Critical analyses, i.e comparisons and contrasts between Nick Joaquin's "Summer Solstice" and Aida Rivera-Ford's "Love in the Cornhusks" have reaped rich material for cultural, gender, and class studies. For your fourth blog requirement, compose an essay on cultural or political issues, occurences, problems, etc. related to relationships, sex and marriage.
Use the insights you have gained from our discussions of the above-mentioned stories as take-off points or writing prompts. You may focus on one or more characters, the conflict/s of each story, the theme/s, symbolism, etc. embedded in the stories. You may do a comparison and contrast between the social conditions then and now, or you may talk about cultural differences between regions, countries, religions, etc.
Whatever you choose to do, do some research on your topic. Cite concrete situations, practices, events, etc. and support these with sources.
Both these stories revolve around the idea of Marriage.
The Summer Solstice was set around, though only an assumption, during the time where marriage or the catholic faith was strong in the Philippines. I.e The Spanish were still playing a big part in the country. In this story it is seen that the main couple were of a decent background, socially, financially, religiously, stable. This is of course not the case for the rest of the populace or other characters in the story. Since the couple were of the normal upbringing, they of course acted normally, or at least normal in terms of western civilization of how couples act within a marriage. The same cannot be said of course for the other characters. Though mid-way of the story the main couple are made aware by the ways of the others, the so called fertility gathering or what not, if my memory serves me right. This in turn somehow, changes the attitude or state of this, normally "western" couple, who now embraces the more ritualistic tradition. The end of the story also plays an important role as it serves as a twist in say "gender equality", which was almost none existent during that bygone era, in which women play a more submissive in a relationship.
In "Love in the Cornhusks", marriage is seen to be more of a simplistic concept in which marriage is a sort of crotch for the incapable. This of course is merely my interpretation and yet, is evident(?) i think in this story in which the woman choosing to stay with the marriage partner, this in turn reveals the fact that in today's society, no specifications in country, that marriage is indeed a way to share a burden with someone else, so much so that love is no longer a factor, this of course may be a very cynical way in viewing the tradition and may be untrue in some circles and yet stories such as this portray this all too true fact of life, almost to the point that women are using marriage as a trap for the man, for the aforementioned conveniences. This once again, i stress is mere speculation but, is a notable opinion nonetheless. Though of course I DO NOT put the blame on women, no, at least not solely on women, nor do i blame the cultural background of these women. If ever i was gonna point a finger, id point it on the irresponsibility of people in general, and the attitude to blame something or turn to something to ease the blow. In the stories case its the tradition of marriage that's getting the slack.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage - MARRIAGE
http://cyberparent.com/women/womenmarry.htm - WOMEN on MARRIAGE (lol)
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