Makina's Losses

Makina’s Losses The Sign Preceding the End of the World is a novel by Yuri Herrera about a young girl’s journey from her homeland in Mexico, across the border, on the search to find her brother and give him a note from their mom in peace. As she crosses the border she faces many obstacles, dealing with shootings, angry guards, and drug deals that bring her to comes across many heart breaking decisions. Herrera also explains the various situations she goes through as the main character of the book. Makina, the main character of this novel, goes through several losses throughout her journey such as, the loss of her family, the loss of her culture, and the loss of her identity that changes her demeanor by the end of the novel. One of the many …show more content…
Her Mexican culture is a huge part of her life, and along the way she is seeming to lose that part of herself. She is starting to adapt to all of the American ways. One of the most important part of our culture is our language. Language is the basis of communication, and without communication, an immigrant would not be able to adapt well. She easily picks up on the “Anglo” style of speech. One article says, “Language is an important part of our lives. It is a uniquely human gift which lets us communicate and differentiates us from primates. However, language is much more than just a means of communication. It is also an inseparable part of our culture” (Brophy). This quote explains just how important language is to one’s culture. When Makina plans to cross into America, she knows that language could possibly be a big obstacle, however her career allowed her to practice different languages. In the novel, Herrera states, “More than the midpoint between homegrown and Anglo their tongue is a nebulous territory between what is dying out and what is not yet born” (Herrera 65). This quote expresses how Makina is losing her old culture, by having to get used to a new one. It shows she is more familiar with the American language rather than her own, and it also shows how well she is adjusting to a new …show more content…
She seems to have lost her sense of self while on her journey. At the beginning of the novel, Herrera shows Makina as this strong Mexican woman who doesn’t allow anyone to walk over her, and as the story unfolds he shows who her character really is. Identity is everything to her from her name, to her home, to her background. Herrera says, “There she was, with another name, another birthplace. Her photo, new numbers, new trade, new home” (Herrera 106). This quote is referring back to when Makina is reunited with Chucho, and he gives her a new identity. Herrera also shows you how anyone can change and lose their identity under certain circumstances. The narrator describes it as being “all taken care of” and leaves the readers questioning if she is alive or dead (106). We also question how her life will move forward from this moment on, and if she will be successful in America like her