I thought that the various nicknames for the train were
insightful in the book, Enrique’s Journey,
because they deepen the personal connection between the characters and the
train. The nicknames also reveal the character’s feelings towards the train at
its various stages. The character’s views of the train change throughout the
journey. In one area, “...migrants don’t talk of the Pilgrim’s train or of
the Iron Horse. They have another name for the train: El Tren Devorador. The Train that Devours,” (Nazario, 88). I think
it is admirable that the migrants would begin by calling the train the
Pilgrim’s Train because it shows their optimistic outlook on the dangerous journey.
At the beginning, the author, Sonia
Nazario, contrasts the optimism of this nickname by describing the
horrors and dangers the train presents to the migrants. I think that
optimism in the face of a bleak situation is extremely admirable. Enrique, too,
optimistically nicknames the train. He calls it The Iron Horse because he, “is
struck by the magic of the train—its power and its ability to take him to his
mother,” (71). However, as time wears on,
optimists turn into realists, and people begin to call the train, “The Train
that Devours”. The train earned this nickname because people loose things so
often on the train that it is almost as if the train itself is devouring them.
For example, the train runs over people, removing their limbs. It also attracts
bandits and gangsters who rob people for their money, possessions, clothing, and
anything else they can take. At first, the train seems like a means to reach
prosperity to the migrants. In the midst of the trip, it seems as if the train is depriving
migrants of their wealth instead of helping increase it. These nicknames for
the train help reveal the migrant’s feelings towards the train at varying
stages. Marimac, the name I commonly go by, is actually a nickname. My real
name is Marion, and my parents always planned to nickname me Marimac. I like to think that my nickname is less formal than my real name, and this reveals the
informal, casual part of my personality. When do you feel like you have received
a nickname that reveals something about yourself?
Good point Marimac! The names of these trains do have much significance to what happens to the migrants. I also wanted to add that not only does "El Tren Devorador" devour material items, but it also devours feeling such as hope. Each time a migrant looses something personal to them or is robbed, the train also devours the sense of hope that they will make it to the United States in one piece. As for the nickname, the name DebbyCakes, reveals a major part about me. Just from the name alone people can tell I have a think for cakes or baking.
ReplyDeleteKind of like the train, I too have different nicknames in the different facets of my life. Each has its own connection to the person or group of people who call me that. My friends call me "Ems" because that's quicker to say and more casual. It's funny because I can tell when they're upset at me or about something, because the more formal "Emily" is used. My siblings call be "Absie" because when my sister, now four, was just learning to talk, she called me "Abelde" (weird to spell, I know) and it was again shortened. When I danced, my grandfather called me "twinkle toes". My dad calls me "tidbit" sometimes, because I was small and full of energy when I was younger. I think this reflects how people in different parts of our lives see us in different ways, similar to how the kids at different stages in their journey or who experienced different things on the train see it in a different light. It's interesting to see how much emotions play out into the names we give to people or things!
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