"The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros is a novel that masterfully employs personification to convey the protagonist's complex relationship with her surroundings, particularly the house on Mango Street itself. The personification in the novel serves as a literary device to give human characteristics to inanimate objects, allowing the reader to understand the emotional and psychological impact of the house on the protagonist, Esperanza.
Through personification, the house becomes a silent witness and participant in Esperanza's coming-of-age journey. It takes on qualities of both refuge and confinement, reflecting the conflicting emotions she experiences. For instance, when Esperanza states, "The house would be white with trees around it, a great big yard and grass growing without a fence," she is not just describing a physical structure but also projecting her dreams and aspirations onto the house. The personification helps to illustrate how the house is entwined with Esperanza's identity and yearnings for a better life.
Conversely, when she remarks that the house "is not the way they told it at all," personification serves to emphasize the disappointment and disillusionment she feels. The house, with its worn and shabby appearance, becomes a symbol of societal limitations and expectations placed upon her.
In essence, personification in "The House on Mango Street" serves as a powerful tool to illuminate the emotional depth of Esperanza's connection to her home, portraying it not merely as a physical space but as a reflection of her dreams, struggles, and aspirations in the context of her cultural and social environment.