dentity and dreams of the home that she believes will make her happy, she does not realize that it all lies within herself. She will not find it until she looks inside to see that her identity is not what she has; it is who she is. A motivated Chicana who loves to write, Esperanza finds herself in the neighborhood which she dislikes. Mango Street is her home for now, and its essence effects her personality despite what she may want. Just as Esperanza says in closing, “Mango says goodbye sometimes. She does not hold me with both arms. She sets me free” (134). Although Esperanza is constantly reaffirming that she wants to move away from Mango Street, we know by the end novel that she will one day return to help those who will not have the opportunities Esperanza has had in her life. Indeed, in the closing pages Esperanza admits that she cannot escape Mango Street. She can never again call it home, but it has influenced her dreams, formed her personality, and she has learned valuable life lessons from its inhabitants. That is why, explains Esperanza, she tells stories about the house on Mango Street, revealing the beauty amidst dirty streets and unveiling her true inner self, the peace of knowing that her “home is where her heart is.” ...
