SCR 11-28-12

Four Skinny Trees = Me

In “Four Skinny Trees” the speaker uses an extended metaphor to compare herself with the trees outside of her house on Mango Street. This metaphor works to her favor to develop a theme in the story: believing in one’s self and hope. The extended metaphor of the four skinny trees shows how she views herself, and how everyone else views her as well since she says that “Nenny just sleeps and doesn’t appreciate these things”.  Esperanza, the speaker shows how she is worthless just like the trees, but together they have more of a purpose to keep up with. She, in the trees, sees herself and where her life might end up but at the same time she has hope in her future.

-        Melissa Quesada