Question

1. consider the first line of this essay: i became a writer thanks to a mother who was unhappy being a mother. why might cisneros say she “became a writer” thanks to her mother “who was unhappy being a mother”? what do you think she learned from her mothers experience? challenge: use a direct quote from the house on mango street in your answer. 2. reread these lines from the essay: - she was a prisoner - of - war mother banging on the bars of her cell all her life. - sick and tired, miserable, mother raged and paced her cell. how are these lines reflected in esperanzas words on p. 88? i have decided not to grow up tame like the others who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain. 3. consider this moment in the essay: for me, the library was a wonderful house. a house of ideas, a house of silence. why might cisneros have called the library a “house”? what might the library symbolize to cisneros?

Explanation:

1. Cisneros may have become a writer due to her mother's unhappiness as it inspired her to seek a different life and express her thoughts. From her mother's experience, she likely learned the importance of independence and self - expression. A quote from The House on Mango Street could be "I wanted to be everyone, famous, a star, the girl in the movies." This shows her desire to break free from the limitations she saw in her mother's life.
2. The lines about the mother being a "prisoner - of - war" reflect Esperanza's determination not to be submissive. Just as the mother was trapped and frustrated, Esperanza refuses to be tamed and wait passively for a life that restricts her, as shown in her statement about not growing up tame.
3. Cisneros called the library a "house" perhaps because it was a place of comfort and security, much like a home. It symbolizes a place of ideas and silence, a refuge from the outside world where she could explore her thoughts and imagination.

Answer:

1. Cisneros was inspired by her mother's unhappiness to seek self - expression through writing. She learned about the need for independence. Quote: "I wanted to be everyone, famous, a star, the girl in the movies."
2. The mother's trapped state is reflected in Esperanza's resolve not to be submissive.
3. The library is called a "house" as it is a place of comfort and symbolizes a haven of ideas and silence.