Every girl dreams to be beautiful one day. No matter how immature she is, she will finally understand her beauty and her sexuality. When the girl finds that out, she will utilize her sexuality somehow to pursue what she wants. In Sandra Cisneross The House on Mango Street, girls in those days are not as free as we nowadays. Moreover, their lives are miserable. Some of these girls are beaten frequently and some of these girls are restricted from what they want to do. Although they try very hard to control their own lives, their lives are still controlled by the men around them. Its like their destinies, decided when they were born. When these girls become old enough, they find out about their sexuality. They find out that they can use their sexualities to escape from their current lives. They want to escape from the restrictions and violence. Sexuality seems provide a path for women to escape from their dismal powerless lives and pursue their own dreams; however, sexuality doesnt bring power and freedom, but danger and restriction, which make women trapped in the house, left alone, and treated violently.
Sitting by the window and wasting lives are not the only terrible things with sexuality. Sexuality doesnt give women the power and freedom they want, but restricts their actions, and leads to violent actions. The character, Sally, fully illustrates this situation. Sally is a very beautiful girl. She knows everything about fashion. She wears make up and short skirts. She leans against the schoolyard fence alone with her eyes closed as if on one was watching. (82) All the boys are attracted by her and gossip about her. However, her beauty is seen to be a danger and a threat to her father. Therefore, her father doesnt let her out of house except for school. He thinks Sally is going to run away like his sister who made the family ashamed. (92) Besides Sally has to go back home right after school, her father beats her harshly. Once, Sallys father sees Sally is talking to a boy, he forgets Sally is his daughter (93) and beats her between the buckle and the belt. (93) Because of this injury, Sally cannot attend school next day. Then, Sally starts to do a lot of sexual actions simply to forget her father and the violent family. In a party, several boys steal Sallys keys. They tell Sally that she cant get the keys back unless she kisses all the boys and Sally pretended to be mad at first but she said yes. (96) Then, they go behind the car. Sally is playing the little game with the boys. She knows that her beauty attracts these boys. Moreover, she knows that she will be the loser in the game. However, she is willing to take these sexual actions to seek an escape from her miserable daily life, even if she can only forget about her tragedy for just one second.
Sexuality sometimes brings girls out of a violent family and lets them own what they want, but it will then throw them into a cage where they are still restricted, and treated like captives. Sally marries to an old salesman, who takes her to another state at last. Sally says she likes being married because now she gets to buy her own things when her husband gives her money. (101). She should be happy because she finally gets away from her father who always beats her up. Nevertheless, the new life isnt as wonderful as people expected. Her husband beats her as well when he is angry. In addition, he doesnt let her talk on the telephone, and he doesnt let her look out the window. And he doesnt like her friends, so nobody gets to visit her unless he is working. (102) How sorrowful it is! She is not allowed to contact her friends and she doesnt even have the opportunity to look out of the window and dream about her life as other women in the book do. Furthermore, she is even afraid to go outside without her husbands permission. She looks at all the things they own: the towels and the toaster, the alarm clock and the drapes. She like looking at walls, at how neatly their corners meet, the linoleum roses on the floor, the ceiling smooth as wedding cake. (102) Just as it says in the book, at this point, Sally does own a lot of things, but all these materials she own replace her freedom completely. She is trapped in the marriage, in the wedding cake.
Sexuality seems so charming that every little girl tries to pursue, but it leads to serious danger. Esperanza is a single-minded girl who just wants to get out of Mango Street. Make up and stylish clothes are a true charm to a girl who is growing into a young woman. When she meets Sally, Esperanza admires Sally. Esperanza wants to be Sallys friend and tries a new lifestyle with style, beauty and sex. At that time, Esperanza wants to be the woman in the movie who drives the men crazy and laughs them all away. (89) Nevertheless, the danger comes secretly as she becomes aware of her sexuality. When she gets her first job, she doesnt know whether to stand or sit during working and she is afraid to eat with other people. Then, a man talks to her and becomes friend with her. Although Esperanza attracts the man and receives help, it is not a good thing. The man says that it is his birthday and asks Esperanza to kiss him. When Esperanza decides to kiss him on the cheeks, the man grabbed her face with both hands and kissed her hard on the mouth and didnt let go. (55) This is not the only danger sexuality brought to Esperanza. Later, when Esperanza is waiting for Sally, she is rapped by a group of boys. For a little girl, who just becomes aware of her sexuality and still dreams about how this newly found treasure would bring her a good life, these sexual assaults are crucial. These unhappy experiences may be with Esperanza forever.
Some other times, sexuality just doesnt bring anything, which left girls in their dismal lives. Marin is another girl in this book. She is a dreamer. She dreams that if you always get to look beautiful and get to wear nice clothes, you can meet someone in the subway who might marry you and take you live in a big house far away. (26) She knows how to show her sexuality to the boys, and makes the boys see her. In the evenings, she always takes the radio out and dances on the street. Marin is beautiful, but her sexuality doesnt bring any fortune to her. She is always the one under the street light, dancing by herself, waiting for a car to drop, a star to fall, someone to change her life. (27)
Sexuality always plays a major role in womens lives. Most of the time, people think sexuality is propitious. It gives women confidence so that women can get the jobs they want. Sexuality also emphasizes womens beauty, which can provides them good husbands. However, not a lot of women are lucky enough to receive these fortunes. Because of social background or family background, the sexuality of women in certain societies, such as the one in The House on Mango Street, is tied up with independence. These women are obsessed with the restrictions and violence at home. They hope that sexuality can help them get out of the plight, and given them a free and happy life. However, what the sexuality really provides is a jail. All the good images about the marriage and the new life are just a mirage.
