Abstract: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros reflects the hard growing experience of an ethnic girl in an alienating and hostile American mainstream world. This article aims to interpret The House on Mango Street from the point of Esperanza’s recognition of self-identity to help readers have a more comprehensive understanding of the growing experience of the ethnic women. The paper falls into three parts, which first introduces Sandra Cisneros and The House on Mango Street, and then analyses the heroine’s recognition of self-identity. By analyzing the process from the aspects of the different kinds of setbacks, both positive and negative guides and the development of Esperanza’s understanding of the “House” in the novel, the paper explores both the great significance and importance of the dependence of women in the novel.

Key words: The House on Mango Street; Esperanza; self-identity

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to Sandra Cisneros

1.2 Introduction to The House on Mango Street

2. Analysis of Esperanza′s Recognition of Self-identity in The House on Mango Street-2

2.1 Setbacks in Esperanza′s Recognition of Self-identity

2.1.1 Racial Discrimination

2.1.2 Sexual Discrimination

2.2 The Initiation Guides in Esperanza's Recognition of Self-identity

2.2.1 Positive Guides

2.2.2 Negative Guides

2.3 The Development of Esperanza’s Recognition of Self-identity

2.3.1 The Development of the Self-independence

2.3.2 The Recognition of the “House” in The House on Mango Street

3. Conclusion-8

Bibliography.

Acknowledgements