Poverty leads to understanding

During her time on Mango street Esperenza indeed journeys to maturity for she is faced with difficulty, like each past character and is transformed by her response to her circumstances. Being in critical years for identity formation Esperenza struggles with all aspects of growth and the pain that comes with it. From realizations of sexuality of her being to the harsh reality of life on Mango Street Esperenza is removed from a sheltered environment and forced to open her eyes to the terrors and beauties of the world. This is the beauty of poverty, for the rich can attempt exclude themselves from the realities of the horrors of the world in which we live, as a result missing the greatest beauties, and thus do not fully form their identity due to lack of understanding. Yet the poor not only see this reality, they experience it. The oppressed not only understand oppression they have to face it day in and day out. Her experience leads her to begin to build her understanding of the world in which she lives.