Red clowns house on mango street

Esperanza addresses this section to Sally. Esperanza has just been sexually assaulted at a carnival, and her narrative is confused and disjointed. She was at the carnival with Sally, as she likes watching Sally laugh on the rides. Then Sally disappears with an older boy, and Esperanza waits for her by the red clowns. While she is waiting, a group of boys attacks Esperanza. She never describes exactly what happens, except that one boy forces her to kiss him and keeps saying “I love you, Spanish girl,” but it’s implied that she was raped. Esperanza helplessly repeats that the event is nothing like what happens in movies or books, or what Sally said sex is like. She is angry at Sally for abandoning her at the carnival, and angry at all the women in her life for not warning about things like this.

What are the red clowns in House on Mango Street?

Important Quotes Explained He said I love you, I love you, Spanish girl. Esperanza says this in “Red Clowns,” after a group of boys has sexually assaulted her at a carnival. She repeats the accusation that her friend lied, blaming Sally for the assault instead of the boys who have hurt and traumatized her.

What does Esperanza lose in red clowns?

Esperanza poetically describes being sexually assaulted by a boy at a carnival under the laughing red clowns and tilt-a-whirl ride. She doesn't say exactly what happened, but she implies that she was raped. She is angry at Sally because losing her virginity was nothing like what she said it would be.

What do the Red clowns symbolize?

The red clowns symbolize fear . Red is a dark, scary color and clowns are something considered to be scary by tons of people.

What happens to Esperanza when she is waiting by the red clowns?

While she is waiting, a group of boys attacks Esperanza. She never describes exactly what happens, except that one boy forces her to kiss him and keeps saying “I love you, Spanish girl,” but it's implied that she was raped.