Symbolism & The House on Mango Street

Something that stands for something else
Is a symbol. We see them all around.
Some are universal; everybody knows ’em.
Hearts means love, skull and crossbones: poison.
When we read, there’s a lot more context,
And every story has brand new content.
So the same thing can have multiple meanings,
Like rain can mean sadness or mean new beginnings.
But symbols aren’t just metaphors;
Not a simple comparison, they need more.
A metaphor says her tears were raindrops.
If rain’s a symbol, we’ll see a storm in the plot.
And authors use symbols on purpose
To make their writing go way beneath the surface.
Analyze images that repeat.
Motifs tell you something ’bout the mood and the theme.

There may be something underneath
The surface of words as you read.
Don’t be shallow. You must go deep
To uncover some hidden themes.
And you should know
That anything could be a key symbol,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, symbolism.

Here’s a book, House on Mango Street,
Full of symbolism, bursting at the seams.
Houses, shoes and hair all repeat
To build themes about Chicana identity and American dreams.
Let’s take a deeper look at houses.
Esperanza says, the house here is ours,
But it’s not the house we thought that we’d get.
“Windows so small you’d think they’re holding their breath.”
No front yard, no stairs,
Tiny bedrooms that have to be shared.
It wasn’t quite what her parents had hoped for.
One day, she’ll have a different house with so much more.
The house represents poverty
And unfulfilled dreams on Mango Street.
It’s their own, but not much to see.
The house isn’t just a house; a theme’s underneath.

There may be something underneath
The surface of words as you read.
Don’t be shallow. You must go deep
To uncover some hidden themes.
And you should know
That anything could be a key symbol,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, symbolism.