Standing tall, standing strong, standing with hope...

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In the chapter "four Skinny Trees" Esperanza uses a metaphor to describe herself like the trees outside of her window.  The trees take on this persona of an outcast, but they remain stable, with their (metaphorically speaking) chins up.  The trees give Esperanza a sense of self confidence; teaching her to keep pushing, "Their strength is secrete... Four who reach and do not forget to reach" (Cisneros, 74).  This metaphor achieves a theme of remaining hopeful and confident in yourself despite any situation, by reoccurring image.  The trees are a symbol of strength and hope, and the entire chapter is centered around them.