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The House on Mango Street Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

Every week Edna is screaming at somebody, and every week somebody has to move away […] But Ruthie lives here and Edna can't throw her out because Ruthie is her daughter.

Edna and Ruthie's relationship illustrates the idea of familial obligation – we're not sure whether Edna would kick Ruthie out if she could.

Quote #11

Until the way Sally tells it, he just went crazy, he just forgot he was her father between the buckle and the belt.

You're not my daughter, you're not my daughter. And then he broke into his hands. (37.6)

The violence that Sally's father does to her goes along with his disavowal of their relationship.