Making Dreams a Reality

"No, this isn't my house I say and shake my head as if shaking could undo the year I've lived here. I don't belong. I don't ever want to come from here... 

No, Alicia says. Like it or not, you are Mango Street, and one day you'll come back too" (Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street, pg. 105).

Esperanza dreams of a different life for herself, of owning her own nice house, of being more beautiful, of having a best friend, of living somewhere far away from Mango Street. Through her experiences and the people she encounters, Esperanza learns she cannot change who she is or where she comes from, but she can take control over the outcome of her life.

This quoted passage reminded me of a devotional I attended. The speaker claimed that the key to happiness is focusing on what is within our control, while the key to being miserable is dwelling on that which is outside of our control. For example, someone who doesn't like the shape of their nose could dwell on this feature. Or, they could try to maintain a clean and presentable appearance. In my relationships with friends and family members, I could think about how I want someone else to change. Or, I could focus on changing my own behavior and outlook to avoid problems and strengthen these relationships.

After thinking about this devotional, I could see this idea woven throughout the novel. Esperanza meets many people who dream of a reality different from the one they know. Some of her neighbors focus on things outside their control. Marin is waiting for a man to marry her and take her off to live in a big house. Rafaela "dreams her hair is like Rapunzel's" (79). Esperanza's Mama dreams of winning the lottery and buying all the things they've ever wanted.

On the other hand, Esperanza learns from the examples of those who do all in their power to make their dreams a reality, by focusing on what is within their control. Her friend Alicia "is young and smart and studies for the first time at the university. Two trains and a bus, because she doesn't want to spend her whole life in a factory or behind a rolling pin" (32). Alicia understands that we can't change some circumstances, but that we will achieve the most in life if we accept this and continually strive to improve in the ways we are able.