How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife

I like this story because of its content, the way the author
gives description to something or someone, like the way she
describes Maria in the first part of the story. Another thing
that I like about this story is the values that we should have.
We can also be able to relate it to our daily lives, especially
when we have to meet our special someone to our family. I
only give you some details of the story and I hope you'll love
to read it. :)

Summary
Baldo and his older brother Leon were both waiting for their
visitor riding a carratela. When Baldo sa his older brother's
wife, who is Maria, he was amazed by her beauty as he
narrates their journey to their home in Nagrebcan. Maria was
felt a bit anxious because of meeting Leon and Baldo's
parents for the first time, but along their way home, she
discovered the differences of the life of the people lived there
and the life in the city where she met and fell in love with
Leon.

Characters:

Leon/Noel - Maria's husband, older brother of Baldo

Maria - Leon's wife

Baldo - Leon's younger brother, also the narrator of this
story

Mother and Father of Leon and Baldo

Aurelia - Leon and Baldo's younger sister

Labang - the carabao

Setting:
Nagrebcan, Bauang La Union

Plot:

Leon and Baldo waited for the arrival of Maria at the

barrio.

Maria was afraid that she won't be accepted by Leon's

father because she may not able to adapt their way of living
in the province.

Baldo was ignoring to his older brother's question about

why did they have to go to Waig instead of Camino Real. (The
reason is that their father wanted to test Maria if she is
worthy to be Leon's wife.)

Baldo discussed their travel to his father.

Leon's entire family talked to Maria. his Father's voice

became livelier than before when he talked to her (which
means he accepted her wholeheartedly.)

Moral Lesson:

We should respect and accept one's life.

Social status is not a hindrance if you truly love each

other.

Meeting your special someone to your family is the right

thing to do.

One may have to sacrifice small part of his/her life in

order to have a happy life.
'How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife'
The theme of 'How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife' is that one must preserve, even
through certain sacrifices, in order to reach one's goal. In particular:

- One may have to surrender a small part of one's life in order to be happy.
In the story, Leon arrived with his wife in the country meeting Leon's brotherfor the first time.
They took a surprising route home for Leon, but it was meant as a test for the wife to see if she
could endure the sacrifices she made and meet her new family.
The entire story serves as a test for the wife. Each test was to show whether the woman could
indeed live with strangers all for love. This can be a secondary theme, but more importantly, it is
a theme in which the main character learns that though there are sacrifices it is worth it in the
end.
He even begins to think about getting himself a wife eventually. This helps to show the theme
and how it developed. He notices through all the tests the woman though afraid will preserve
through the trials in order to be happy with Leon at his home.
The fact that the country is different from the city can be somewhat daunting the closer they get
to the home, but she still manages to overcome and under come any trials.
The wife admits to having some fear, but also shows clearly it did not stop her. This is why the
theme is related to how one may have to give up some things in order to find happiness in life or
at least the best happiness that can be found in that particular life. The trials just add to the
picture being offered by the author.
http://arts-literature.blurtit.com/2050677/summary-of-how-my-brother-leon-broughthome-a-wife

Literary Analysis How My Brother Leon

Brought Home a Wife
By duyismayi

Title:
How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife
Author:
Manuel Arguilla (1911 1944) was an Ilokano writer in English, patriot, and martyr.
He is known for his widely anthologized short story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a
Wife," the main story in the collection "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and

Other Short Stories" which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.
Most of Arguilla's stories depict scenes in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union where he
was born. His bond with his birthplace, forged by his dealings with the peasant folk
of Ilocos, remained strong even after he moved to Manila where he studied at the University
of the Philippines where he finished BS Education in 1933 and where he became a member
and later the president of the U.P. Writer's Club and editor of the university's Literary
Apprentice.
He became a creative writing teacher at the University of Manila and later worked at the
Bureau of Public Welfare as managing editor of the bureau's publication Welfare
Advocate until 1943. He was later appointed to the Board of Censors. He secretly organized
a guerrilla intelligence unit against the Japanese.
In October 1944, he was captured, tortured and executed by the Japanese army at Fort
Santiago.
Summary:
Exposition:
Maria was the first one introduced in the story - the wife of the main character Leon. She
first noticed Baldo, the brother of Leon; then Labang was introduced, the family bull.
Complication:
On the way, Maria expressed her fear - that their father might not like her.
Conflict:
Leon explained to Maria that their father is the mildest-tempered, gentlest man he knew.
Climax:
When they got home, their father did not welcome them. He was said to be in his room; his
leg is bothering him again. Baldo saw his mother and sister Aurelia and Maria in the kitchen
who seemed like crying. His father removed the roll of tobacco in his mouth when he saw
Baldo and started...