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Minerva is a young woman who is a few years older than Esperanza but is already burdened with two children and a disloyal husband who doesn’t contribute to the family. Minerva comes from a dysfunctional family rife with misogyny and abuse. Her mother’s similar circumstances show that Minerva is part of a cycle of women who raise children on their own without the support of their father. Minerva wants to leave her husband, but whenever she tries, she is dominated back into subservience by physical abuse and threats. Esperanza observes that Minerva often has an air of sadness about her, for obvious reasons.
Like Esperanza, Minerva is a writer. She enjoys writing poetry, and she and Esperanza strike up a friendship in which they exchange their written work. In this sense, Minerva operates as Esperanza’s double, exposing what Esperanza’s life might have in store for her should she fail to escape Mango Street. Minerva is creative and talented just like Esperanza, but her unfortunate circumstances have trapped her in young motherhood and in an unhealthy abusive marriage with a man who will always keep her fearful and obedient. Minerva’s situation will make it incredibly difficult for her to find the time or finances to become educated and meaningfully change her circumstances.
