The author uses the narrative technique of characterization
in this excerpt. How does this technique support her
purpose?
Read the excerpt from Enrique's Journey.
During his first attempts north, a chance meeting saved
Enrique from the worst of the gangs. As he set out on his
trip, he noticed another teenager, a gangster named El
Brujo, at the bus station in Honduras waiting to go to the
Mexican border. Enrique doesn't like gangs. But as the two
spent hours traveling through Honduras and Guatemala
together, they became friends. On their first train ride
through Chiapas, El Brujo introduced Enrique to a dozen
other MS members, among them Big Daddy, who is skinny
and short; El Chino (the Chinaman), who has slanted eyes;
and El Payaso (the Clown), who has a big mouth and eyes.
On subsequent trips, when he was deported, he always
stuck with one of these gang members to protect himself
from any attacks.
It helps create an element of suspicion.
It shows that Enrique is resourceful.
It shows that Enrique is a gangster.
It explains Enrique's motives for traveling north.