Manuel Estabilla Arguilla (Nagrebcan, June 17, 1911 – beheaded, Manila Chinese Cemetery, August 30, 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. His stories "Midsummer" and "Heat" were published in Tondo, Manila by the Prairie Schooner. 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, finished his BS in Education in 1933, and became a member and later the president of the U.P. Writer's Club and editor of the university's Literary Apprentice.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Arguilla)
Vocabulary:
jolt-push or shake (someone or something) abruptly and roughly.
andadasi- a herbal plant
Characters:
Baldo - the narrator and brother of Leon.
Leon/Noel - the brother of Leon. He was the husband of Maria. From what I have read, he is a cheerful and responsible man. He was called Noel by Maria, which is reordering the letters in Leon's name.
Maria - the wife of Leon. She is someone from the city.
Father - The one who instructed Baldo to go through the Waig. In the story, he was thought to be someone scary, but according to Leon, he was the gentlest and mildest tempered man he knows.
Labang - the cow of Baldo
Ca Celin - the man who rode the horse for the transportation of Maria and Leon when they were travelling to the province.
Setting
The story was set in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union, which is the also the hometown of the author. The story occurred between the 1930s and 1940s. I believe that this was before the Japanese colonized Philippines.
PLOT
Exposition
The story starts when Leon/Noel arrived in the province with Maria, with Baldo waiting for them. In this part, Baldo described Maria as someone who is exceptionally beautiful. We can also how she is not used to the countryside. We can also see Leon and Maria's interaction with each other, and how Leon takes care of Maria during their trip.
Rising Action
The conflict starts when Baldo took a different route from what was planned, and Leon questioned him about it. Baldo admitted that their father ordered him to take this route, with the intention of testing Maria if she is suited to the life in the province. However, Leon took this positively, and instead showed the night view to Maria, which can be seen in their trip.
Climax
Even though the road was rocky, the couple still found a way to enjoy their trip. Below the night sky, they sang "Sky Sown in Stars". As their trip goes on, the jolting of the cart becomes more violent, which causes Leon to worry if Maria feels uncomfortable and misses the city. However, we can see that Maria doesn't mind that all, and that she is more worried if Leon's father will accept her as the wife of Leon. Leon assured her that his father was a good man.
Falling Action
When they arrived in their home, Baldo was called by his father. His father asked him if Maria was afraid of Labang, and how she reacted during their trip. Baldo told him that Maria enjoyed the trip.
Ending/Conclusion
Leon, together with Maria, confronts his father. Baldo was ordered to water Labang, and as he goes out, he again notices the beauty of Maria.
The conflict starts when Baldo took a different route from what was planned, and Leon questioned him about it. Baldo admitted that their father ordered him to take this route, with the intention of testing Maria if she is suited to the life in the province. However, Leon took this positively, and instead showed the night view to Maria, which can be seen in their trip.
Climax
Even though the road was rocky, the couple still found a way to enjoy their trip. Below the night sky, they sang "Sky Sown in Stars". As their trip goes on, the jolting of the cart becomes more violent, which causes Leon to worry if Maria feels uncomfortable and misses the city. However, we can see that Maria doesn't mind that all, and that she is more worried if Leon's father will accept her as the wife of Leon. Leon assured her that his father was a good man.
Falling Action
When they arrived in their home, Baldo was called by his father. His father asked him if Maria was afraid of Labang, and how she reacted during their trip. Baldo told him that Maria enjoyed the trip.
Ending/Conclusion
Leon, together with Maria, confronts his father. Baldo was ordered to water Labang, and as he goes out, he again notices the beauty of Maria.
Symbolism
One of the things I noticed in the story was how Maria was described. She was described as a beautiful girl from the city who married a man from the province. I believe that the first part wherein she was described as beautiful refers to her physical appearance. However, as the story goes on, we can see that she is a kind and loving person, and even though her journey to his husband's home was full of obstacles, she was able to smile with him and enjoy the trip. At the end of the story, I can say that she is beautiful inside out, since she never complained despite being from the city.
The road which they took to get to Leon's house symbolizes the hardships that a relationship goes through. It might be full of rocks or obstacles which will test how sturdy a relationship is. There will be good times, just like when they were able to see the stars in the night sky, and there will be darkness in their journey. There might even be times where you yourself will not be confident about your relationship. But through each other's support, I believe that you will be able to get through the rocky path.
Lesson:
If you truly love someone, you will be able to surpass anything for him, and accept him for who he/she is. You are able to accept him/her as a whole, and you will love him even if you are tested.
One of the things I noticed in the story was how Maria was described. She was described as a beautiful girl from the city who married a man from the province. I believe that the first part wherein she was described as beautiful refers to her physical appearance. However, as the story goes on, we can see that she is a kind and loving person, and even though her journey to his husband's home was full of obstacles, she was able to smile with him and enjoy the trip. At the end of the story, I can say that she is beautiful inside out, since she never complained despite being from the city.
The road which they took to get to Leon's house symbolizes the hardships that a relationship goes through. It might be full of rocks or obstacles which will test how sturdy a relationship is. There will be good times, just like when they were able to see the stars in the night sky, and there will be darkness in their journey. There might even be times where you yourself will not be confident about your relationship. But through each other's support, I believe that you will be able to get through the rocky path.
Lesson:
If you truly love someone, you will be able to surpass anything for him, and accept him for who he/she is. You are able to accept him/her as a whole, and you will love him even if you are tested.
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