve their husbands. The thought of this life scares Esperanza and in a way motivates her to concentrate on her writing in order to go far in life. The Shutter Island clip gives a sense of being trapped and not being able to escape, and this is the feeling Esperanza gets when she thinks about her possible future if she doesn’t make a name out of herself. Also, the picture of the chandelier with a woman standing alone trying to look the curtains, enhances the idea of how Esperanza was described as a chandelier. Being compared a chandelier, Esperanza is portrayed as an ornament for a man. Husbands usually keep this special ornament in the house so no other man can touch it. Esperanza does not wish to be taken away as if someone was trying to make her their “chandelier”.
The passage chosen above is very significant regarding the novel The House on Mango Street because it captivates the aspirations of the main character Esperanza. Her aspirations are portrayed throughout the book. Also, this passage addresses three issues such as identity, gender and the American Dream. These three issues serve as themes throughout the novel.

House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros
MY NAME
Until my great-grandmothergreat-grandfather threw a
And the story goes she never forgave him. She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow. I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she couldn't be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza. I have inherited her name, but I don't want to inherit her place by the window.
At school they say my name funny, as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth. But in Spanish my name is made of a softer something, like silver, not quite as thick as my sister's name -- Magdalena -- which is uglier than mine. Magdalena who at least can come home and become Nenny. But I am always Esperanza.
I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees. Esperanza as Lisandra or Maritza or Zeze the X. Yes. Something like Zeze the X will do" (11).
the novel progress though,progresses through, Esperanza realizes it shows EsperanzaEsperanza's fear of
The Matrix scene demonstrates this very well, illuminating the implications of fate and destiny. Esperanza wants to be in control of her life, something which she fears she will not have.
Identity is a significant theme in The House on Mango Street. In the sentence “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees.” Esperanza expresses her feelings towards wanting to “baptize” herself under a new name, as in she wants to make something of herself. The “It’s Not About the Shoes” clip relates to how Esperanza wants to work hard and go far in life because “it’s not about the shoes, its about what you do in them”. She doesn’t want to be like her grandma who didn’t make a name for herself. Esperanza wants to be who she was “born to be”, she wants to be a successful writer.

http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/images/portraits/geneYang350.jpg
Interview with Gene Yang: http://www.kartikareview.com/issue1/1gene.html
Gene Luen Yang reinforces the struggles caused by negative cultural stereotypes that ultimately influences Jin to reject his own culture, as shown by the excerpt (p. 193-194) from his graphic novel American Born Chinese.Jin is a young Chinese boy struggling in American society and wants to change every unique trait associated with the Chinese culture, in order to rid himself of the stereotypes and become, in his eyes, a normal American teenager. The significance of this excerpt is to show how Jin believes that by physical changes, one can rid of a race, an ethnicity, and even an Identity. This scene focuses on the plot of graphic novel, in discovering the American Identity while achieving the American Dream.
Jin is depicted to as a yellow skin, black eyes, curly black hair, and flat nose Chinese American, who really does not want to identify himself as being Chinese. In the link to Jessie J’s “Who You Are” song, she sings about staying true to who you are because that is a unique identity associated with race and ethnicity. She sings “the more I try the less it’s working” because it is hard for Jin to be someone he’s not especially when he cannot hide his cousin Chin-Kee’ during his annual visit. Her lyrics include not losing “who you are in the blur” and “seeing is deceiving”. Jin needs to embrace who he is rather than cover his identity up, because he is only deceiving himself. Furthermore, “brushing my hair, do I look perfect?” reflects on how Jin wanted to have curly hair to resemble an American boy named Greg (97). This song illustrates how race and ethnicity can influence an individual’s identity, which is what Jin struggles to realize until the end of the novel.
Overnight, Jin transforms to Danny, a white skin, blonde spiky hair, tall nose, blue eyes all-American teenager who plays basketball (194). The link is an interview of a Chinese – American Rapper named Jin and his album “ABC”. ABC has two definitions. One is a compliment for Chinese people who are very knowledgeable about America's culture, and the other is an insult to those Chinese who have lost their cultural pride. Jin (rapper) says in the interview, “At any given moment, I’m both… Both of those are part of my Identity”. Jin is referring to being Chinese and American at the same time because it’s impossible to separate the two. In the song, he admits to knowing all about America, while still knowing a lot about his cultural background. Especially through the video’s visual aids, such as his father, Chinese architecture, and Chinese lanterns (a very big symbol used all over China), Danny can learn from this and express himself as the combination of both cultures, as depicted by the middle person (the 4th drawing of Jin’s transition). The significance of this is to show that culture is not singular. Cultures can combined to build an Identity, so that no culture is forgotten.
The reason why Jin transforms is because the Herbalist’s wife told him, “<Now what would you like to become>, which is a link that refers back to an instance (p. 29) in the graphic novel. In this link, she completes the sentence by saying, “<so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul>”. Jin befriends Wei-Chen, his closest friend and someone who was extremely important to Jin, thereby forfeiting his soul. The link is to the movie, “Ghost Rider” a 2007 film that shows a man named Johnny signing a deal with the “devil”. Johnny forfeits his soul in order to achieve his American Dream of becoming the best motorcyclist, similar to how Jin forfeits his soul to become an American boy. The movie link illuminates the graphic excerpt by featuring real-life people and scenes, representing how the American Dream can cause individuals to lose sight of what they are doing. In the end, Johnny is depicted to having a new, fire burning skeleton face, the face of the devil, notably similar to how Jin has the new face of an American boy.
The Herbalist’s wife has her own particular stance in the graphic novel; she symbolizes the devil. Gene Yang illustrates her in a large panel, depicting that she is very important to this scene. She is linked to a vodka full martini glass with chili peppers representing the devil’s horns and the lemon chaser holding the devil’s pitchfork. The significance of the Herbalist’s wife is to present Jin the option of achieving his “American Dream” by forfeiting his soul. This scene implicitly illustrates that Jin has signed off his soul to the devil, and therefore he is able to transform into Danny. A martini devil was used because alcohol drinks are usually taken after a not-so-pleasant event, illuminating how Jin craves to become an American boy because he is tired of getting bullied.
The abacus, although a not so dominant image, belongs to the Herbalist’s wife, as if it is being used to calculate “how much” it’s worth for Jin to become an American boy. The Dodge Charger commercial was used because a vast majority of the beginning shows how much the men are willing to give up to ride in the Dodge Charger, symbolizing how much Jin has to give up. Also, the Dodge Charger is an American brand car, symbolizing what the American men in the commercial and what Jin wants. This commercial irradiates the image of an abacus, asking Jin if it is worth forfeiting his soul for the American Dream (Dodge Charger).
Lastly, the Asian character “change” is drawn in the background, representing the change within Jin. The link associated with this is an image of Gene Yang in the Monkey King costume, as if he used to feel ashamed of his race, just like the Monkey King. In an interview about the graphic novel, he states, “No, I’m still trying to figure out what it means to be Asian American. I think I’ve progressively gotten away from shame in my own culture, although it’s still there.” This shows that Gene Yang has the personal experience of struggling to balance two cultures, without letting one dominate the other. Therefore, he irradiates the word “change” in the novel because he is constantly changing his perspectives to balance the two cultures. In the interview he also says, “There’s a principle in cartooning where you try to capture the essence of something with the fewest number of lines,” showing that change is consistent and is in the hands of the individual.
Through the illuminated excerpt from American Born Chinese, it is shown that the American Identity can interfere with the American Dream. In this graphic novel, Jin is finally able to learn that a balance of two cultures can preserve his race, ethnicity identity and dream.
Discussion Question:
How does the Herbalist’s wife know about forfeiting a soul to become anything Jin may want? Do you think she has forfeited her soul for something?
Why do you think Gene Yang tells his story through 3 different stories? Is there a significance to chopping the story into 3 segments, or do you think it's just a way to entertain the reader?

The Matrix scene demonstrates this very well, illuminating the implications of fate and destiny. Esperanza wants to be in control of her life, something which she fears she will not have.
Identity is a significant theme in The House on Mango Street. In the sentence “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees.” Esperanza expresses her feelings towards wanting to “baptize” herself under a new name, as in she wants to make something of herself. The “It’s Not About the Shoes” clip relates to how Esperanza wants to work hard and go far in life because “it’s not about the shoes, its about what you do in them”. She doesn’t want to be like her grandma who didn’t make a name for herself. Esperanza wants to be who she was “born to be”, she wants to be a successful writer.
a window. GenderHowever, she doesn’t want to get lost while trying to find herself. This idea is shown through the inception clip with how it looks like the stairs never end, but it is merely an illusion.
Gender plays a of herself. Also, the picture of the chandelier with a woman standing alone trying to look the curtains, enhances the idea of how Esperanza was described as a chandelier. Being compared a chandelier, Esperanza is portrayed as an ornament for a man. Husbands usually keep this special ornament in the house so no other man can touch it. Esperanza does not wish to be taken away as if someone was trying to make her their “chandelier”.
The passage chosen above is very significant regarding the novel The House on Mango Street because it captivates the aspirations of the main character Esperanza. Her aspirations are portrayed throughout the book. Also, this passage addresses three issues such as identity, gender and the American Dream. These three issues serve as themes throughout the novel.
Identity is a significant theme in The House on Mango Street. In the sentence “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees.” Esperanza expresses her feelings towards wanting to “baptize” herself under a new name, as in she wants to make something of herself. The “It’s Not About the Shoes” clip relates to how Esperanza wants to work hard and go far in life because “it’s not about the shoes, its about what you do in them”. She doesn’t want to be like her grandma who didn’t make a name for herself. Esperanza wants to be who she was “born to be”, she wants to be a successful writer. However, she doesn’t want to get lost while trying to find herself. This idea is shown through the inception clip with how it looks like the stairs never end, but it is merely an illusion.
Sources of Links:
"chandelier"

The passage chosen above is very significant regarding the novel The House on Mango Street because it captivates the aspirations of the main character Esperanza. Her aspirations are portrayed throughout the book. Also, this passage addresses three issues such as identity, gender and the American Dream. These three issues serve as themes throughout the novel.
Identity is a significant theme in The House on Mango Street. In the sentence “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees.” Esperanza expresses her feelings towards wanting to “baptize” herself under a new name, as in she wants to make something of herself. The “It’s Not About the Shoes” clip relates to how Esperanza wants to work hard and go far in life because “it’s not about the shoes, its about what you do in them”. She doesn’t want to be like her grandma who didn’t make a name for herself. Esperanza wants to be who she was “born to be”, she wants to be a successful writer. However, she doesn’t want to get lost while trying to find herself. This idea is shown through the inception clip with how it looks like the stairs never end, but it is merely an illusion.
Esperanza and Esperanza’s grandmother both have the same name. In the passage it is described of how she does not want to end up with the life her grandmother had which was behind a window. Gender plays a huge role in this story because of how Mexican men are dominant over Mexican women. Once the women get married, they’re supposed to stay home and serve their husbands. The thought of this life scares Esperanza and in a way motivates her to concentrate on her writing in order to go far in life. The Shutter Island clip gives a sense of being trapped and not being able to escape, and this is the feeling Esperanza gets when she thinks about her possible future if she doesn’t make a name out of herself. Also, the picture of the chandelier with a woman standing alone trying to look the curtains, enhances the idea of how Esperanza was described as a chandelier. Being compared the a chandelier, Esperanza is portrayed as an ornament for a man. Husbands usually keep this special ornament in the house so no other man can touch it.
Sources of Links:
"chandelier"

And the story goes she never forgave him. She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow. I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she couldn't be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza. I have inherited her name, but I don't want to inherit her place by the window.
At school they say my name funny, as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth. But in Spanish my name is made of a softer something, like silver, not quite as thick as my sister's name -- Magdalena -- which is uglier than mine. Magdalena who at least can come home and become Nenny. But I am always Esperanza.
will do" (11)(11).
The American dream is a vision that we all strive to achieve, and from the beginning of the novel The House on Mango Street it has a strong grip on Esperanza’s life. She is tormented by the idea that she will become trapped on Mango Street, it a place that is not her own. It is a world that is defined by poverty and deprivation, a world that she wants more from. Initially, Esperanza wants to break free from Mango Street and never return, create her dream somewhere she belongs, a place where she can better belong. As the novel progress though, Esperanza realizes that whether she likes it or not, this place (Mango Street) has become a part of her. This connection with Mango Street drives her to want to make Mango Street a better place for all, for it is only though this betterment will she truly be perceived as the identity she wishes to be.
This quotation is significant because it shows Esperanza fear of not being able to define herself, as she is afraid of inheriting what society places upon her. Specifically, she is afraid of the limitations her ethnicity will have on her, Esperanza does not want to be a product of Mango Street. She wants to create her own identity, breaking the boundaries society has placed upon her.

Identity is a significant theme in The House on Mango Street. In the sentence “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees.” Esperanza expresses her feelings towards wanting to “baptize” herself under a new name, as in she wants to make something of herself. The “It’s Not About the Shoes” clip relates to how Esperanza wants to work hard and go far in life because “it’s not about the shoes, its about what you do in them”. She doesn’t want to be like her grandma who didn’t make a name for herself. Esperanza wants to be who she was “born to be”, she wants to be a successful writer. However, she doesn’t want to get lost while trying to find herself. This idea is shown through the inception clip with how it looks like the stairs never end, but it is merely an illusion.
Esperanza and Esperanza’s grandmother both have the same name. In the passage it is described of how she does not want to end up with the life her grandmother had which was behind a window. Gender plays a huge role in this story because of how Mexican men are dominant over Mexican women. Once the women get married, they’re supposed to stay home and serve their husbands. The thought of this life scares Esperanza and in a way motivates her to concentrate on her writing in order to go far in life. The Shutter Island clip gives a sense of being trapped and not being able to escape, and this is the feeling Esperanza gets when she thinks about her possible future if she doesn’t make a name out of herself. Also, the picture of the chandelier with a woman standing alone trying to look the curtains, enhances the idea of how Esperanza was described as a chandelier. Being compared the a chandelier, Esperanza is portrayed as an ornament for a man. Husbands usually keep this special ornament in the house so no other man can touch it.
Sources of Links:
"chandelier"
http://image1.masterfile.com/em_w/00/63/57/700-00635779w.jpg
"couldn't"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvSD1EAlAUQ
"inherited"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXLOA9ZXDPU&feature=related
"place"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdumGs1qoXM
"name"
http://crediteria.com/images/LifeLock.jpg
"baptize"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u9zzwQ2zO4&feature=related
http://www.masterfile.com/stock-photography/image/700-00635779/Woman-Looking-Out-Hotel-Window-Bellagio-Italy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdumGs1qoXM"the real me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nJLgKvVzY4

At school they say my name funny, as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth. But in Spanish my name is made of a softer something, like silver, not quite as thick as my sister's name -- Magdalena -- which is uglier than mine. Magdalena who at least can come home and become Nenny. But I am always Esperanza.
I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees. Esperanza as Lisandra or Maritza or Zeze the X. Yes. Something like Zeze the X will do" (11)
to be.
This
This quotation is upon her.
The
The Matrix scene not have.
Identity
Identity is a successful writer.
Esperanza and Esperanza’s grandmother both have the same name. In the passage it is described of how she does not want to end up with the life her grandmother had which was behind a window. Gender plays a huge role in this story because of how Mexican men are dominant over Mexican women. Once the women get married, they’re supposed to stay home and serve their husbands. The thought of this life scares Esperanza and in a way motivates her to concentrate on her writing in order to go far in life. The Shutter Island clip gives a sense of being trapped and not being able to escape, and this is the feeling Esperanza gets when she thinks about her possible future if she doesn’t make a name out of herself.
the novel.
Identity is a significant theme in The House on Mango Street. In the sentence “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees.” Esperanza expresses her feelings towards wanting to “baptize” herself under a new name, as in she wants to make something of herself. The “It’s Not About the Shoes” clip relates to how Esperanza wants to work hard and go far in life because “it’s not about the shoes, its about what you do in them”. She doesn’t want to be like her grandma who didn’t make a name for herself. Esperanza wants to be who she was “born to be”, she wants to be a successful writer. However, she doesn’t want to get lost while trying to find herself. This idea is shown through the inception clip with how it looks like the stairs never end, but it is merely an illusion.
Esperanza and Esperanza’s grandmother both have the same name. In the passage it is described of how she does not want to end up with the life her grandmother had which was behind a window. Gender plays a huge role in this story because of how Mexican men are dominant over Mexican women. Once the women get married, they’re supposed to stay home and serve their husbands. The thought of this life scares Esperanza and in a way motivates her to concentrate on her writing in order to go far in life. The Shutter Island clip gives a sense of being trapped and not being able to escape, and this is the feeling Esperanza gets when she thinks about her possible future if she doesn’t make a name out of herself. Also, the picture of the chandelier with a woman standing alone trying to look the curtains, enhances the idea of how Esperanza was described as a chandelier. Being compared the a chandelier, Esperanza is portrayed as an ornament for a man. Husbands usually keep this special ornament in the house so no other man can touch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvSD1EAlAUQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXLOA9ZXDPU&feature=related
http://crediteria.com/images/LifeLock.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u9zzwQ2zO4&feature=related
http://www.masterfile.com/stock-photography/image/700-00635779/Woman-Looking-Out-Hotel-Window-Bellagio-Italy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdumGs1qoXM

House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros
MY NAME
My"My great-grandmother. I
And the story goes she never forgave him. She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow. I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she couldn't be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza. I have inherited her name, but I don't want to inherit her place by the window.
At school they say my name funny, as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth. But in Spanish my name is made of a softer something, like silver, not quite as thick as my sister's name -- Magdalena -- which is uglier than mine. Magdalena who at least can come home and become Nenny. But I am always Esperanza.
X will do" (11)
The American dream is a vision that we all strive to achieve, and from the beginning of the novel The House on Mango Street it has a strong grip on Esperanza’s life. She is tormented by the idea that she will become trapped on Mango Street, it a place that is not her own. It is a world that is defined by poverty and deprivation, a world that she wants more from. Initially, Esperanza wants to break free from Mango Street and never return, create her dream somewhere she belongs, a place where she can better belong. As the novel progress though, Esperanza realizes that whether she likes it or not, this place (Mango Street) has become a part of her. This connection with Mango Street drives her to want to make Mango Street a better place for all, for it is only though this betterment will she truly be perceived as the identity she wishes to be.
This quotation is significant because it shows Esperanza fear of not being able to define herself, as she is afraid of inheriting what society places upon her. Specifically, she is afraid of the limitations her ethnicity will have on her, Esperanza does not want to be a product of Mango Street. She wants to create her own identity, breaking the boundaries society has placed upon her.
The Matrix scene demonstrates this very well, illuminating the implications of fate and destiny. Esperanza wants to be in control of her life, something which she fears she will not have.
Identity is a significant theme in The House on Mango Street. In the sentence “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees.” Esperanza expresses her feelings towards wanting to “baptize” herself under a new name, as in she wants to make something of herself. The “It’s Not About the Shoes” clip relates to how Esperanza wants to work hard and go far in life because “it’s not about the shoes, its about what you do
"chandelier"
"couldn't"
"inherited"
"place"
"name"
"baptize"
"the in them”. She doesn’t want to be like her grandma who didn’t make a name for herself. Esperanza wants to be who she was “born to be”, she wants to be a successful writer.
Esperanza and Esperanza’s grandmother both have the same name. In the passage it is described of how she does not want to end up with the life her grandmother had which was behind a window. Gender plays a huge role in this story because of how Mexican men are dominant over Mexican women. Once the women get married, they’re supposed to stay home and serve their husbands. The thought of this life scares Esperanza and in a way motivates her to concentrate on her writing in order to go far in life. The Shutter Island clip gives a sense of being trapped and not being able to escape, and this is the feeling Esperanza gets when she thinks about her possible future if she doesn’t make a name out of herself.
The passage chosen above is very significant regarding the novel The House on Mango Street because it captivates the aspirations of the main character Esperanza. Her aspirations are portrayed throughout the book. Also, this passage addresses three issues such as identity, gender and the American Dream. These three issues serve as themes throughout the novel.
Identity is a significant theme in The House on Mango Street. In the sentence “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me"me, the one nobody sees.” Esperanza expresses her feelings towards wanting to “baptize” herself under a new name, as in she wants to make something of herself. The “It’s Not About the Shoes” clip relates to how Esperanza wants to work hard and go far in life because “it’s not about the shoes, its about what you do in them”. She doesn’t want to be like her grandma who didn’t make a name for herself. Esperanza wants to be who she was “born to be”, she wants to be a successful writer. However, she doesn’t want to get lost while trying to find herself. This idea is shown through the inception clip with how it looks like the stairs never end, but it is merely an illusion.
Esperanza and Esperanza’s grandmother both have the same name. In the passage it is described of how she does not want to end up with the life her grandmother had which was behind a window. Gender plays a huge role in this story because of how Mexican men are dominant over Mexican women. Once the women get married, they’re supposed to stay home and serve their husbands. The thought of this life scares Esperanza and in a way motivates her to concentrate on her writing in order to go far in life. The Shutter Island clip gives a sense of being trapped and not being able to escape, and this is the feeling Esperanza gets when she thinks about her possible future if she doesn’t make a name out of herself. Also, the picture of the chandelier with a woman standing alone trying to look the curtains, enhances the idea of how Esperanza was described as a chandelier. Being compared the a chandelier, Esperanza is portrayed as an ornament for a man. Husbands usually keep this special ornament in the house so no other man can touch it.