Figurative language
"My papa's hair is like a broom."
Simile
Esperanza -- Nenny
sisters
The protagonist of The House on Mango Street
Esperanza Cordero
Esperanza's best friends
Rachel and Lucy
"Someday I will have a best friend all my own... until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor."
Metaphor (or symbolism)
Marin -- Geraldo
dance partners
a woman who tells fortunes
Elenita
The boy who describes the cloud as "God"
Darius
"My name is the Mexican records my father plays on Sunday mornings."
Metaphor
Esperanza -- Kiki
siblings
The principal at Esperanza's school
Sister Superior
She lets Esperanza read her poems, and Esperanza shares her own poems with her.
Minerva
"It's as if he let go a million moths all over the dusty furniture."
Simile (or imagery)
Esperanza -- Sire
first crush
The one person on Mango Street who is a university student
Alicia
The woman who never leaves her apartment on Mango Street
Mamacita
"My mother’s hair... circles all curly and pretty because she pinned it in pin curls all day, sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you, holding you and you feel safe, is the warm smell of bread before you bake it"
Imagery
Cathy -- Meme Ortiz
lived (at different times) in the same house
The family who are many and out of control
The Vargas family
The woman who owns and lives in the apartment building next door
Edna