The dominant theme in The House on Mango Street is the dream and the God given right to pursue freedom and to make life choices, despite the restrictions society attempts to put up on the people because of their race or skin color. Race in this novel is also closely related to economic stability. The Corderos, however, refuse to be defined by economic bounds; they insist on the right for stability and the right to own a decent home for their children. The family get a taste of this dream when they finally get a house of their own, giving their family freedom to do as they please without having to worry about the people living downstairs or upstairs. The fact that Esperanza and her family live on Mango Street is proof that they refuse to be defined by the racist intrusions and the barriers put up by the system. Before living on Mango Street, Esperanza's family moved a lot. Her family lived on "Loomis on the third floor, and before that [they] lived on Keeler. Before Keeler it was Paulina, and before Paulina [Esperanza] can't remember.  (3) What Esperanza does remember is moving a lot. Most of these properties in which her family lived were unfit for human habitation. These old houses where they used to live in were in such bad shape that the landlord refused to make repairs. Esperanza's family was "carrying water over in empty milk gallons [to the washroom next door]  because their house's water pipe broke and their landlord would not fix it. (4) The landlords apparently thought the horrible conditions in these buildings were suitable for people like Esperanza and her family. Though many Americans may think that renting and living in degrading circumstances is fine for them, Esperanza's family believe they are worthy of the life of so-called typical "white  Americans. Their house on Mango Street represents a sense of stability for them. It also gives them a small taste of what living like an American feels like. For the first time, they own their house, and they are