Abstract：As an initiation story, The House on Mango Street has been translated into many different languages. It is also studied by students in schools in America and Canada as teaching material. The Latina community had praised this novel highly. At the same time, the novel won the author Sandra Cisneros the American Book Award. However, few scholars have ever analyzed American author Sandra Cisneros’s novel The House on Mango Street as a female initiation story. This story describes a little girl-Esperanza’s process of growing up. During the process, she suffered setbacks, but she finally had the epiphany so that she began to realize her dream and pursue freedom with practical actions.

This thesis interprets the novel from the perspective of female initiation story to dissect the heroine-Esperanza’s growth experience on Mango Street in Latin American immigration community, Chicago. In order to achieve woman’s independent rights, she drifted apart from her family and community. The thesis explains how ethnic women get rid of the discrimination caused by racial differences and realize the sense of self-consciousness and gradual growth.

Keywords：The House on Mango Street  female initiation  Sandra Cisneros

中文摘要：《芒果街上的小屋》作为一部成长小说，已经被译成许多种语言，并且在美国和加拿大作为教材小说在学校学习,同时也在拉丁社区收获了极高的评价。这本小说使作者桑德拉·西斯内罗斯获得了美国图书奖。目前很少有学者从女性成长的角度对这本小说进行解读。该作品描述了小女孩埃斯佩朗莎成长的心路旅程。在成长的过程中，她遭遇过挫折，最后获得了顿悟，用实际行动去实现自己的理想，追求自由。

本论文从女性成长的角度，剖析女主人公埃斯佩朗莎在芝加哥拉美移民社区芒果街的成长阅历，为了获得女性的自主权利而与家庭、社区疏远进而走上写作道路的女性成长经历，诠释了族裔女性如何摆脱种族差异带来的歧视，实现女性自我意识觉醒，逐渐成长的道理。

关键词：《芒果街上的小屋》；女性成长；桑德拉·西斯内罗斯

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 A Brief Introduction to Sandra Cisneros-1

1.2 A Brief Introduction to The House on Mango Street-1

1.3 Research Status of The House on the Mango Street-2

1.4 Structure of the Thesis-3

Chapter Two Female Initiation-4

2.1 Definition of Female Initiation-4

2.2 General Features of Female Initiation-4

Chapter Three Initiation Guides and Companions-6

3.1 Positive Guides and Companions-6

3.2 Negative Guides and Companions-7

Chapter Four Female Initiation in The House on Mango Street-9

4.1 Self-Loss in the Process of Esperanza’s Growth-9

4.1.1 Identity Confusion-9

4.1.2 Self-value Confusion-9

4.2 Awakening of Feminine Consciousness-10

4.2.1 Pursuit of New Life and Dreams-10

4.2.2 Pursuit of a Unique Ethnic and Gender Identity-11

Chapter Five Conclusion-13

References-14