Friday, July 25, 2014
Finally Feeling Loved
In the early stages of the book, we see Enrique continuously struggle with the idea of love. He feels like his mother no longer loves him because she left, but we also see him struggle to accept the declamations of love from his grandmother and anyone who tries to stay that they love him. However, on page 31, after the death of Enrique's uncle, Enrique states that "His uncle loved him." I love this quote because for once in Enrique's life he feels genuinely loved by someone and realizes it as well. With his grandmother and other relatives, he feels as if they are forcing themselves to love him, but with his uncle, Enrique finally feels true love and care from someone who is not his mother. Yet when his uncle dies, Enrique feels abandoned once again. Has anyone else noticed this motif of abandonment in the book?
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I noticed this constant motif of abandonment throughout the novel, too. I noticed how Enrique was abandoned first by his mother, then his father, then his grandmother, and then his uncle, which led him to turn to drugs as a way to cope with this loneliness. However, at the end I think he finally feels loved through his mother, Diana, and most of all, Maria Isabel and how she stays loyal to him through everything.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed abandonment as a reoccurring motif. I noticed how everyone in his life that he should have felt loved by he didn't until his uncles passing. Once his uncle passed he realized that some people can be there for him and love him, but his realization was too late. He felt lonely again until the end of the book when he felt loved by his mother and Maria Isabel. This was a really refreshing and happy realization at the end.
ReplyDeleteAbandonment is indeed a reoccurring theme. Not only does his family give up on him, the friends that he made along the way end up leaving him or turning against him like the gang member he was hiding with on top of the mausoleum. When Enrique gets to the Rio Grande and is struggling to make an income, he wants to go back home where he won't be alone.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed the reoccurring motif, abandonment. Enrique has felt abandoned through his mother, his grandmother, close family, and even a few gang members along his journey. He feels so abandoned he takes this life risking journey just to see if his mother still loves him. By going on this journey to his mother he also abandons his girlfriend and she misses him so much she decides to go look for him towards the end of the book. When someone is abandoned all they want is answers and they go to extremes to find them.
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