Racism
After Makina arrives in the United States, she sees many Mexican people taking jobs at the lowest end of the social ladder, jobs which Americans are not willing to take but which are essential to the economic growth of the country. At the same time, the Mexicans are not appreciated at all--instead, they face racism and discrimination, evident in the way the “patriot” policeman treats the group of migrants that he found in the borderlands. When Makina hands him a note calling herself and the rest of the migrants “We who came to take your jobs, who dream of wiping your shit, who long to work all hours,” she calls out the policeman’s racist views by emphasizing that the Mexicans are simply dreaming of a better life--which is precisely what the American Dream is about, but it is denied to them.
When Makina knocks on the door of a mansion in a white neighborhood, she is surprised to see the black owner of it open the door. Both of them recognize the unexpected surprise as racism and laugh it off.
Migration and Identity
Migrants find themselves in the midst of two cultures and must manage to assimilate without alienating themselves from their own culture. For example, when Makina observes the American supermarkets, she notices that everyone is expected to fall in line, and consumption is more important than the values that she has been taught at home.
One symbol of changing one’s identity is Makina’s brother, who literally assumes a new name and new identity so he can join the U.S. Army, where he is molded into a compliant citizen. However, he seems to have lost his direction in life and does not know what to do with his successful immigration.
Language
Language and its power to connect plays a major role in the novel. In fact, the author invents the new word ‘verse’ (‘jarchar’ in Spanish) to make a connection with lyrical traditions. For example, Makina speaks three languages (Spanish, English, and the indigenous language of the area) and operates the switchboard in her local village, connecting people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. She treats each of the messages she relays with confidentiality, which is why she is respected by the entire village, including the various gangster bosses.
When she encounters the patriotic policeman, she uses her knowledge of English to bridge the gap between the two cultures, catching the policeman off-guard because he did not expect his racist views to be questioned by a migrant in his native language. Makina’s brother uses his language skills to help migrants as well, as he teaches them English so they can have better jobs.
