The Wedding Dance

I. Author’s Background

Amador T. Daguio was born on January 8, 1912 in Laog, Ilocos Norte, but grew up in Lubuagan, Kalinga, where his father, was assigned as police officer in the Philippine Constabulary. Amador Daguio graduated as a class valedictorian in 1924 at Lubuagan ElementarySchool. After his graduation Amador realized that there was no High School in his home area during that time. So Amador decided to go with his uncle at Fort William McKinley to study at Rizal High School in Pasig.

During that period Amador became lonely. Through his loneliness he was driven to write poetry to express his feelings. The one of the poetry that Amador wrote was published in a National Publication. Out of the school for the first semester in 1928, Amador earned his tuition 60 pesos by serving as a house boy, waiter and carrying the things of the officers at Fort McKinley.

Amador Daguio walked going to school about two kilometers. This continued for three years, when his uncle arrived from Honolulu who paid his tuition during his third year.

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Even his uncle pay his tuition Amador still worked on Saturday’s and Sunday’s as a printer at the University of the Philippines and served as a Philippine Collegian reporter. Amador stories and poems appeared in all the Manila Papers. Amador graduated at the University of the Philippines as one of the ten honorees in 1932.

Amador T. Daguio returned to his home area in Lubuagan to work as a teacher. In the year 1938, he went to Zamboanga, a normal school to teach, on that time he also met his wife named Estela.

In 1941 before the second World War they transferred to a normal shool somepart in Leyte. He joined the resistance and wrote poems in secret, during the Japanese Occupation. Amador was collected as Bataan Havest, he was bosom-friend of another writer in the resistance of Manuel E. Arguilla. Amador also taught for twenty six years at the University of East, U.P. and Philippine Women’s University. In the year 1973, six years after his death, Amador T. Daguio was give the Republic Cultural Heritage Award.

Literary analysis
Amador daguio
The wedding dance
Submitted to: Sir benjamine sacla
Submitted to: peter dango jr.
Submitted on: February 18, 2013

II. SYNOPSIS/ SUMMARY

Awiyao and Lumnay were husband and wife for seven years, but now the husband has to marry another woman, Madulimay, because Lumnay was not able to give him a child. (In their culture in the mountains during those times, having a child to follow after the husband’s name was a must.)

On the night of the wedding, Awiyao goes to his and Lumnay’s house to personally invite her to the traditional wedding dance. However, Lumnay, the best dancer in the entire tribe, refuses to go. Then, during their conversation, it is revealed that both of them still love each other, but because of their tribe’s custom, they have to separate.

Awiyao goes back to the wedding, to the wedding dance, after being fetched by some friends. Lumnay wants to follow, partly because of the dance, and partly because she wants to put a stop to their tribe’s tradition of having to marry another partner just to have a child.

III. THEME or interpretation

* “BARRIERS CAN’T HINDER TRUE LOVE”. The barriers referred to are the society and culture of the place where Awiyao and Lumnay dwells. * The story focus on two things: the continuity of heritage and love. The importance of producing an heir and having someone to inherit the properties and reputation of the family is stressed in Awiyao's need to be married. Awiyao and Lumanay gave up their marriage. * Awiyao and Lumnay define custom by being absent from the wedding feast. In this case they give more importance to love than to tradition and tribe. The couple put their own suffering above the “well-being” of the community.

III. Technical analysis

A. PLOT

a) Introduction

* The story opens with Awiyao entering his and Lumnay’s house.

b) Rising Action

* Things get complicated when Awiyao and Lumnay talks and Lumnay says she dont want any other man.

c) Climax
* So much intense felt when Awiyao says he does not want any other woman. There is much more intense when they said that they still love each other.

d) Falling action
* When Awiyao and Lumnay have to follow their tribe’s tradition.

e) Denouement
* Awiyao had no choise but to go back to the wedding dance.

B. SETTING
a. Place – in the mountains in the Northern part of Philippines
b. Time- a long time ago
c. Weather conditions- fine
d. Social conditions- lower-class
e. Mood or atmosphere- sad and tense

D. CHARACTERIZATION
1. Lumnay – the first wife of Awiyao, Beautiful, Good Dancer, Strong in planting beans, Fast in cleaning jars, and a good housekeeper / Round 2. Awiyao- the husband of Awiyao, Humorous and physicaly fit / Flat 3. Madulimay – Awiyao’s new wife / Flat

D. POINT OF VIEW
* The Point of View used in the story is when the author tells the story in third person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc). We know only what the character knows and what the author allows him to tell us. We can see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the author chooses to reveal them to us.

E. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

* The literary device used in the story was Symbolism. There are many symbols used such as darkness, the house’s four walls, the smoldering embers, and the beads. The darkness symbolizes how the two lead characters feel. Meanwhile, the house’s walls symbolize the former couple’s “imprisonment.” The smoldering embers that become glowing coals symbolize the love that the main character towards each other. Finally, the beads symbolize Awiyao’s great love for Lumnay, even if she can’t give him a child.

G. CONFLICT

* The conflict is between nature and culture: the man - representing culture, and the woman – signifying nature. Awiyao’s decision to get married again was because of the dictates of society. “Lumnay, if I did this it is because of my need for a child. You know that life is not worth living without a child. The man have mocked me behind my back. ...” Awiyao was concerned with what people would think about him. He was worried that his being a man might be questioned because of Awiyao and Lumnay’s failed effort to have a child. He decided to follow the culture of his tribe rather than what he really wanted.