Argument On The Issue Of Immigration In Enrique's Journey By Sonia Nazario

Enrique’s Journey illustrates a strong argument on the issue of immigration that is cleverly hidden in the binding of the narrative novel. In effect, Sonia Nazario is able to extend her arguments with a higher degree of success by appealing to emotion more so than logic. Her use of pathos significantly outweighs any arguments grounded on logic, therefore she inherently establishes a persuasive text that encourages the audience to avoid objectivity and read the book through a lens of emotion. More so, the humanization of the issue of immigration by establishing empathy with Enrique and the various sub-narratives in the book add to the emphasis placed on creating a persuasive text rather than a balanced and informative nonfiction book. Photography …show more content…
Most of the photographs do not add to the narrative, but Nazario includes them to build a visual connection between the travails of the narrative and the audience. Sonia Nazario has talent in photography as a recipient of the Pulitzer Price for Feature Photography and uses the medium to support her book’s emotional appeal to the audience. All of the photographs extend compassion from the audience because they are all positive in support of Nazario’s emotional argument on immigration. There are no photographs of illegal drug usage, crime, and other intolerable actions that occur in the book, therefore there is an unbalanced approach to the included photography that clearly has a purpose to evoke desired emotions and empathy towards Enrique and the plight of other illegal child migrants. Additionally, the book begins with a photograph of Enrique in his kindergarten graduation. Instantly, the audience develops a premature compassion before the author reveals his drug abuse and lack of responsibility around family members. The audience is encouraged to pity and empathize Enrique rather than scorn him for illegal and immoral activities that he participates in. Sonia Nazario is successful in developing an atmosphere of emotion towards the narrative and issue of immigration by placing photographs within the text that do not add to the story. …show more content…
As a result, she fails to create an expository text by emphasizing emotional arguments over logic and reasoning. Additionally, she deliberately selects photographs and sources that primarily benefit her arguments on immigration, therefore the audience is left mostly convinced on an issue that has been delivered in a partisan manner. Although Sonia Nazario ends the book on an ambiguous view on illegal immigration in terms of policy, it is fair to conclude that she supports amnesty and is not strict in terms of protecting and enforcing the American border. She is successful in convincing her audience that her opinion is the best option for immigration policy by humanizing the issue and creating empathy behind the sympathetic character of