Comparing Odyssey To The North

The journey to the United States signifies dreams, hopes and opportunities for many Centro Americans. This harsh journey is portrayed through many stories, films and books. Books such as One Day of Life by Manilo Arguera and Odyssey to the North by Mario Bencastro shine the light on the struggles that Centro Americans face on a daily basis. In this essay, I will demonstrate that both have similar/recurring themes of overcoming the odds and war. Nevertheless, they are quite different because Odyssey to the North focuses on the struggles that a man who exiles to United States faces while One Day of Life centralizes on issues surrounding the daily life. In other words, both capture the different perspectives of Central American life. One

This illustrates the living conditions that Lupe lives. It further exemplifies
Barboza 2 her responsibilities and her stance on them. Even though she wakes up early everyday to get “ten buckets of water” she is grateful that she has water. This quote shines the light on the adversity that she has to live through such as food scarcity In other words, Lupe does not have an easy life of luxury. Instead, she is in poverty and has to push through harsh conditions to survive. This exemplifies her resilience. Thus, the theme of overcoming the odds is reintroduced. Furthermore, her husband Chepe also faces the adversity that comes with life in El Salvador. This portrayed when Lupe says, “But, he knows he can’t spend money because we’ve got so many mouths to feed” (Argueta 27). This shines the light on poverty that they had to deal with. Therefore, many of these families had to sacrifice their own wants and needs to provide for their posterity. This is important because it emphasizes on the brutal living conditions that people have to live in. Thus, their survival demonstrates resilience and overcoming the