What does the red clown represent in the house on mango street?

She was at the carnival with Sally, as she likes watching Sally laugh on the rides. Then Sally disappears with an older boy, and Esperanza waits for her by the red clowns. While she is waiting, a group of boys attacks Esperanza. She never describes exactly what happens, tho it's implied that Esperanza has just been sexually assaulted at a carnival, and her narrative is confused and disjointed,