The names of the cerros and the sierras and the deserts exist only on maps. We name them that we do not lose our way. Yet it was because the way was lost to us already that we have made those names. The world cannot be lost. We are the ones. And it is because these names and these coordinates are our own naming that they cannot save us. They cannot find for us the way again.
Cormac McCarthy's passage reflects on the nature of place and identity through the metaphor of names and maps. The cerros, sierras, and deserts are defined by their labels, which serve as guideposts for those navigating the landscape. However, these names hint at a deeper disconnection, suggesting that it is not the world that is lost, but rather the individuals who have strayed from understanding their own paths and origins.
While the names and coordinates are attempts to categorize and manage the environment, they ultimately fall short of restoring a true sense of belonging or direction. The act of naming becomes a reminder of emptiness; despite the detailed maps and labels, it is the intrinsic relationship to the world that is vital. McCarthy emphasizes this profound sense of loss, indicating that the quest for meaning cannot be resolved merely through external designations, as they cannot restore our lost way.
