Across A Hundred Mountains By Juan Pedro Analysis

The story is raising the question of women`s role in the society. The protagonist, a young lady named Cleofilas, who lives a pretty ordinary life in her small town, and then gets married to a man named Juan Pedro, and moves out of her father`s house to the United States. She does not seem to be happy in marriage, because her husband does not treat her well. He beats her up, and says horrible things to her, such as ?he hates this shitty house and is going out where he won`t be bothered by the baby`s howling and her suspicious questions. ?(Lawn, 461) The only thing that makes her happy is her children. She starts thinking of abandoning her husband and coming back to her father`s home, but then she starts thinking of ?what would the neighbors say? Coming back home like that with one baby on her hip and one in the oven. Where`s your husband?? (Lawn, p. 462) She starts comparing her life with soap operas she used to watch with her friend. However, ?the episodes got sadder and sadder. And there were no commercials in between for comic relief. And no happy ending in the sight.? …show more content…
A woman named Felice takes her on her pickup to San Antonio. During their ride Cleofilas realizes how independent Felice is: ?She said she didn`t have a husband. The pickup was hers. She herself had chosen it. She herself was paying for it. ?(Lawn, p. 466) The moment they were passing Woman Hollering creek, and Felice started yelling, ?because of the name? of the creek (Lawn, p. 466). Then she says that ?nothing around here is named by a woman, unless she`s a virgin. ? (Lawn, p. 466) This phrase reveals the main point of the story. Women have been disrespected, underestimated and mistreated by men for the most part of the history. In the society that only follows the double standards, women have to become independent, without worrying about other people`s opinions, in order to gain