enrique's journey
by sonia nazario
This novel, written by Sonia Nazario, is about the haunting tale of a teenager, Enrique, that travels from his home country of Honduras in order to reunite with his mother in the United States. His mother had left him and his family when he was young, and it was his dream to be able to have the opportunity to reunite with his mother after years continued to pass without her coming home. She had left to go to the United States in order to support the family economically, which was something that she had accomplished. She was able to send her family money so that they could continue to be fed and go to school. Though, throughout his youth, Enrique becomes rebellious and is beyond unsupportive of the fact that his mother left. Enrique, more than anything, wanted to have a relationship with his mother, despite the fact that she was providing her family with money so that they could have more and do more than ever before. Enrique, like many migrants from Central America wanting to reach the United States, traveled atop freight trains through Central America and Mexico, where the migrants had to worry about starvation, thirst, being caught and deported, assault and murder, various gang violence atop the trains, rape, being robbed, and having limbs cut off if they fall underneath the train when trying to get on. Enrique put his life in danger and gave up all of the material comforts that he had at home in order to create the bond with his mother that he never had.
This novel directly connects to the modern American Dream, because the main character, Enrique, cares far less about the material possessions that his mother is being able to provide for he and his family, and cares most about the relationship he has with his mother. His mother left her family behind because she thought that her family would benefit more by having new clothes and food and a steady source of income coming in, but her children thought that they would’ve benefitted more by having a mother, no matter how hard the struggle was. Enrique cared most about making relationships in life and having connections with people. He wanted to simplify and have what was most meaningful in life, which was a loving relationship with his family. And to accomplish this and to obtain this relationship, he was willing to risk his entire life. Gang violence atop the trains in which he traveled is brutal, with robberies and murders left and right. Though, Enrique was willing to risk everything because the material possessions that his mother was offering him when he was home was not enough reason for him to continue living. He wanted to live with his mother, and it didn’t matter to him if he was starving. Enrique represented the American Dream because he wanted to simplify and attain the important things in life, and he was willing to risk everything in order to do so.
Enrique and his journey follow a path of life that was advocated for by many American heroes, such as most notably, though arguably, Henry David Thoreau.
This novel directly connects to the modern American Dream, because the main character, Enrique, cares far less about the material possessions that his mother is being able to provide for he and his family, and cares most about the relationship he has with his mother. His mother left her family behind because she thought that her family would benefit more by having new clothes and food and a steady source of income coming in, but her children thought that they would’ve benefitted more by having a mother, no matter how hard the struggle was. Enrique cared most about making relationships in life and having connections with people. He wanted to simplify and have what was most meaningful in life, which was a loving relationship with his family. And to accomplish this and to obtain this relationship, he was willing to risk his entire life. Gang violence atop the trains in which he traveled is brutal, with robberies and murders left and right. Though, Enrique was willing to risk everything because the material possessions that his mother was offering him when he was home was not enough reason for him to continue living. He wanted to live with his mother, and it didn’t matter to him if he was starving. Enrique represented the American Dream because he wanted to simplify and attain the important things in life, and he was willing to risk everything in order to do so.
Enrique and his journey follow a path of life that was advocated for by many American heroes, such as most notably, though arguably, Henry David Thoreau.