"That's right, I add before Lucy or Rachel can make fun of her. She is stupid alright, but she is my sister."
(Cisneros, The House on Mango Street, p.50)
The things we are willing to say or do for our loved ones can be remarkable. Sometimes our actions are heroic and sometimes they're just silly. When push comes to shove sibling are their to protect each other. This weeks quote, from Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street, provides us with great example of what it means to look out for a sibling. Esperanza, her younger sister Nenny and two friends are out jumping rope and discussing the functions of female hips. Nenny makes the silly comment that if a girl never develops substantial hips she will turn into a man. As bizarre and daft as this statement is, Esperanza quickly agrees to save her sister from being teased.
Why do we protect our siblings? The answer lies in our blood. There is a phrase that states, "blood runs thicker than water." This saying isn't a reference to the viscosity of water versus blood but rather a firm reason to protect ones family. What is the physical difference between blood and water? Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen and thats all there is to it. Blood on the other hand contains life. Blood caries our genes and what makes us who we are. The blood that runs in our veins ties us to our family because our blood is their blood. There is no physical or symbolic equivalent to blood.
Shared blood creates a unique connection between siblings. The same roots, traits and history are found within siblings. Surly Esperanza isn't pondering these ideas while jumping rope but that's not the point. The connection Esperanza has with her sister is instinctive. She may not understand why siblings care for each other but she knows that they do. The flow of blood or expression of genes isn't something we force--it just happens. Whether it's keeping a secret or getting in a fight siblings look out for each other because they are a part of each other. There is a lot that makes up our blood and the only people we share that with is our family.
Why do we protect our siblings? The answer lies in our blood. There is a phrase that states, "blood runs thicker than water." This saying isn't a reference to the viscosity of water versus blood but rather a firm reason to protect ones family. What is the physical difference between blood and water? Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen and thats all there is to it. Blood on the other hand contains life. Blood caries our genes and what makes us who we are. The blood that runs in our veins ties us to our family because our blood is their blood. There is no physical or symbolic equivalent to blood.
Shared blood creates a unique connection between siblings. The same roots, traits and history are found within siblings. Surly Esperanza isn't pondering these ideas while jumping rope but that's not the point. The connection Esperanza has with her sister is instinctive. She may not understand why siblings care for each other but she knows that they do. The flow of blood or expression of genes isn't something we force--it just happens. Whether it's keeping a secret or getting in a fight siblings look out for each other because they are a part of each other. There is a lot that makes up our blood and the only people we share that with is our family.
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