Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario

Okeze, Gift - 27 May 2021 - Per. O, English

Theme and Significance .

The theme of this novel, Abandonment, states, “Abandonment has emotional and mental effects on an individual to a great extent.”
Other themes that can be identified in this novel are family, survival, and perseverance. These themes are significant because they all
play a role in Enrique’s motivation to go through dangerous obstacles and heights to reunite with his mother, understanding why she
left and making up for lost years.

Setting and Significance: The novel takes hope for a better life.
place in Honduras. This is where Enrique was left behind by
his mother so she can go and find better opportunities, and 3 In North Carolina, Enrique 4 Through many ups and
where he was raised. In this place, Enrique faces several issues and Lourdes reunite. He downs, tears, and shouts,
meets her in her mobile Lourdes and Enrique forgive
concerning survival, first love, drug addiction, and
home after many months of each other to let go of their
abandonment. Another setting, where the majority of the book traveling on freight trains, burdens from the past. They
is held, takes place on freight trains. For these trains, the avoiding border patrol, and also reunite with Enrique’s
immigrants boarded inside or on top of them in order to get to fighting for his survival. sister on a variety show.
their desired location of new opportunities, whilst facing many Lourdes and Enrique face Venturing into better things
dangers. The last setting, which leads towards the end of the many conflicts, despite being as well, they decide to make
novel, is the United States. This is where Lourdes, Enrique’s separated and longing for plans for the future.
the reunion of each other for
mother, works at and is located. In different ways, both
so long.
Enrique and his mother face obstacles in order to get here.

Plot Flow Map: Point of View and Significance: The point

1 Enrique, his mother, and
his sister live in Honduras
in absolute poverty. To
provide for them including
food, shelter, and fees for
school, the mother struggles
day and night. This causes
her to leave Honduras for
the U.S. to seek a better life
and acquire a stable job to
finance her children.
2 Lourdes continues to live
in the U.S. and does not
come back. Enrique feels
abandoned and empty
without his mother as she
continues going on years
without coming back. He
falls into a drug addiction
and a lot of trouble, leading
to his last decision of
making the long and
dangerous journey to the U.S.
He sees this as his only
of view is told from the perspective of the narrator, third
person omniscient. This allows the readers to see the world
through the lens of many of the characters in the novel other
than Enrique. Also, this allows the reader to be more aware of
occurring events that certain characters were not aware of.
Major Characters and Significance:
Enrique: Being the main character of the novel, Enrique takes
on the dangerous journey from Honduras to the U.S., seeking to
find his mother and a better life. He perseveres throughout to
achieve his final goal and even to rebuild his relationship with
his mother.
Lourdes: Lourdes is Enrique’s mother. She left Enrique and his
sister behind at young ages in order to provide more for them
compared to the small amount she was receiving in Honduras.
Playing a significant role in the story line, she is the reason as
to why Enrique takes on the journey to begin with and faces
many obstacles being abandoned in Honduras.
Maria Isabel: Maria Isabel is Enrique’s girlfriend. She is also
the mother of Enrique’s daughter, Jasmin. Enrique finds safety
and comfort with her as she helps him to face his problems
and care for him. Although she chose to stay behind as Enrique
goes to the U.S. she soon cannot handle raising Jasmin herself
and goes to the U.S. as well.
Sonia Navario: Telling the story in third person omniscient,
Sonia Navario is the author of Enrique’s journey. Through many
dangerous trips, she seeks to investigate Enrique’s story in
person. In this story she talks about the many mothers that
left their children for the U.S. in order to find better
opportunities and what she and Enrique both had to face on
their treacherous journey.
Conflicts and Significance:
Immigrants vs. Freight Trains: Many of the immigrants face life
or death situations riding the freight trains. Several of the
obstacles they face include threats from robbers and bandits,
being killed by trains, and having to stay out of the clear of
the la migra and border patrol officers 24/7.
Enrique vs. Enrique: Enrique turns to drugs and joins gangs to
stay away from his reality. He uses this as an avenue to try
and forget the burden he holds from his mother leaving him in
Honduras at such a young age. His addiction and constantness
of getting into trouble leads to him getting threats from those
around him and also to have unpaid debt pile up in his name.
This makes him start stealing and be in a negative headspace.
Enrique vs, Lourdes: Instead of getting close to her and
reuniting their relationship when he meets her once again in
the U.S., Enrique resents his mother due to all the pain she
caused him from never returning. He continues to hold these
grudges, not realizing all the work his mother has done for
him and his sister to provide them with as much as she can
give. Lourdes feels very misunderstood and unappreciated with
this resentment.
Significance of Title: The title Enrique’s Journey
comes from the main plot of the novel which is Enrique taking
on a dangerous journey to finally meet his mom. This journey
not only includes Enrique’s rides on various freight trains and
having to constantly fight for his survival and against threats.
It also includes what led to him taking on this journey and the
additional trip he goes through in the U.S. alongside his
mother.
Symbols and Significance:
Jesus Statue: As the freight train passed by Veracruz, Enrique
was able to see the Jesus Statue. Symbolizing a sense of hope
and motivation for the immigrants, and protection from danger,
is what this statue represents.
The Beast: This is what was used as the term for the savage
and threatening state of Chiapas, Mexico. This term symbolizes
the many challenges and aspects of the journey the immigrants
face to get to their parents in the U.S.
Freight trains: These trains symbolize the treacherous journey
and what it consists of such as the murderers, gangs, robbers,
and constant fight of trying to survive. These trains also
symbolize a better life and future on the way.
Figurative Language and
Significance:
“Fear drains from his mother like a wave back into the sea”
(Ch. 6).
This quote is an example of the figurative language, Metaphor.
The use of this metaphor helps the reader to understand the
fear Lourdes had been holding onto. The draining of the fear
“like a wave back into the sea” describes how relieved Lourdes
felt when she was finally able to see her son alive and safe.
Also, this quote shows how much Lourdes cares for her son
and how important her children are to her.
“Black diesel smoke rises, hugging the tops of the cars. It burns
the lungs and stings the eyes. Some of the migrants bold down
the lassers, typing to escape the noxious haze… his face and
arms turn gray (Ch. 4).
This quote is an example of the figurative language, Imagery.
This gives the reader a better view of the conditions and
circumstances the immigrants are in. The readers are also able
to imagine their pain and try their best to place themselves in
their shoes.
Significant quotes and Significance:
“It is as if all the hurt he felt inside had to come out and now
he is ready to move on. She feels the same warmth and love
from Enrique as when he first arrived on her doorstep in North
Carolina… ‘He always wanted to be with me’” (Ch. 7).
This quote highlights the resolution of the novel, in which
Enrique lets go of the hatred, sense of abandonment, and
resentment he held for a long time. He replaces this with love
for his mother, which was always there, however, he lets it
overtake his negative emotions. Also, this quote not only ties
into the theme of family, but Enrique’s development into
maturity emotionally and mentally. This sparks the new
beginning between Lourdes and her beloved son.
“It is Enrique. He limps forward on bare feet, stumbling first
one way, then another. His right shin is gashed. His upper lip
is split. The left side of his face is swollen. He is crying” (Ch. 2).
The readers are able to imagine the condition and intensity of
Enrique’s pain, as the author describes these specific details.
This quote not only portrays how hard Enrique was fighting for
his survival, but also how determined he was to meet his
mother again. Many people, in this case, would have
automatically given up and went back home, however, Enrique
did not let this stop him. He saw every chance provided after a
failure or mistake as another step closer to fulfilling his
desired goal.
Major Irony and Significance: A major piece
of irony that took place in the novel is how in the same way
as Enrique was resenting his family back at home, not taking
their advice, getting into constant trouble, etc., Enrique kept
resenting his mom for leaving him when he came to the U.S. In
addition, this portrayed the unresolved patterns of feeling
unloved and abandoned Enrique had been going through since
he was a child.
Diction/Syntax and Significance:
Majority of the Diction used in Enrique’s Journey, especially in
the beginning, is negative. The author uses this diction, not to
lower the esteem of the readers, but to better describe how
bad Enrique’s situation is. For instance, when describing
Enrique during his ambitious journey to find his mother, the
author says, “He was five years old when his mother left him”
(Nazario).
The Syntax of this novel is showcased in varieties throughout
the book, which all describe how the characters view their
world around them and how they are feeling. In addition, a lot
of long sentences are added in order to describe the different
settings Enrique goes through, due to the fact that him riding
on the freight trains consisted of visiting several areas in
Mexico.