Esperenza A Tree

           “In Four Skinny Trees”, Esperanza compares herself to the trees as an extended metaphor to show that the appearance of an object doesn’t show their strengths and traits by using a symbol that represents her thoughts and actions.  Esperanza believes that the trees are a symbol of her own identity, unwanted and strong. She describes the trees by stating, “Four skinny trees with skinny necks and pointy elbows like mine. Four who do not belong here but are here. Four raggedy excuses planted by the city.” She believes that her family and her do not belong in this big city, they still belong in their apartment. They are both hungry and weak looking because of the lack of money the family has. They are out of place and Esperanza is not used to living in a house that is all theirs. To her it seems like they are not in their rightful places. Also, she talks about the trees being strong mentally. “They grow up and they grow down and grab the earth between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violent teeth and never quit their anger.” The trees show their strength by standing there by reaching up to the sky, and growing down beneath the roots. She believes that her strength is shown the same way, in her family and her holding on to what she has. She has so little, but stands with what she has and that way she shows her strength.