Final answer:
Esperanza and her friends wearing high heels symbolizes their fleeting encounter with adulthood and empowerment, which is quickly replaced with discomfort and a rush back to the innocence of childhood.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Esperanza and her friends wear high heels in Sandra Cisneros's novel The House on Mango Street, it represents a brief moment of empowerment and adulthood. The girls, who are not yet adults, get a taste of what it's like to be viewed as mature and desirable. However, they also face unwanted attention and harassment, forcing them to realize that they are not prepared for the responsibilities and potential dangers of adulthood. Eventually, they decide to discard the shoes, symbolizing their return to childhood and an implicit desire to delay the onset of maturity.
Learn more about Esperanza's Experience with High Heels