In Cormac McCarthy's "The Crossing," the protagonist reflects on the nature of names and places, emphasizing that while names exist to help us navigate the world, they ultimately stem from our own disconnection from it. The names of mountains and deserts on maps serve a practical purpose, yet they cannot guide us back to lost paths. This suggests that our understanding of the world is limited by the labels we impose on it, which can lead to a disorientation not easily rectified through naming alone.

The narrative explores the deeper significance of finding one's place in the world. It conveys that individuals ultimately determine their own paths, and even amidst loss or confusion, there is a sense of fate or luck in where one ends up. The protagonist's brother exists in a place chosen by the world, but it is also a reflection of his own choices. This duality highlights that our paths, though influenced by external forces, are shaped by our own decisions, suggesting a complex interplay between destiny and agency.