> but still need further sources rather than the book on this subject Why do you need further sources? The question is asking for your own thoughts and response. It does not sound like a research question to me. I thought Erica was a deliberate echo of America (Am-erica) and was all interwoven with things he loved and things he lost in his life in the U.S. Does that help any for a start? (In the question, “yearing” should be “yearning.”)