Esperanza describes the qualities and parts of her ideal house: picturesque, not belonging to a man, flowers in front, a porch, and her shoes beside the bed. She describes the house as safe and full of potential, “clean as paper before the poem.” Esperanza starts to mature and gain confidence throughout the book. Esperanza's maturity starts to show in this following passage “A boy held me once so hard, I swear, I felt the grip and weight of his arms, but it was a dream” (73). This quote shows Esperanza maturing. In the beginning of this novella, Esperanza starts out not liking boys, but now she is dreaming about a boy kissing her. This is one example of Esperanza starting to mature. However, there are many more examples of Esperanza starting to mature and gain confidence. Esperanza's confidence and maturity shows in this following quote “Everything is holding its breath inside me. Everything is waiting to explode like Christmas. I want to be all new and shiny. I want to sit out bad at night, a boy around my next and the win under my skirt” (73). This quote shows how Esperanza is starting to mature and gain confidence. Esperanza's is now having fantasies about a boy and comparing it to Christmas. Esperanza is maturing and gaining confidence. Esperanza starts to flirt with guys and cares less about her name and poverty. Esperanza is very confident and mature and starts to mature into a young women.
Couldn't answer the last. Sorry:\