An Analysis Of The House On Mango Street From Postcolonial Feminism

The theme in most of Sandra Cisneros’ novels focuses on the growing experience ofethnic minority women, collision and blending of different cultures, and construction ofhybrid identity. The House on Mango Street is narrated in the eyes of an adolescentMexican girl in America—Esperanza. The dilapidated and narrow Mango Street inChicago is the home that Esperanza would like to rely on and is eager to abandon. Thehumble surroundings and unfortunate fate of girls on the Mango Street triggerEsperanza’s observation and consideration on immigrant life. Although Cisneros’ worksare not really masterpieces, but develop a style of her own in reflecting Mexican ethnicgroups in the United States, especially the contemporary lives and collectivepsychological state of Mexican women, contributing to postcolonial feminist literature.This thesis, from the postcolonial feminism standpoint, discusses the confusion facedby Mexican American women in pursuit of self-identity, who, at the same time, areconfronted cultural collision and integration, and trapped in alienation status of tripleedge: double race, low social status and discriminated women. By comparative analysisof differences and similarities of Mexican American women literature and white womenliterature, as well as the three female cultural prototypes in Mexican culture, it sets up thenew and correct image of ethnic woman—Esperanza in contemporary American societyin order to resist mainstream cultural assimilation policy, and find better living anddevelopment for Mexican immigrants.This thesis consists of an introduction, a main body and a conclusion. Its maincontent is as follows:The first part is the introduction, which firstly makes a brief introduction to SandraCisneros and her works, followed by a simple presentation of The House on MangoStreet and its praise and evaluation, then states the research over it at home and abroad,finally points out the subject and significance of this thesis.The second part is the main body, which is made up of three chapters:Chapter I is the theoretical framework, which mainly introduces the postcolonialfeminist theory. Postcolonialism and feminism are two representatives of “discourses of minority” in the western academic circles, and object to specific oppression. Naturalcombination of both constitutes postcolonial feminism, criticizing western hegemony,and fighting for equal status and power of women in the third world, then to seek toestablish a theoretical model and interpretation strategy adapted to the women of the thirdworld. The works which Sandra Cisneros creats are deeply affected by postcolonialism.The ethnic minorities in foreign land have to face the cultural infiltration and aggression.In such context, the Mexican American are confronted with internal and externalproblems in the race: inside, under the oppression from the patriarchal society; outside,thrown into low socio-economic status, and not escaping from ethnic discrimination andoppression of white society.Chapter II provides a detailed analysis of postcolonial issues in The House on MangoStreet. Due to the history of aggression, geographic proximity and the same blood,Mexican Americans cherish the Mexican tradition and culture. Mexican immigrants livein the confounding and contradictory state, influenced by aggression and penetration ofAmerican culture, economy and politics. This chapter is divided into three sections: thefirst one briefly describes the Mexicans’ immigration history in the United States territory,especially contemporary Mexican Americans’ life and psychological status. The secondone discusses that Mexican American women lose their identity in the cultural hybridityand collision. The third one explains that Mexican American women reshape themulti-cultural identity overcoming the colonial ambivalence and adversity. Then, itcomes up with an idea that the main character, Esperanza, is the epitome of SandraCisneros, leading to the feminism discussion in the next chapter.Chapter III focuses on the feminist issues in The House on Mango Street. The firstsection firstly gives an account of female cultural prototypes in Mexican culture, whichrefer to the Virgin of Guadalupe signifying the reconstruction of female religiouspedigree, La Malinche symbolizing the creator of mixed race, and La Llorona,representing the woman warrior seeking new life. It is followed by illustrating the trueidentity of those three characters subverted by patriarchal society, and pointing out thepolitical motives behind the construction of a patriarchal culture. Then, it notes women’stragedy in a male-dominated society through destruction of the binary oppositionbetween two female images—the Virgin of Guadalupe and La Malinche. Next, it establishes a new and positive female image—Esperanza. The second section finds theway out for Mexican American women through comparative analysis of AmericanMexican women and white women literature, that is, emphasizing the importance oflearning from the female characters such as Esperanza who acts as a bridge joiningdifferent cultures, and successfully builds living space of freedom. Hybridity promotedby the survival space provides powerful weapons against mainstream culturalassimilation policy in the multicultural era.The last part is the conclusion, which makes a summary of the preceding analysis,and repoints out the main purpose of this thesis. Through The House on Mango Street, wecan see Mexican American women’s alienation status of triple edge: double race, lowsocial status and discriminated women. Due to conflicting values, they sink into binaryopposition struggles. Esperanza’s growing experience, and her pursuit and realization ofpersonal identity provide reference for all ethnic groups in a multicultural society, such asin the American “salad bowl”. Mexican women spread ethnic experience into the ethnicdiscourse of the mainstream society, open the door to reconstruct the inclusive space, alsoprovide us with a wider perspective of understanding other ethnic minorities and femalesurvival status. Thus, we can have a better understanding of current diverse society andpost-colonial world.