Midsummer by Manual Arguilla
The theme of the
story is all about attraction and being enamored during the first meeting
between two people: Manong and Ading. The story is set in the middle of summer
where we can feel the hotness and scorching heat of a relationship that is
growing. It is during midsummer when plants are growing just like the growing
relationship of the two characters. The story is a not-so-special meeting
between a man and woman that might have a promising relationship in the future.
The character’s conversation is plain just like the landscape setting but it
was filled with passion and emotions. The story is very detailed which let us
readers conclude that they both have the same feelings for each other. Although
the story is more on portraying the feelings of Manong, we can also say that
Ading is attracted to him in the way she observes and approach him. As readers,
we can feel the tension between the two people as Manuel Arguilla’s details how
the characters look and act; for example: Her lips parted in a half smile and a
little dimple appeared high upon her right cheek. Manuel Arguilla might want
his readers to capture the possibility of seeing love between two strangers in
their first meeting. The story might be described as love at first sight. It’s
about the encounter of Manong and Ading at an isolated village well. It is
noontime and a very burning day in summer, Manong was carrying his cart towards
the well when he saw a young woman named, Ading. At first, Ading didn’t notice
Manong and Manong is hesitating to talk or approach her. Even though Manong was
unfortunate that Ading didn’t mind him, while he was eating, Ading approached
him and stared at him. They had a little conversation, and the bucket of water
splashed in his food unintentionally. After that incident, Manong helped Ading
in filling the jar again. The sun is almost everywhere, it is then that she
invited Manong to her home which made Manong more interested to her. Midsummer
closes with Manong, following Ading in the direction of her house where there
is a shade of relief from the heat of the day. Midsummer might be read as an
illustration that is simple. When we reflect on the story, there is a comparison
between the youth and liveliness of the couple. The story is full of emotion that
captivates the readers easily. In reality, love at first sight simply
opinionated by other people. We can’t really feel love when you first met
someone, especially to a stranger, but you may feel attracted to him or her. The
story is only after the attraction during the first meeting of the character;
therefore readers are kept thinking what might be the ending of their
relationship – is it a happy or bad ending? Destiny also works in the story
because things were going unexpectedly especially the last part. The last part
which is “He felt very strong. He felt that he could follow the slender, lithe
figure to the end of the world” struck us the most because that part made us
know that there will be something more after that meeting- something
unpredictable might happen between the characters. The characters in the story
symbolize the Filipino people before particularly the dalagang Filipina and a binata
from rural area. The man in the story or Manong is the one striving to look for
a work with his pet bull. The woman is hospitable because she invited Manong to
their house. The story is describing the typical way of a dalagang Filipina met a binata; which is comparable to our
generation where traditional way of meeting someone is different. The
faced-paced lifestyle in urban areas is far from the simplicity living in rural
areas. Manong treated Ading with respect and kindness. Nowadays, we
misinterpret love and attraction. Love is something you will feel for the longest
time; while being attracted is the opposite. Life is also full of surprises and
you’ll never know what’s waiting for you. Things go unexpectedly just like the
story. In the middle of the summer, a man never felt anything like that before
when he saw and got a chance to talk with the woman. Comparing the characters,
the physical strength of man and their power to captivate women are shown;
while women are also trying their best to be strong but then they always have
weakness. Manuel Arguilla wrote this openly using the Filipino setting and
attributes. The story is really happening. Only Filipinos could relate in the
story because it describes Filipino people before- mahinhin and torpe. We
think that Arguilla wanted to write the way Filipino acts. Filipino traits like
how we eat, how we greet other people, especially strangers, our casualness
toward other people, and also our quick acceptance of others are seen it the
story. Manuel wrote this story with vivid and understandable descriptions. Manuel
Arguilla wrote Midsummer during American colonial period where Filipinos are
striving their way to live with new influence and balance it with their
traditional way. The overall story is simple and uncomplicated yet bringing us
modernized Filipinos to look back on our past and appreciate its simplicity.
Uh, Grammar corrections? Comment!
Thanks for reading :)
Thanks for reading :)
