Cathy, a character in Sandra Cisneros’ novel The House on Mango Street, is 13 years old. She is introduced early in the book as a neighborhood friend to Esperanza, the protagonist.
Cathy is portrayed as a bit of a snob, claiming that she will be moving away soon because her family does not want to live in the neighborhood. This sets the tone for many of the themes present in the book, including class, identity, and the complexity of friendships. Cathy’s age is significant as it highlights the coming-of-age experiences that Esperanza and her peers go through as they navigate their adolescent years.