Abstract

The House on Mango Street （1984）is a masterpiece of contemporary Mexican- American female writer, Sandra Cisneros. The book won the Before Columbus Foundation’s American Book Award in 1985, and was quickly collected by authorized The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Then it accessed to across the country whatever primary schools, high schools, and universities. As a widely used practice reading and must-read writing, the book became one of the most famous contemporary American growth classic.
The House on Mango Street describes the struggling history of Mexican immigrants in America. The protagonist of the book is Esperanza, a girl from an immigrant family, and she tells herself growth story by a general form like a diary. The novel shows a self-growth story, the heroine, Esperanza how she gradually realizes true self under the difficult circumstances, finds unique value as a female, decides to have herself power not rely on man, and pursues her own dream.
In this paper, the author elaborates the growth course of the heroine, especially emphasizes on hard growth as a female minority and the power of dream. Chapter one introduces the writer and novel’s background; chapter two analyzes of minorities plight under mainstream society; chapter three dissects awakening of the heroine feminism and expounds the growth power of heroine, revealing the dream plays a crucial role in growth process.

Key words: The House on Mango Street; minority; feminism; growth story; dream

摘  要

《芒果街上的小屋》（1984）是美国当代墨西哥裔女作家桑德拉•希斯内罗丝的代表作。该书曾获1985年前哥伦比亚基金会的美洲图书奖，随即被收入权威的《诺顿美国文学选集》，之后又进入全国大中小学课堂，作为研习阅读和写作的必读书广泛使用，成为了美国当代最著名的成长经典之一。
此书记录了墨西哥移民在美国艰辛的奋斗史。书中的主人公埃斯佩朗莎是一家移民家庭的女儿，她通过日记一般的口吻讲述自己的成长故事。小说讲述了女主人公埃斯佩朗莎如何在艰难的环境下，逐渐认识真正的自己，找到作为一名女性的独特价值，决定拥有自己的力量而不需要依靠男人，并勇敢追求梦想的自我成长故事。
笔者旨在通过解读书中女主人公的成长历程，突出族裔女性成长之艰难，以及梦想的强大力量。论文第一章介绍小说的作者及相关背景；第二章分析少数族裔在美国主流社会下的困境；第三章剖析女主人公女性主义意识的觉醒并解读女主人公的成长力量，以揭示梦想在成长过程中所扮演的关键性角色。

关键词: 《芒果街上的小屋》；族裔；女性主义；成长小说；梦想