A STORY OF “AN AMBIVALENT DECISION” IN MANUEL ARGUILLA’S “RICE”

I. ContextA. Mimetic theory The goal of mimetic criticism is to determine

how well a work of literature connects with the real world, and the theory can be broadened to include approaches that deal with the spiritual and symbolic, the images that connect people of all times and cultures. Mimetic criticism can include aspects of moral/philosophical criticism, psychological criticism and feminist criticism. Mimetic criticism also argues that art conveys universal truths instead of just temporal and individual truths.

Mimetic critics ask how well the work of literature accords with the real world. They analyze the accuracy of a literary work and its morality. They consider whether or not it shows how people really act, and whether or not it is correct. The mimetic critic assesses a literary work through the prism of his or her own time, judging the text according to his own value system.

I. ContextB. Marxism Approach concentrates most on the relationship between the

test and reality ultimately past of much larger effort to uncover the

inner workings of the society generally look at the unresolved tensions or conficts

II. BackgroundThe Author Manuel E. Arguilla was born on June 17,

1911 in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union to parents Crisanto Arguilla, a farmer, and Margarita Estabillo, a potter. Their mediocre living was not a hindrance for Manuel to attain his dreams especially in literature.

II. Background He finished his elementary school in his

hometown and his high school in San Fernando where he became the editor-in-chief of his school's newsletter, the La Union Tab. He was also an athlete where he became champion in swimming events he joined. He entered the University of the Philippines where he joined the UP Writers Club and later became the president and the editor of the UP Literary Apprentice. He finished Education in 1933. He married Lydia Villanueva, a fellow artist and writer and lived in Ermita, Manila. Upon graduation, he practive his profession in University of Manila. He later joined the Bureau of Public welfare where he was the editor of Welfare Advocate, the bureau's publication. As a writer, his famous works were compiled in a book entitled How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (And Other Stories) published by Philippine Book Guild in 1940. These stories were written when he was 22-29 years old. This collection of stories won first prize in short story category during the first Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.

II. Background When the Japanese invaded the country in

1941, Arguilla join the freedom forces of the country and led a division of the Marking's Guerillas. He was captured by the Japanese in 1944 and was imprisoned in Fort Santiago together with his family. His family was later freed but Manuel was sentenced to death. He was executed on October 1944 at age of 33.

Manuel Estabillo 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.

II. Background 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.

II. Background He married Lydia Villanueva, another

talented writer in English, and they lived in Ermita, Manila. Here, F. Sionil José, another seminal Filipino writer in English, recalls often seeing him in the National Library, which was then in the basement of what is now the National Museum. "you couldn't miss him", Jose describes Arguilla, "because he had this black patch on his cheek, a birthmark or an overgrown mole. He was writing then those famous short stories and essays which I admired."

Manuel Arguilla, an Ilocano pride. His shown love to the country as a teacher, a writer, and a freedom fighter was a virtue of patriot who offered his talents and life for the country.

II. Background 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.

III. The StoryCharacters Pablo – an old farmer Sebia – Pablo’s wife Senora – the watchman Andres – Pablo’s co-farmer, much younger than

Pablo Osiang – Andres’ wife

III. The StorySynopsis

An afternoon on a hut with a tamarind tree beside it, Pablo, an old farmer, came from the farm and unhitched his carabao upon its empty sled and began to feed it with a zacate. Then, he called his wife, Sebia, from their hut but no one answers him. He goes to the neighborhood to ask if they’ve seen Sebia and his children but Osiang, their neighbor, seems not hearing what Mang Pablo is asking and give a question back regarding his husband Andres. Later sometime Osiang told Mang Pablo that his wife and three children went to the creek for some snails.

III. The StoryMang Pablo reminisce the scenario later that

morning when he with the several other tenants driven with their sleds to the house of the senora to borrow some grains. But as they go changes come, their usual tersiohan system on borrowing became takipan meaning the amount that they borrow becomes double at harvest time. His co-tenants refuse for this is too much and can’t even know if they can pay it exactly at the time given. In the end everyone leave with an empty sled and will come home without any rice to eat.

III. The StoryThen, Osiang’s voice broke the silence. Asking

if he had already cook their rice and offered him pieces of coal. When he is about to go back home Andres came and give a sign telling he must wait for him. Andres – dark, broad and squat man, wearing a printed camisa de chino appeared asking Mang Pablo if he is coming with them. Mang Pablo advice him not to continue this because they will commit stealing but Andres together with other men is desperate.

III. The StoryAs he turned, he had seen wife and three

children and was accompanied with a man. The man told him that they are fishing in the fields but Sebia disagreed and told him that they are just gathering some snails. Then, the watchman told Mang Pablo that they must pay five cavans. Sebia is asking for the rice but Mang Pablo told him that there is no rice while looking in his hungry children seeing weakness and pain then he asks for his bolo joining Andres and together they walked to the house of Eli.

III. The StorySettingHacienda Consuelo – rice field

Theme"That even the righteous man can do anything just for his family's sake"

IV. AnalysisAt first Pablo, an old farmer, has a carabao

with him, in which the sled of that carabao is empty. Then, he called his wife and children from their hut. No one answered him. He later asked Osiang, their neighbor, she said that Pablo’s wife and children went to the creek to gather some snails.

Pablo remembered the other tenants that went to senora to borrow some rice to feed their family in the morning. Senora offered a deal: the tenants will pay double of what they are going to borrow from her at harvest time. The tenants refused senora’s offer because they thought that her offer is too much that they can’t think of a possible way to replace the rice that they are going to borrow from her. In the end everyone leave with an empty sled, no rice to eat.

IV. AnalysisWhen Pablo was about to go home, Andres,

Osiang’s husband, came and give signs that he must wait for him and asked Pablo if he is coming with them. Pablo is a person that values honesty that’s why he adviced Andres not to continue the act of stealing the rice.

Pablo saw his wife and children with a man that insists Sebia that they are fishing in the fields. But in reality, they are actually gathering some snails. The man also insists that Pablo should pay five cavans of rice. His wife asked for rice but he has nothing to give. Pablo saw his family suffering in hunger and pain. In the the end he asks for his bolo and joined Andres.

IV. AnalysisPoint of view

Omniscient Point of ViewThe reader knows everything

about the story. Everything is revealed to the reader except to the characters.

IV. AnalysisConflict

Pablo has been an honest husband to his wife and a good father to his children, providing all the things that he can provide for his family. Andres, his neighbor, gives him inimical ideas of stealing rice. At first Pablo didn’t want to steal rice. But after seeing his family suffer in hunger and pain, he then asks for his bolo and joined Andres.

V. Reference http://www.ehow.com/facts_5761846_mimetic-theor

y-literary-criticism.html http://my1stblogjd.blogspot.com/2011/10/manuel-a

rguilla.html

http://english120-analisys.blogspot.com/p/analysis_10.html

https://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080630162554AAKZlXv