How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife
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Author: Manuel Estabilla Arguilla
Author's Background: Manuel E. Arguilla was born on June 17, 1911 in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union to parents Crisanto Arguilla, a farmer, and Margarita Estabillo, a potter. Their mediocre living was not a hindrance for Manuel to attain his dreams especially in literature. He finished his elementary school in his hometown and his high school in San Fernando where he became the editor-in-chief of his school's newsletter, the La Union Tab. He was also an athlete where he became champion in swimming events he joined. He entered the University of the Philippines where he joined the UP Writers Club and later became the president and the editor of the UP Literary Apprentice. He finished Education in 1933. He married Lydia Villanueva, a fellow artist and writer and lived in Ermita, Manila. Upon graduation, he practice his profession in University of Manila. He later joined the Bureau of Public welfare where he was the editor of Welfare Advocate, the bureau's publication. As a writer, his famous works were compiled in a book entitled How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (And Other Stories) published by Philippine Book Guild in 1940. These stories were written when he was 22-29 years old. The collection of stories won first prize in short story category during the first Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940. When the Japanese invaded the country in 1941. Arguilla join the freedom forces of the country and led a division of the Marking's Guerillas. He was captured by the Japanese in 1944 and was imprisoned in Fort Santiago together with his family. His family was later freed but Manuel was sentenced to death. He was executed on October 1944 at age of 33. Manuel Arguilla, an Ilocano pride. His shown love to the country as a teacher, a writer, and a freedom fighter was a virtue of patriot who offered his talents and life for the country.
Vocabulary:
Carretela - a large coach-and-four formerly used to carry passengers and mail on regular routes between towns.
Cud - the food that an animal (such as a cow) brings back up from its stomach into its mouth to be chewed again.
Camino Real - a main highway; especially : a highway originally existing during the period of Spanish rule in the Southwest, Mexico, and Central America.
Hiss - to say (something) in a loud or angry whisper.
Pebbly - a small, round stone ; especially : one that has been made smooth by the movement of water.
Andadasi - a herbal plant.
Jolt - to cause (something or someone) to move in a quick and sudden way.
Windowsill - a narrow shelf that is attached to the bottom of a window.
source: Merriam-Websters Dictionary, Google
source: Merriam-Websters Dictionary, Google
Characters:
Baldo - the narrator of the story. Brother of Leon and a quite man.
Leon (or Noel) - Often called Noel. Brother of Baldo and a wife of Maria. A man with a strong personality.
Maria - the wife of Leon. Lovely and Tall Lady.
Father - the mildest-tempered and gentlest man, who instructed Baldo on what he will do to go through the Waig.
Labang - the bull of Baldo, who brought Maria and Leon to the home.
Ca Celin - the operator of the carretela, where Leon, Baldo, Maria, and Labang were the passengers traveling back to their home.
Aurelia - the sister of Baldo and Leon.
Setting: Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union (Leon Hometown)
Exposition: The story begins when Baldo, the narrator of the story, introduced Maria. She was described by her physical appearance. The narrator also introduced his brother, Leon, was attracted to the beauty of Maria and how she looked at her. When they were traveling back to their province, Nagrebcan, the action begins to rise.
Rising Action: The conflict of the story is when Maria took the dry bed Waig as a substitute for passing the Camino Real. Since it was a wish of Leon's father to wear a waig.
Climax: When Maria told Leon that she was afraid with his father because she thought that Leon's father doesn't like her.
Falling Action: The denoument of the story is when Leon was searching for their father and her mother told them that his leg is bothering him again.
Ending: Baldo cross the threshold of his father and ask him about Maria. Afterwards the door opened and Leon and Maria come in. Baldo looked to Maria so lovely and went out to watered Labang which his father told him.
Symbolism: The only symbolism that I could understand in the story is the journey of the four, including Labang, were traveling back to their province. It symbolizes the bravery, determination, and be patient on whatever difficult challenges that we must have to sacrifice just to be happy. Like in a relationship, it is a test proven that you can fight for it and overcome all the problems within your partner. There is no perfect relationship.
Theme: The story shows that someone status in life is not a hindrance of loving someone. It also depicts the values of being a Filipino that acceptance is very important in life especially in our family.
Lesson: The greatest sacrifice for the happiness of someone you love and whom you really care about. Despite and in spite of all challenges and hindrances that life may brought us we should always be ready to face it.
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