The Lady and Her Five Suitors ( Mimetic Approach)

The Lady and Her Five Suitors

By: Arabian Knights

SUMMARY:

                    The lady and her five suitors by the Arabian knights is all about a lady who lost her husband. Her husband went on a trip one day but never did he return. So the lady then decided to find or fall in love again for the second time. But unfortunately her lover was sent o jail. She went to the four most powerful person or men in that land, namely; Kazi, Wali, Wazir, and King.

                    But as he approach those four men they each ask for a trade in order for them to make a way to release her lover. The trade is for her to spend a day with these men. But the lady was to clever. She thought of way on how to get rid of this suitors.  After a deliberate thinking, she then asked a carpenter to make a cabinet with five compartments. One by one as the suitors arrived, she would give them clothes and foods. And then if someone knocks on the door, she would pretend that it was her husband.  So she acts as if she is restless. And then suitors would hide in the cabinet for they fear it was her husband. After which the carpenter arrived having a little argument against  the lady. She then pushed her in the fifth cabinet and locked it.

                      She then went to the jail with the release note made by the king. After that they left town together and stow away , leaving the suitors, and the carpenter trapped in the cabinet. After many days the content of the cabinet was set free by the neighbors. They were recognized because of their  clothes.

ANALYSIS:

                     Though scenes in the story is somewhat fictional, it still depicts the truth happening in our society. Especially the truth that some ladies or women nowadays settle for being a prostitute in order for their needs to be satisfied. Though we think that what we are doing is good because our intention is true, fact still remains that to other people it is not moral.

                         Also the lady being clever reflects people today that we need to be strategic in dealing things. Not settling for one option only but for many selection. She thought of ways on how to get out of the deal without her being touched. This just manifest or shows  how a person can be clever when she is in a desperate state. 

                    

 

A CHILD OF SORROW

A CHILD OF SORROW

By: Zoilo Galang

                                                           

BIOGRAPHY

              Zoilo Galang was born on June 27 1895 in Bacolor, Pampanga. An encyclopedist, and the very first English-language Filipino novelist.He spent his early life in a Bucolic town famed for its writers and artist. He lived with influenced of Spanish culture but was raised and gained consciousness under American culture. He went to school at the Bacolor Elementary School and then went to Manila to study at the Escuela de Derecho, the country’s eminent law school where he graduated in 1919. A self-starter, he learned typing and stenography in English and Spanish all by himself. Attracted to the English language, he took special courses at the University of the Philippines in 1925, then went to Columbia University for further studies in Literature.

     After which, he began to write books of fiction, biography, and philosophy.His early poems saw print of the Kapampangan paper, “E Mngabiran”. He authored “ A Child of Sorrow”, the first English novel  written by  Filipino. This was later made into a movie in 1930. Other notable works include “ Nadia”, “ For Dreams Must Die”, “Springtime”, “ Leaders of the Philippines”, “Glimpse of the worlds”, “ Life and Success”, Master of Destiny”, “Unisophy”, and “Barrio Life”
          

           But his greatest opus undoubtedly is the Encyclopedia of the Philippines, which began as a 10 volume set when first printed. Galang  himself, edited and wrote entries for the book set which covered Philippine literature, biography, commerce and industry, art, education, religion, government, science, history and builders of the new Philippines. The Encyclopedia of the Philippines came with a general information and index.

Source: http://viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com/2009/08/155-zoilo-galang-kapampangan.html

                                SUMMARY


              "A Child's Sorrow"  is the very first Filipino novel written in English. It was published in 1921 by Zoilo Galang, a Filipino Novelist. 

                The story was set one summer when Lucio Soliman decided to accompany his friend Camillo in the beautiful town of Merry Town, Camillo's hometown. Lucio was a very poetic man who'd prefer sitting all day just to read. But because his friend was to eager to show his friend reality, he insisted that Lucio must take a vacation in their town.

                 Their she met a young, innocent, and delicate maiden that made Lucio's heart beat by the name of Rosa Garcia.  He felt in love with her. And as Lucio describe the love he felt towards this girl, he said it will make Apollo's lyre play. He was madly in love. Rosa felt the same towards Lucio.

                Until the end of summer vacation drew near and they knew they have to be temporarily apart. Lucio has to pursue his dreams, he studied. Known for his intelligence, he became a popular person. He became very busy, but still he misses the company of his dearest loved. He became sorrowful. Not until Rosa wrote a letter to make him bliss. Then he regained his strength. They have not forgotten the love that empowers both of them.  Until a celebration in merry Town paved way for the lovers to reunite. Lucio was invited to speak in the public. But the Governor ( Rosa's Father) was not please and her has this ill feeling towards Lucio. He instantly asked Oscar ( His most trusted man and Rosa's persistent suitor) who is the man speaking. When he found out that it was her child's fiancee, he was not happy. 


                 
                  Days, week, and months had passed they were surprise of the news that Rosa will be married not to his fiancee, but to Oscar. But because Lucio was to obedient to his parent, he permitted Rosa to marry Oscar which made both of them sorrowful .It was hard for him though. But he just wanted Rosa to follow her mother.  Though Rosa  does  not want to marry Oscar, she was forced to because he was raped. For the sake of her " delicadesa"  she was betrothed to Oscar. 

                 Later had passed Lucio's father died, and after several weeks his love, Rosa died. This made Lucio felt a lot more of sorrow.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

                    The setting, the scenarios, and the traditions in the novel were much alike in the early 1920's. Back then, the way how people live is being conveyed through the portrayal of the traits of people.  Like for example before, there is a long process of courting, they don't just easily give there answer. They tests their suitors if they are really serious about them.

                       It can also be seen in the stories that politicians, especially rich people use their prowess in order to gain whatever they wanted. They will do whatever it takes just to acquire what they needed , even though acquiring it through the means of force and harassment. Manipulating people through their power is showed in the novel. Which is very evident until now.

                     Touch of Spanish culture is also shown in the novel. Wherein their traits, even the way they dress is being employed.  Allusion even are present in the story.

CONCLUSION

                     The story tells us about the feeling of being in love. In loving a person, you must be prepared to face the ups and downs,  and the twist and turns of life. Couple with the feeling of love and happiness, there is always sorrow. You must learn to sacrifice and be hurt in the thing called LOVE.

                    It also tells us the fact that in the world of politics, politician use there powers in order to conceive what they wanted whatever it takes. Which Don Ismael represents.

                    Another representation are of Rosa and Lucio. Rosa represents the true nature of a Filipina. A demure, moral and beautiful inside and out. Lucio represents the author, who addicted to books. This made him experience life in a second hand way.

                        In totality, the story conveys the reality that life is a series of challenges. Life is not all about being happy. In order to truly experience life,  you must bravely encounter both the happiness and sorrows.  This serves as an inspiration to all.

                       

The Sick Rose Analysis ( A Formalist Approach)

                                                                 By: William Blake

                   The poem by William Blake entitled " The Sick Rose" talks about a beautiful young lady who lost her virginity to a worthless man. who has dark secret intention towards her. Blinded by what sensation she is feeling towards the man, she gave up everything, especially her most treasured jewel.  Not  knowing that what she will do will lead to her own destruction. Frustrations runs over her which make her sick and unwell.

                   One stormy night, in a bed full of sensation and pleasure, a young lady  who is innocent and pure decided to to surrender her chastity to a secretive man, whom she doesn't know very well.  This man took advantage of the lady's weakness,pouring out his love full of lust. And in the end she regretted it and eventually she got frustrated.

                     The rose symbolizes  mortality which reflects life of an individual. First it grow buds which represent  childhood, and later then become a fully bloomed flower which is to become a woman. It also symbolizes love and beauty. The worm in the story symbolizes a phallic symbol which suggest sex or a private part of a man. Crimson, a color that suggest sin or passion. Which means in the 6th stanza of the poem shows possibly an idea of shame. It may also suggest blood shed during the intercourse.

                  The poems tells us that,  the theme of the story is about mortality,  violence, love, and sex. Mortality in a sense that. there is an upcoming death suggested by the illness in the 1st and last stanza of the poem. Another one is violence. With "dark secret love" as the man's weapon, he could bring destruction towards the life of the young innocent lady. Love is also one of the theme of the story. Though it's not like what we define love, it also has this thing. but it shows a dark secret love. Which simply means that it's private or hidden or some termed as "SEX" without a blessing.  And lastly, sex. "the bed of crimson joy" suggest that there is surely a lot more like that.