Comparison between Macbeth and Across a Hundred Mountains

Comparison between Macbeth and Across a Hundred Mountains
“The Tragedy of Macbeth” is a novel written by William Shakespeare and perhaps performed for the first time in 1606. It sensationalizes the destructive physical and psychosomatic effects of the political drive on the people who strive for authority for its sake. The other novel “Across a Hundred Mountains” is written by Rayna Grande and depicts a gorgeous and touching story of loss, discovery, and migration. In Rayna’s novel, two females, one from Mexico and the other one from the United States meet and stick to friendship in the most improbable way. This essay will compare the two novels, “The Tragedy of Macbeth” and “Across a Hundred Mountains.” The comparison of the two novels will concentrate on three main points, heroism, tragedy and love as portrayed in the novels. Each of this points will be explained by giving scenarios and quotes from the two novels and hence the comparison.
Heroism is a term used to distinguish a person who does extraordinary things to achieve personal or societal objectives. In the novel “The Tragedy of Macbeth” Macbeth’s comes from noble upbringing. His actions, determination, and bravery in search for power renders him a hero. Macbeth differentiates himself in combat before making his presence on stage. His heroism prompts King Duncan to talk and exclaim of him: “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!”(Shakespeare 26).On the other hand, “Across a Hundred Mountains,” Juana Garcia is portrayed as a hero.

She decides to leave her town in Mexico to look for father in America. Juana’s father left their family to two years before to search for a job. Juana doesn’t have money to take her to America, but she takes courage to look for the money for her objective to be achieved. This is evident when Juana tells Adelina, “You are not my father” (Grande 172). This shows her as a strong lady who is focused on what she decides to do.
In the “Tragedy of Macbeth” murder dominates the novel where Macbeth happens to be a victim in most of them. Macbeth agonizes the loss of his spouse. The loss of his illicit realm and eventually his life. Macbeth’s downfall is witnessed from his latter words when he says, “I will not yield, to kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet, and to be baited with the rabble’s curse. Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane, and thou opposed, being of no woman born, yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield! Lay on, Macduff, and damn’d be him that first cries, hold, enough!” (Shakespeare 80). At the end of the play, almost all characters die and hence a tragedy. Likewise, Rayna’s novel faces tragedy as well. Juana Garcia is separated from her mother by death. Since her father is not around, Juana is left alone in the family (Grande 67). This tragedy forces her to look for her father. Therefore, Rayna’s novel faces tragedy as Shakespeare’s novel does.
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth love each other. Lady Macbeth decides to make Macbeth the King. She gets involved in witchcraft, plans murder and all sorts of evil to see his husband succeed. Macbeth also loves and obeys what his wife says. This is evident when Lady Macbeth plans to murder Duncan (Shakespeare 49). On the other side, Juana Garcia meets a lady Adelina as she is looking for means to reach the United States of America. Adelina who is born in the United States becomes strong friends with Juana Garcia and hence love each other (Grande 72). For Juana to look for her father, it shows the deep love she has towards her father. She decides to do whatever possible to find her father.
Therefore, the novels “The Tragedy of Macbeth” and “Across a Hundred Mountains” have several topics in common. Both books clearly depict Love, tragedy, and heroism. These are the topics discussed and comparison done for from two novels. The novels are interesting to compare and hence the comparison in the essay.
Works Cited
Grande, Reyna. Across a Hundred Mountains: A Novel. Atria Books, 2006.
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. Project Gutenberg, 1990.