Portrait of a Great Man

source: https://quotefancy.com/quote/1060444/John-Adams-Did-you-ever-see-a-portrait-of-a-great-man-without-perceiving-strong-traits-of

Title: Portrait of a Great Man

Author: Manuel A. Viray

Author's Background: Manuel A. Viray (1917-1955) was a Filipino writer and a poet. His works include Shawl from Kashmir and Other Stories and Wounded Stag: 54 Poems. The author is not too well-known in RP because he spent the better part of his life in overseas assignments.

source: http://www.answers.com/Q/Who_is_Manuel_Viray

Vocabulary:

Capricious - changing often and quickly ; especially : often changing suddenly in mood or behavior.

Spiraling - a winding or circling around a central point and usually getting closer to or farther away from t  shaped or moving like a spiral.

Chauffeur - a person whose job is to drive people around in a car.

Tyrannical - using power over people in a way that is cruel and unfair.

Guile - the use of clever and usually dishonest methods to achieve something.

Stenotypist - a keyboard machine used

Nonchalant - relaxed and calm in a way that shows that you do not care or a re not worried about anything.

Pudgy - somewhat fat.

Alacrity - a quick and cheerful readiness to do something.

Jurisprudence - the study of law.

Frigidaire - used for an electric refrigerator.

Treatise - a book, article, etc. that discusses a subject carefully and thoroughly.

Bureaucracy - a large group of people who are involved in running a government but who are not elected.

Kaywoodie - a pipe brand.

Decry - to say publicly and forcefully that you regard (something) as bad, wrong, etc.

Discomfiture - the act of discomfiting : the state of being discomfited.

source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary


Characters:  

Dr. Rufino T. Ventanilla - was a graduate of the Escuela de Derecho,  Deputy Commissioner of Bureau

Serafin - Dr. Ventanilla's Chauffeur

Assemblyman Juan Tuviera y Sibulsibul - Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Assembly

Zabala - Dr. Ventanilla's Stenotypist

Dr. Adriano Perez y Tiron - was appointed Deputy Commissioner to succeed Dr. Ventanilla

Marcos Montalbo II - Dr. Ventanilla's Special Assistant

Eduardo Botelho - a topnotcher in the 1930 bar examination

Edrosa - Law partner of Ozamis, Graduate of Harvard

Lita - Dr. Ventanilla's wife

Del Mundo and Estabillo - the assistants on mechanization


Settings: Mabini Avenue, Philippines 
                 Dr. Ventanilla's Office Building

Exposition: The story begins with Dr. Rufino T. Ventanilla, Deputy Commissioner of Bureau, together with Serafin, his chauffeur, speeding along the street to Mabini Avenue, where his office is located. It is understood that Mabini Avenue is a city found in Caloocan, the Philippines. The exposition continues as we learn that Dr. Ventanilla is annoyed and irritated at his employees, feeling perfectionist like the typographical errors committed by Zabala, the stenotypist, and it seems that he is not comfortable with his job. When he signed the memorandum, the action begins to rise.

Rising Action: The conflict in the story is when he entered his office and found himself closure by the chunks of papers. He can feel the stress and pressure as the highest position in the building. Another conflict was when he easily gets irritated to his stenotypist and ordered Zabala to take the wine from the fridgaire. It was introduced that the personality of Ventanilla, and how he treatise his co-workers and how they look at him.

Climax: The climax of the story is when he was finding a replacement for his position, as a new deputy commissioner. Also the conversation with Del Mundo and Estabilo, assistants on merchanization, about the contract. Lastly, the discussion between Perez and Montalbo II about Ventanilla's term, and his attitude toward his past problems with the employees. 

Falling Action: The denoument of the story is when they were discussing how Ventanilla will be appointed as a Director of Internal Affairs, which happened in the latter part of the story. As the time goes by, Perez was appointed as the new deputy commissioner while Ventanilla was appointed as the Director of Internal Affairs. 

Ending: After two weeks, Adriano Perez y Tiron was appointed Deputy Commissioner to succeed Dr. Ventanilla. During his term, his personality has also changed like Ventanilla. Ventanilla was appointed as Director of Internal Affairs. Dr. Perez felt all the responsibilities and pressure of his job as the Deputy Commissioner.

Symbolism: The first symbolism is the sun - "intruder of the sleep and stolen love was slowly rising". It describes that Dr. Ventanilla's time to work again and wake up from sleep. Another symbolism is the chunk of papers in his desk. It symbolizes the problems that he can't handle and his negative attitude toward his work. Lastly, the title itself "Portrait of a Great man" represents the attitude of man, it shows that all man think that they were perfect and superior. Overall, it shows how a great man work and doesn't make a great man.

Theme: The theme of the story is how you handle stress and how you manage your success. It's about how much more than deciding what you will make a living. The place is in the office wherein he felt the stress and a job that he is not comfortable with.

Lesson: The lesson of the story is how important decisions you will make in your life. You should be dedicated in your work and have a passion in your commitment. Always try to be a role model to others especially if you are the highest position in your office. If you can't handle stress, then you can't manage your success.