Characters in The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Essay Example

Sandra Cisneros uses family relationships to develop the plot and characters to add conflicting events and ideas to The House on Mango Street. She makes you sympathize with the characters through characterization and themes set up to make you feel for those characters.

Although Sandra Cisneros uses these themes throughout the book, (as a reader) there are various moments throughout that carry more impact than others.

Secondary characters. A secondary characters whole purpose is to enhance the readers understanding of the main character. Such as sally. Sallys whole character is to enhance conflict and help us get a more in depth understanding of Esperanza's actions morally. Sally appears 2/3 ways into the book, but the emotional impact she leaves on us, and characters enhances the parts of the book she is in; Sally effects Ezperanza's actions emotionally and physically.

Additionally, it helps the main character grow and develop. Throughout the book, we don’t see much growth due to a lack of other secondary characters to intrigue and entice the reader (thus, the entry of sally) and have the opportunity to create a characterizing conflict in the story, characters that can change a characters actions in the future.

Finally, it helps move-foreword the plot, and creates more meaningful situations to the reader. The introductory chapters used little to no characterization, whereas later chapters had an ongoing story, from characters such as sally. Additionally, these inserted characters create conflict for our main character to learn from, emotionally, and mentally. Whether it be verbally, or physically. 

In conclusion, the secondary characters can not only support the main character in creating conflict and uncertainty, but they can play a much more major role to the story as a whole.