Evaluation of Short Stories

Submitted to: Mrs. Velarde Submitted by: Alleli A. Aspili Bsbamm2a

Cost Price
Plot
Joe and Isabel have their relationship as lovers, but they cannot enter into marriage. Isabel is an assistant librarian and Joe work in a publishing house. They both think that their jobs are miserable. Poverty is their reason why they cant marry each other. They often quarrel about this problem and even though both of them desire each other so much, they cant decide fully if theyll marry each other or not. They almost had pre-marital sex (in the story) for three times in different places at the park, library and movie house. At the park, where both of them were alone, Joe made the move but Isabel said no. She is always doing that, even at the library and movie house. Isabel is the one who thinks first before doing one thing. In the end, Isabel just swept crying. Joe might leave her because of what Isabel has kept doing thinking first and saying no to Joe.

Characters
Joe He works in a publishing house and his sideline is selling books on libraries. He is a lover of Isabel and he wants her so much. He is the one who always compel Isabel to make love. Isabel She is the girlfriend of Joe. She works as an assistant librarian of Mrs. Suntay. This girl thinks so much about her future, especially her life with Joe onwards. She possesses the trait of thinking first before doing something. Mrs. Suntay She is the boss of Isabel.

Setting
Main events happen on three places at the park, at the library and movie house.

Out in the park earlier that afternoon, there had not been too many people. Except for two other pairs who had passed them unheeding, and themselves disappeared among the trees, the park had been empty, shrouded with that quality of open privacy which was both its gift and bane.

Inside the cool theater they did not talk of it again. They sat instead watching the beautiful men and women move on the screen, speaking the careful, meaningful words contorting their faces into grimaces of pain and joy and falling upon each other in embraces that seemed to resolve everything. The unlighted reading room looked larger than it really was even when Isabel closed the door upon the sleeping street outside. IN the tiny space behind the bookcase, they stood for a few moments, two shadows among the many others in the room.

Theme
The themes for this story are passion and romance. Joe and Isabel, sure, are deeply in love with each other. They are passionate and nearly have romance done in a different way. Another theme may be the scarcity, which theyre experiencing at that time. They lack money thats why they cannot marry.

Point of View
It uses Omniscient point of view. The story is told by the author, Kerima Polotan Tuvera, wherein he has all the information about what Isabel and Joes life is. He was the one who interpreted the whole story and used himself as the character interchangeably. He knows all facts; therefore the authors perspective is injected into the story.

Archetypes Conflict
Man vs. Circumstances

Values
Think first before doing something. Isabel portrayed a good example of this value because, she never agreed to Joe to have sex because he thinks what will happen in the future if theyll do that, in their situation that they experience poverty.

Scent of Apples
Plot

Bienvenido Santos went to Kalamazoo in order to attend a meeting wherein he met a Filipino farmer, who were the same as him before. Celestino Fabia is the name of that farmer. He asked Bienvenido if the Filipino women back in the Philippines were still the same like they were twenty years ago. Bienvenido then answered him that the Filipino women are still the same inside, even though that in physical appearance they are completely different. After that conference or meeting, they talked and Fabia invited Bienvenido to come into their house. On the day where they will be going there, Fabia told the story of his family. He has one son, Roger and his wife is Ruth. Ruth and Roger are both excited on seeing Bienvenido because its the time that they will see a Filipino again. Roger liked Bienvenido that he said that he is much like of his father. When Bienvenido entered Fabias house, it smelled apples all over the place. The reason is Fabia has an orchard of apples in their backyard, located inside the farm where Fabia gets their living. They use apples for earning money in order to survive, but sometimes they experience loss in this kind of business and it results apples to be rotten. In case these apples remain rotten, they just kept those in stock inside their house, leaving scent of apples. In the end, Bienvenido left the house saying goodbye but with the feeling of love towards Fabias family.

Characters
Bienvenido Santos He is the author of the story and he is the one who narrates the whole story. He is a Filipino and he attended an open forum in America, wherein he had answered questions about Filipino women and American women. Celestino Fabia He is a Filipino farmer who lives in America together with his family. He is the one who asked a question about Filipino women. I left the Philippines more than twenty years ago and have never been back. Never will,

perhaps. I want to find out, sir, are our Filipino women the same like they were twenty years ago?

Ruth Fabia She is the wife of Celestino and is a very caring wife. She took care of Celestino when he was sick even though she is pregnant with Roger. She is a nice girl according to Celestino, and shes like the Filipino women. She is an American. A fat blonde woman stood in the doorway with a little boy by her side.

Roger Fabia He is the son of Celestino and Ruth. He admires Bienvenido so much because he is more likely to his father. He said that Bienvenido is a first-class Filipino, as well as Celestino. Roger is a nice boy and is so innocent. He ignores his father when he is told that they are poor folks.

Setting
The story happened in Kalamazoo and it is October. The place is where Filipinos live; its like a Filipino community in America. The main setting was in Fabias place, wherein he invited Bienvenido to come by and eat dinner. This was also the place where scent of apples was smelled and where the way Fabias living is seen.

Theme
The main theme in this story is nationalism. Filipino women were emphasized in the story. And it makes the reader realize that Filipino women, even though they changed physically, they still are not yet changing deep inside.

Point of View
Bienvenido Santos used the First person point of view. He narrates the story as far as he can perceive and sense. He is the one who tells the story and all he knows is limited to an extent. He used the I pronoun. It was cold night when I left my room at the hotel for another speaking engagement. I walked but a little

away.

Archetypes
Apple - Filipino women who may have changed physically but they are still the same Filipino women many years ago - Fertility and happiness Blur Portrait - preservation of Filipino women - serves as the reminder of Celestinos mother Winter observer of hope

Conflict
Man vs. Convention

Values
Be nationalistic. Dont forget how you lived and grew in one place. Preserve the positive traits of Filipinos.

Hunger in Barok
Plot
In the season of hunger in the place of Mindoro, Barok, Cesar Manao visited his friend and laborer Pare Crispin. Mang Cesar owned some land house in the town of Mansalay. He also has his coffee plantation. The people there are already starving and Mang Cesar wish to have hope for them. When he and Pare Crispin had met, they talked about what Crispin is thinking. He thinks of leaving the place of Cesar. Pare Crispin wanted to go back to his original work and trade he wants to be a fisherman rather than working all day long planting. Pare Crispin decided to go because on their place, rain is not yet coming, and they have nothing to eat. Their problem is rice. The family of Pare Crispin just eats sweet potatoes and its the food that makes them pass hunger for one day. Mang Cesar is compelling Pare Crispin to stay because he is a fellow hard-working farmer who has the soil with him. On the night they had dinner, for Pare Crispin to taste rice, Mang Cesar offered Crispin to take cavan of seed of rice for his family to eat. On the next day, Mang Cesar decided to visit and see Pare Crispin on his hut but when he arrived there, Crispin is not there. At first he thought Pare Crispin and his family had gone away but when he noticed to hear the voice of Pare Crispin from not so far away, he saw Pare Crispin and his family bobbing their heads up and down. They were planting rice.

Characters
Cesar Manao He was called Mang Cesar by many. He owned some land but he is different form the other landowners. He was about forty eight and he felt that it is good that at that age, he had some property and was esteemed by people. He also own a coffee plantation and a horse named Potro.

Pare Crispin He is a loyal tenant to Mang Cesar. He is a fellow who has a way with the soil. He is industrious. He has his family and children whom he cares for a lot, thats why at first he decided to go away from where he is and continue living as a fisherman.

Setting
The story happened during two or three months of the year in Mindoro, Barok - town of Mansalay. He owned some land and a house in the town of Mansalay

Theme
The story conveys shortage of food in Barok. People suffer from hunger because of lack of rice. This is the reason why one of the people there decided to leave the place. They dont want to feel dearth.

Point of View
The author, Gonzales, used the Omniscient point of view. He had put into words what had come into his mind by writing the story between the two people, Pare Crispin and Mang Cesar who have had conversations about what they are tormenting at that time.

Archetypes Conflict
Man vs. Circumstance Man vs. Man

Values
Cherish your relationship with one person and dont forget how much one had helped you in so many ways. Dont loose hope whether it is not seen. Someday, all your problems and troubles might have bee resolving by the help of others, in any such way.

Three Generations
Plot
The story is all about the grandfather, the son and grandson. The grandson is named Chitong and his father is Celo. Chitong takes the law course and it is what his father wants. But he wants to have his vocation and wants to become a priest. He is afraid that his dad might get angry, so he always prayed. One day Celo decided to visit his sick father, together with his son Chitong. When they were in the house of the eldest Monzon, Chitong met Nena, his aunt, the sister of Celo. Nena is the only child of the eldest Monzon left in that house, because everyone just ran away from there, like Celo. Celos father was inside a room, he was very sick and ill. He always wants to see girls beside him, specifically a girl whom he thinks he loved. Celo hates his father for that, thats why when his father is looking for that girl and asked Celo to bring her to him, he refused. But Chitong, a very concern grandson to his grandfather decided to get the girl whom his grandfather is looking for. Even if he knew that this would cause him much trouble to his father, he still decided to continue looking for the girl. When he had brought the girl to his grandfather, his father got really mad and hurt his son Chitong on the face for the very first time. That blow, the punch which he had strike to Chitong became the blow of his confession his whole life.

Characters
Grandfather He is the sick father of Celo. He loves many women and is a womanizer. His disciplinary acts and strictness has been carved in the mind of Celo. He is hated by his son.

The old man lay in the next room and they could hear his heavy, angry breathing punctuated with coughs and oaths. He is like that all the time; he has not eaten for days . . . he keeps asking for the girl, Celo. Maybe it would be much better.
Celo He is the son of the sick grandfather. He is also a strict father to Chitong. He wants his son to have the course law, yet Chitong would not want to continue it. Celo is also a silent person. He had kept a secret to his family, yet he had told it to Chitong.

I never told anyone, not even your mother. Shall we keep it secret between us?

Chitong He is the son of Celo. He wants to become a priest someday and he doesnt want to continue his law course. He is a concerned grandson.

It is about Chitong, he does not want to continue the law-course he is taking. The boy has a vocation, Celo. He wants to study for the priesthood. Then let him! But I am going to bring the girl back. The old man needs her. Now, tell me where she lives.
Doa Sofia She is the very loving and caring wife and mother of Celo and Chitong.

Setting
The main scene happened at the house of the grandfather, while other scenes take place at the Dominican church and at the house of Celos family.

It was still early, only half past seven; and when he came to the Dominican church, he went it. The house stood at the edge of the town. Monzon always thought of it as something tremendous and eternal

Theme
It is all about what a family is and how important it is to understand every single person in the family. No matter what happens, every one must still love each other, support each other and care for each other. The story portrays love within a family and how a family must work and change things together for good.

Point of View
Nick Joaquin uses the Omniscient point of view. He enlightens the story with all what is in his mind.

Archetypes
Wall - it is the barrier between the father, Celo, and his son, Chitong

Conflict
Man vs. Man Man vs. Convention Man vs. Circumstances

Values
Family is the most important thing one must treasure in ones whole life. If your family has inconsistencies, one must do something to make it change for the better. One must understand the other one completely and learn to let go of what happened in the past if it is really needed to be forgotten.

Wedding Dance
Plot
They have been married for seven harvest periods yet Awiyao and Lumnay weren't able to produce children and Awiyao badly need one to affirm his virility and to establish his place among his tribesmen so he decided to leave Lumnay and marry Madulimay. The gangsas beat and women dance to celebrate the union. Awiyao slipped away from the celebration to convince Lumnay to join the dancing women. Instead, their conversation turned to a passionate goodbye, each expressing love for the other, their speeches filled with recollection of precious memories, finding it hard to let go of one another. The climax was reached with Awiyao running, blood surging, resolved to stop the dance and complain against the tribe's culture that permits a man to marry another woman if the first wife couldn't bear him children. But suddenly she stopped and turned back, defeated.

Characters
Awiyao He is the husband of Lumnay who really wishes to have a child. He believes that having a child makes a man a real man. He loves Lumnay so much yet he needs to have a child, also for the sake of their tribe.

Why did the unwritten law demand, anyway, that a man, to be a man, must have a child to come after him? And if he was fruitless but he loved Lumnay. It was like taking away half of his life to leave her like this.

Lumnay She is the wife of Awiyao, a very loving wife who had done everything to give Awiyao their children. She had prayed to Kabunyan many times just to bear a child, but she is really hopeless.

You know I have done my best, she said, I have prayed to Kabunyan much. I have sacrificed many chickens in my prayers. I dont care about the house. I dont care for anything but you. Ill never have another man.
Madulimay She is the girl whom Awiyao will marry for him to have a child.

Setting
The story may be set to the mountainous provinces here in Philippines because the characters belong to a tribe. The tribes usually live in the provinces in such high or steep places like mountains and hills.

I will give you the field that I dug out of the mountain during the first year of our marriage

Theme
The story is all about the tradition and culture of their tribe. One culture is that a husband can remarry another woman even if he is still married to another one.

Point of View
The omniscient point of view of Daguio presented a clash against a basic human emotion and culture and thus established two important points: that culture transcends love and the bitter truth about the inequality of the sexes. He did not establish though that Lumnay was sterile. Awiyao could have been the one with fertility problems. On the second point, their culture permits man to leave his wife and take another woman hoping the second wife would bear him children but no such provision for women exists. And although the first wife may remarry, it would only be after her husband left her.

Archetypes
Beads it represents the love of Awiyao and Lumnay to each other

Conflict
Man vs. Convention Man vs. Circumstances

Values
Try to adapt and connect with the traditions held in where you might be in. Being a man, you should consider what situation you establish. If you have a commitment, better to stay with it. If you dont, you can hurt one person or even many.