Journeys and Journeying

Both the book’s narrative core and its various themes develop through exploration and portrayal of different types of journey – specifically, physical (i.e. outer) journeys from one place to another, and emotional or spiritual (i.e. inner) journeys from one state of mind, or spirit, to another. There are several manifestations of both sorts of journey, with each metaphorically echoing and reinforcing the ideas and images developed in the other.

In terms of physical journey, the overall plot is defined by the physical journey that the three central characters take to dispose of what are portrayed as objects that could place undocumented immigrant Evelyn in trouble – the car she took without permission, the dead body in the trunk of that car, and the gun that caused the body’s death. This particular journey can be seen, on a basic level, as an attempt...