Cloud/sky symbolism

In the story, "The House on Mango Street", many symbols appear. In this story, sky symbolizes freedom and independence. On page 33, in the vignette, "Darius and the Clouds", she talks about they sky. "You can always fall asleep and wake up drunk on sky, and sky can keep you safe when you are sad. Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky... Still, we can take what we can get and make the best of it." She talks sky here as something that can help her through bad times. She knows that whenever she looks  at the sky, she can reach for the stars. To her sky is like a gateway to a better life. If she can look up  and imagine a good life, then she can get a good life. When she says there are too many clouds, she means  there are too many obstacles stopping her from achieving freedom. the clouds symbolize a barrier to a better life. An obstacle she has to get by to achieve the life she dreams of. On page 59, she talks about her sick aunt. " Maybe the sky didn't look the day she fell down. Maybe God was busy" This quote also shows how sky symbolizes freedom and independence. The day her aunt was disabled, the sky was not looking down. She was not free that day. Sandra Cisneros's use of symbols in this book definitely brings it to life. Her figurative language makes the characters and descriptions jump off of the page. On page 82, Esperanza talks about Sally. "And if you opened the little window latch and gave it a shove, all the windows would swing open, all the sky would come in" Before this quote, she is talking about Sally being sad and having people gossiping about her. The sky would come in symbolizes her finding freedom from the rumors and stories and bullying. Sally could be free by letting the sky flow in. Esperanza says after on page 83 that, "There'd be no nosy neighbors watching, no motorcycles and cars, no sheets and towels and laundry." There would be no one in her business and nothing to obstruct her view of freedom.