Joyce Ann Relato

Joyce admits that her biggest dream is to be a "Nun" (but that was before she met her boyfriend.) She is conservative, silent (but may sometimes be talkative.) and tactful. 

talent: stay silent when everyone is in noisy.

weakness: (si anu...)

favorite word: particularly!!,, particularly and particularly???? 

Moonlight

Guy de Maupassant

The story Moonlight by Guy de Maupassant created a character named Abbe Marignan who had the most important role to portray. As his individuality showed bias against women and love. However, this pessimistic viewpoint about them had changed and transformed him into a new person.

His negative thoughts about women were supported by this line,” Woman for him was precisely that child twelve times unclean of whom the poet speaks. She was the temptress who had unshared the first man and who will continue her damnable work-a weak creature, dangerous, curiously disturbing. And even more than her devilish body he hated her loving soul.” These lines gave a clear impression that he really condemns women. And for him God made women only to tempt man and test him. This statement viewed women in a very unjust manner. He was firm of looking women as waste in every man’s life.

He had a niece whom he wished to be a Sister of Charity but she failed him of being one because of falling in love to a man. This made the priest felt disappointed. However, this love which he had seen and the moonlight that appeared during that revelation had changed his stand about love. As he curiously asked, “Why this display of delights that men never see, since they are asleep in their beds? For who was it intended, this sublime spectacle, this flood of poetry poured from the sky over the earth? “In this line he was referring to the moonlight which appeared that night. It described his amazement of the moonlight’s delightful beauty but he got no vivid answer for his question. However, his question turned into realizing that it is intended for those people who appreciate and show pure love to their beloved one. As he saw a girl and boy showing affection under the beauty of the moonlight but shattered his heart proving that his niece really do have a lover.

That point/ part in the story made the priest realized that he was unworthy of God’s grace and temple as he fled, distraught, almost ashamed, as if he had entered a temple where he had no right to be. This line certainly made or transformed his from a man of cold heartedness and emptiness into a man who viewed the value of women and love in the society in the positive way, without bias and judgment.

This story had certainly made us realize that there is no such word as it’s too late to change. Because as we all know there is no constant but change and this story signified this universal thought. Every day is a new day to change what is bad and undesirable. All we have to do is to accept other views and not just considering what we only believe in. We should be open to every perspective of others or even our very own discovery about dealing with life which most of the time we neglect because of our fixed view about something. There is no wrong in changing as long as it is for the good of everybody that surround us and of course for our own improvement as a person.

The Cask of Amontillado

 Edgar Allan Poe

The story “The Cask of Amontillado” has something to do with the life story of Edgar Allan Poe in which it was stressed out the presence of the wine called amontillado in the story. In which it was considered as one of the addiction of Poe during his time which according to some account was the cause of his death because of too much intake-alcoholism.

Poe also related his story to his real life experience in the military service which he became a private in 1827 and sent out to the fort Independence on Castle Land in Boston Harbor where he actually learned the story about a two armies who had this bitter death. He was told not to write anything about it but his will to write did not stop there. That was why the characters on the story “The Cask of Amontillado” where created namely Fortunato and Montressor who portrayed the real situation of Lieut. Massie and Captain Green.

The story reflected how the real scenario happened as Fortunato to be buried by Montressor to the catacomb where Fortunato thought that they will just taste wine but the sad part of it was the dark plan of Montressor. It was said to begin when Montressor was insulted when Fortunato asked Luchesi to taste a wine and then Montressor was disappointed because he was already there but still Fortunato consulted Luchesi. It was almost the same to the real event which Poe intended to know. Lt. Massie was left on a dungeon by Captain Green because of too much envy to him. Lieut. Massie won against him in playing chess. Captain Green was insulted to that part. That’s why he made his wicked plan of in military that happen to be the friends of Lieut. Massie.

In general the story was connected to the real happenings from what Poe had discovered during his stay to the military field. Indeed, Fortunato is a real character in real life. He embodied Lt. Massie in the story who was buried alive in a dungeon.

The thought of being envy to someone create a monstrous creature inside an individual. The story simply opened our eyes from what envy can be done to us and to other life as well. 

Ku Turion Si Kulakog

Jose Jason L. Chancoco

      A decade ago, circumcision or genital incision has been practiced in the Philippine tradition. It was said that it originated from the Arabs, who brought it to the Malays, who they brought it to the Filipinos.

      Circumcision is then a symbol of manliness in our country that once you already have this incision you became now a real man. It is especially when you let the quack doctor done it which is very famous to any province.

Today, the said incision is still practiced by the Filipino male. it is very much described in the story Ku Turion si Kulalog by Jose Jason L. Chancoco. The story specifically referring to the boys residing in the Bicol region in which in some area still continue to have the traditional way of being circumcised. And the boy named Bornok turn into a real man by facing his fear to the said practice.

Bornok, as it was described in the story, is a typical boy who fears of being circumcised just like the other boys in his age. The scenario wherein he fears of the procedure is a natural feeling or emotion of a boy who will undergo the circumcision process. As we can observe young boys use to feel that way in real set up in our society. In the story it was then described how Boknoy feel toward circumcision as this line was presented. “Bornok, magpatataknaykaugmatanganingmapilatulus,” sabi ni papa niya. It was followed by the gesture of Bornok stated, “BiglaangnagpundongmagkaunsiBornok, nagdakulapatisumgam,ata. Isipniyangtuturiuniyanguwannabakasyonalagad di niyaisingugmana!” And Tolenges his friend (Bornok) also showed fear as he said, “Natatakotnganiako.”

Bornok’s parent created the image of Kulakog who is a fearsome creature whom he consideredas a monster. Kulakog in the real life setting is usually the alibi being used by the parents to make their children do something which is against their will. Sometimes a ghost or monstrous character is made by the parents to make things happen. And in the story Dr. HandiOng was described as a character that has a power to stop the pain of circumcision. This is to make Bornok have the procedure done without fear. In real situation, parents usually have the story to share and make that true in the eyes of the children to at least ease the fear to something. And since a child can easily believe something because of their innocence toward life, parents can make them follow.

The story showed how a tradition of one particular country specifically the Bicol Region, that having the practice is a sign of being an “oragon” a term used by the Bicolano people means power or strength. And the manner young boys get the courage to face their fear and be a man enough to face the pain which waited to them. This has something to do with the life’s transition of every boy who dreams to be called as a real symbol of being a real man.

DAFFODILS

William Wordsworth

The poem “DAFFODILS” by William Wordsworth is about appreciating the simpliest form of feeling our emotion from the hidden beauty of nature. Literally the poem give significance to what human emotion can feel if they chose to connect in nature. In our daily lives, we most of the time neglect this kind of emotion since we are surrounded with so many worldly concerns. We are bounded with lots of heavy luggage in our back taking for granted those sheer delights of life.

In the poem, the author make used of personification and simile as part of speech in the first stanza written, “I wandered lonely as a crowd.” And the second to the last line in the second stanza is an example of hyperbole- “Ten thousand saw lat a glance”, since it showed exaggeration in thought. The rhyme scheme is a-b-a-b-c-c-d-e-d-e-f-f-g-h-g-h-i-i-j-k-j-k-l-l which represents the continuous flow of emotion. To sustained a feeling of being contented to caress of nature. And the title reminds us about the arrival of spring season which refers to the yellow flower called daffodils which grow in spring season. In the poem the persona had his solemn, calm, peaceful and delightful walk with nature and the daffodils give more meaning to that appreciation of nature’s beauty.

The first stanza, “I wandered lonely as a crowd” until the last line - “Fluttering and dancing in breeze”, simply determines the role of the daffodils to the creation of the persona in the poem. It gives the reader the feeling of consolidating to nature for the long time of separation to it. The second stanza exaggerated the way the persona in the poem appreciate the daffodils by uttering- “The thousand saw at a glance,” and “continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milk way.” There is really the presence of so much attraction to the daffodils. The third stanza recognized that beauty within nature is more than the physical wealth this worldly Earth has. And for the last stanza it is in which express that in the middle of being alone there is a hidden beauty, contentment and joy to look forward to in the presence of nature’s treasure.

The poem created an impression of being appreciative of God’s creation. In which in reality we often neglect and take for granted. At the end of the day, it is in that simple source of nature enchanted wonder which we can find that long last feeling of true happiness and contentment in emotion.

A Poison Tree

William Plate

The poem “A Poison Tree” by William Plate embodied the growing anger of a person toward someone. It is supported on how the persona in the poem uttered his feeling. And this is visible in the kind of words he used. The binary opposition is first and foremost seen in the title. As we can the title shows continuity of anger since it is not a complete sentence. And the title shows the paradox of the word poison and tree. If we are going to analyze and a tree, it is a source of life which produce fruit and delight, On the other hand, poisonous represents death and harm.

Furthermore, the first stanza showed how the anger of the persona in the poem grows toward his enemy. As it was stated, “I was angry with my friend; I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe; I told it not, my wrath did grow. This is so completely shows how the anger continues toward someone. He cannot show and say his wrath that is why it grows continuously. The second stanza reflects how the author maintain his anger as according to him, he watered it in fears which shows the hidden or silent pain he had inside. And everyday give life toit with tears. Tears represent the pain the pain which he had. And the third stanza made his anger to grow more. He made his enemy closer to him in the line, “And I sunned it with smiles, and with soft deceitful wiles,” and had his ultimate revenge to it In general, the whole the one gives us the realization of the effect of anger if it is being kept inside of us. Because just like a tree it can grow by the line, “And I sunned it grew both day and night. Till it bore an apple bright”. And associated to the fourth stanza which is the result of his anger toward that person he is angry with. This is supported by this line, “In the morning glad I see; my foe outstretch’d beneath the tree. This is the result of being a good friend to his enemy.

The rhyme scheme of the poem: a-a-b-b-c-c-d-d-e-e-f-f-g-g-h-h. It is patterned in pair but the words which end each line is patterned in sound. In which helps to identify the meaning of the poem that shows continuity of anger. And inside each stanza contradiction and paradox is very much observed. Say for example, “I was angry with my friend... I was angry with my foe for the first stanza. The words friend and foe show binary opposition. In which the poem appeared to have a continuous wrath toward someone.

In general, the whole the one gives us the realization of the effect of anger if it is being kept inside of us. Because just like a tree it can grow and produce fruit by pouring it with water and proper supply of sun. Trees can never grow without watering it same with anger. It can never continue if we will not let grow by putting our entire heavy luggage on it. Because the poem showed us how the persona made a pretentious act to be good to his enemy and at the end with those goodness he be stowed is the bitter revenge he had done to his foe. We saw how the persona was being poisoned by his wrath. And in reality having a revenge to someone doesn’t make sense at all because at the end we will suffer its consequences though it is not stated  on the content of poem but this is the probable result to

The Other Two

Edith Wharton

The story “The Other Two” by Edith Wharton is a good example of using the feminist criticism as it projects a character of a woman who has been committed in her past with two other men whom they became her husbands. This also showed how a woman got the guts to engage to several relationships and had them legally married with her. And a woman, who supposedly expected to act as a real woman, acted the other way around.

In the story Alice had her first two marriages to her first and second husbands. Mr. Haskett was his first husband to whom she had Lily as her daughter. The second husband was Gus Varick to whom she became still committed because of business matters. In which they were business partners. Even though we had her marriage to Mr. Waythorn already she still has the communication to her first two husbands because of certain reason. Because of business concern she remains close to Mr. Gus Varick and stay updated to Mr. Haskett because of their daughter Lily.

These situations made her present husband, Mr. Waythorn feeling insecure of him. As he describes Alice, a woman who can certainly balance that complicated scenario of her life. This showed how Alice can be associated with the attitude of men. In reality, men are the individuals who can particularly handle things because they practice strength in the face of the society. However, this is the ultimate contradiction between them because Mr. Waythorn has this woman lke attitude who obviously acts as if a woman who put so much worried about the situation.

In the given points, Alice represents the face of being a sex parasite. In which sex-parasite, reflects those people who had been exposed to have this romance to different opposite sex. Since in the story Alice got married to three different men, then this particularly described her as a sex-parasite. A woman who had so much experienced in terms of having this lustful desire of the flesh.

On the other hand, her husband, Mr. Waythorn point out the line which uplift the bad description about Alice, “if it were not better to own a third of a wife who knew how to make a man happy than a whole one who had lacked opportunity to acquire the art.” This simply gives him the advantage of having Alice as his wife. Because Alice who had experience several marriages had herself exposed to the said practice. According to Mr. Waythorn it’s better to have a wife like Alice he defended.

In general, Edith Wharthorn gave a representation of a woman who has not the usual image of a woman in the society. She presented the other side of woman who definitely engaged different relationship because of commitment she has to them. Sad to say, but it reflects the way the situations were stated. This also throws the worst description to her as a sex-parasite which degrades her whole being as a woman. However, what is good about her was her positive attitude of being a man like to face the situations in her life.