Into the Beautiful North

The Mexican characters in Into the Beautiful North all have a certain degree of ignorance that stems from a lack of experience. They are all naïve about something and from this ignorance comes grand illusions of what el Norte is like. Most of them assume (except Irma) that el Norte must be better than Tres Camarones, as a lot of them leave for a “better” life. It is appropriate that the most “naïve” of the town (the youth) must go experience firsthand that their impressions are illusions. That way, they will appreciate their home even more when they return and, as a result, may end up being as patriotic as Irma, the only character that had been in el Norte and returned to Tres Camarones. Urrea may be suggesting that disillusionment may be necessary in order for true happiness to be realized. Broken illusions are also necessary for growth and maturity, as this is what essentially has Nayeli grow up, once her illusions of Matt and her father are shattered. Irma understood that she had to learn these things for herself, rather than being told the truth. Some things are only learned through experience.