Response to "Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays"

          In "Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays" Esperanza describes in her childlike way her empathy for Rafaela, a victim of spousal abuse.  While Esperanza does not have the words for "abuse" or "domineering husband," she does notice that "Rafaela's husband comes home late...and  Rafaela, who is still young but getting old from leaning out the window so much, gets locked indoors because her husband is afraid Rafaela will run away since she is too beautiful to look at" (79).  This image of Rafaela leaning out the window, yearning for escape, reminds me of how Esperanza describes her great-grandma "look[ing] out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit with their sadness on an elbow" in the vignette "My Name" (11).  This connection shows that Esperanza notices women who are held prisoner in marriage, and perhaps indicates that Esperanza wishes for something different in her own future. 

          Another interesting element of this vignette is its allusion to the fairy tale Rapunzel.  Esperanza describes Rafaela "lean[ing] out the window and lean[ing] on her elbow and dreams her hair is like Rapunzel's. On the corner there is music from the bar, and Rafaela wishes she could go there and dance before she gets old" (79).  This connection to Rapunzel helps capture Esperanza's childlike voice and mind, but it also mixes fantasy with reality when Esperanza notices that Rafaela isn't allowed to even go out and dance. Even if Esperanza does not achieve her dream of owning her own house, I hope she does achieve her dream of living her life for herself.