Bums in the Attic - Chris M. Walters

@Dharma_bums. “Room.” Pinterest, n.d., pinterest.com/pin/499758889873499939/. Accessed 17 February 2021.

Reflection and Citation Writing Exercise 

SUMMARY OF MAJOR EVENTS 

        In the chapter "Bums in the Attic," every week Esperanza and her family drive through affluent neighborhoods to look at expensive homes. Feeling shame about exhibiting envy for a lifestyle she cannot live and exhausted by the weekly reminder of being poor, she decides not to go. Esperanza still dreams of owning one of those homes, but she will be different–from the wealthy people she has seen–by welcoming the less fortunate and being happy to do so (Cisneros 86-87). 

BEST LONG PASSAGE 

        In the chapter "Bums in the Attic," Esperanza unapologetically talks about when she owns a home, the homeless are welcome to stay. 

One day I’ll own my own house, but I won’t forget who I am or where I came from. Passing bums will ask, Can I come in? I’ll offer them the attic, ask them to stay, because I know how it is to be without a house. 

Some days after dinner, guests and I will sit in front of a fire. Floorboards will squeak upstairs. The attic grumble. 

Rats? They’ll ask. 

Bums, I’ll say, and I’ll be happy. (Cisneros 87) 

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

        The chapter “Those Who Don’t” is about people of a different race who accidentally find themselves in her neighborhood, how they are scared of the locals. However, Esperanza knows the locals, and they are not scary–her neighborhood is “All brown all around, we are safe.” Esperanza notes how she would be scared too if she drove in a neighborhood that was not of her race, understanding that many people are afraid of the unfamiliar (Cisneros 28).

        In both chapters, “Bums in the Attic” (Cisneros 86-87) and “Those Who Don’t” (Cisneros 28), Esperanza refers to other groups not thinking highly of people from Mango Street. She mentions that they look down on her people and are afraid of them. In comparison, Esperanza does not think highly of people from wealthy neighborhoods. She talks down about them and says she would be afraid to drive through their neighborhood. Ultimately, groups from both neighborhoods want to live a comfortable life. The contrast is one group has the financial means, and the other does not, causing friction between the groups.