Introduction

We know for the fact that short stories and one-act plays were the fully developed forms
of Literature during the Colonial Period (American Occupation). The short story was to be the
showcase for the skill and art of Filipino writers using English. One of the finest short story
writers during this period was Manuel E. Arguilla (1910-1944) who also covered a broad range
of subject matters and themes drawn from the experiences of Filipinos living in the 1930s. The
sarsuwela was replaced by one-act plays in 1930s. One-act plays which were written by the
students were staged. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (1917-1995) was the most prolific of the Filipino
playwrights using English as medium of expression (Lumbera B. and Lumbera C., 2005). In this
period, the English language was used as the medium of instruction in all Philippine schools
because of the imposition brought by the Americans. English opened the floodgates of colonial
values through phonograph records, textbooks, and magazines originally intended for American
children which influenced young Filipinos. There was an establishment of public school system
which marked the beginning of Philippine writing in English. It is said that the University of the
Philippines was founded in 1908 in order to train young Filipinos for tasks in colonial
bureaucracy (Lumbera B. and Lumbera C., 2005). Indeed, there was a spread of American
culture happened during this period. The American style of writing and its subject matters were
incorporated, adapted, and imitated by the Filipino writers. As a result, Philippine literature
became international.

I want to discuss Manuel E. Arguilla’s short story entitled “How My Brother Leon
Brought Home a Wife” and Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero’s one-act play entitled “Wanted: A
Chaperon” for this literary analysis. I have chosen these works because I find them interesting.
These two works are interesting because they give the readers meaningful and moral lessons in
life. Even though we have already discussed these in high school and in college, it seems that the
lessons from these stories are truly unforgettable and valuable.

In order for me to discuss these topics, various methods or literary theories will be used.
First, I will use Formalism which serves as the starting point for the analysis and discussion. The
analysis will also use Marxism to further discuss the chosen topics. I will begin with Arguilla’s
“How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife”. This is to be followed by Guerrero’s one-act
play “Wanted: A Chaperon”. After which, will be the analysis of their similarity and differences.

Analysis and Discussions

SETTING: The story “How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” was set during the
1930s in Nagrebcan, Bauang La Union. The place is a province and we know that the people
who are living there would most likely be the farmers. The story is told in the 1st person point of
view and this narrator is Baldo, the younger brother of Leon. His older brother is Noel but named
by Maria as Leon. As what Baldo realized: “But it was only the name of my brother Leon said
backward and it sounded much better that way.” Another major character found in the story is
Maria who is the wife of Leon. For Baldo, her name is “sosyal” and it is obvious that she comes
from a city.

CONFLICT: The conflict shown in the story is centered between Maria and herself, as
well as the society by which Baldo and Leon lived in. We know that Maria is from a city while
her husband Leon is from a province. Maria is concerned if she’s going to be accepted or not by
Leon’s family despite of her social status. She was even tested if she is worthy to be the wife of
Leon. This was seen when Baldo ignored his older brother’s question about why did they have to
go to Waig instead of Camino Real.

CHARACTER/s: I think Maria is a good character in the story. I like Maria not because
she’s kind and lovely, but because she is not the typical “matapobre” as seen in the story. She is
indeed a sympathetic woman. In fact, Maria was a bit anxious because of meeting Leon and
Baldo’s parents for the first time. Maria is worried that she will not be accepted by Leon’s father
because she may not able to adapt their way of living in the province. However, on their way
home, she discovered the differences of the life of the people lived there and the life in the city
where she met and fell in love with Leon. We can see Maria’s response when Leon asked her:
“You miss the houses, and the cars, and the people and the noise, don’t you?” My brother Leon
stopped singing. “Yes, but in a different way. I am glad they are not here.” I appreciate her the
most simply because she accepted and respected Leon for what he really is. She didn’t care what
Leon’s life back in Nagrebcan. She was a supportive and a loving wife to Leon. She was so
endearing and kind-hearted lady. She was very keen to meet Leon’s family. It is somewhat
discouraging that the rural is different from the city but the closer they get to the house, Maria
still managed to overcome any trials. She admits for having some fear, but she also shows clearly
it did not stop her. I believe that social status is not a hindrance if you truly love each other.

THEME: The first theme of this story is that no matter what it takes to be with the one
you love, you will do anything to be with that person. I know that having a long and strong
relationship with the person you love is seldom nowadays. People tend to love one another at
first but eventually end up being bitter. Well, that kind of relationship is not a true love after all.
If I’m going to apply this significant theme or message to the life of Filipinos then it can be said
that as Filipinos, we are very emotional when we think of true love. We also care about true love.
There are Filipinos who turn to sacrifice and endure things just to be happy. If you are sacrificing
it truly means that you value and you truly love this person (Adofina et al., 2013). In the story,
we can see that Maria will sacrifice anything just to be happy with Leon, her only love. I can say
that this love is true and genuine. This kind of love then is truly authentic.

Another theme that is portrayed in the story is the saying that “Don’t judge the book by
its cover.” Baldo, when he first saw Maria, was surprised to see that his brother Leon
accompanied a woman who is different from them because of her name, as well as lovely and
beautiful appearance. He said to himself that: “He did not say Maring. He did not say Mayang. I
knew then that he had always called her Maria and that to us all she would be Maria; and in my
mind I said ‘Maria’ and it was a beautiful name.” It is then obvious for Baldo that Maria came
from a city. As a person living in a province, he has already the belief that people like Maria
doesn’t belong to them and is impossible to adapt their way of living in the province. But despite
of the test ordered by his father, Baldo somehow realized that Maria is also a friend and should
be treated like them knowing that she proved worthy of it.

We can also see Filipino values or traits that are revealed within the story. One trait is the goal to
obtain one’s trust most especially when you want your parents to have a permission to marry
your chosen loved one. Filipino parents are very hard to impress. It is hard to get their trust as
well. But what Maria did in the test that the father of Baldo and Leon gave to her proved that she
really deserved and love Leon. She will sacrifice anything to be happy and be with her only love.
Another value that is revealed within the story is living a life of contentment. Filipinos who live
in the province are very well known to be simple yet they are contented for what they have. They
are happy with small things and appreciate what they have and how they live life.
The one-act play “Wanted: A Chaperon” was set in the living room which was simply furnished
one Sunday morning, at about eleven. It is a comedy. The story is told in the 3 rd person point of
view. The characters involved in this play were Don Francisco the father, Doña Petra the mother,
Nena their daughter, Roberting their son, Doña Dolores, Fred her son, Francisco a.k.a. “Francis”
the servant, and Pablo the mayordomo. The play was written in a way that is simple, usual, and
humorous.
The play is all about the traditional way of courting and accompanying women on a party and in
other occasions which means that the portrayal of old customs are seen in that play. Don
Francisco is so strict not just with Roberting during the money conversation, but also with his
daughter Nena because he doesn’t want Nena to go on a party or in any occasions unchaperoned
most especially she’s a lady. We can see this when Don Francisco had a conversation with his
son Roberting: “You young modern people. Do you realize that in my time when I was courting
your mother, her father, her mother, her three sisters, her young brother, her grandmother, five
first cousins and two distant relatives sat in the sala with us?” He also added the reason of what
he said about courting: “Because in those days we were more careful about a woman’s
reputation.” One night, Nena goes out with Fred, her friend. Unfortunately, rumors right after
their date were spread. Many people think that something bad is happened to the two of them.
And for the townspeople, it’s inevitable. Until Doña Dolores, mother of Fred, goes to the house
of Don Francisco insisting that something happened between his son and Nena. It is Doña
Dolores’ plan to insist his son Fred to Nena but nothing really happened in fact. The same
situation is happened to Don Francisco’s son Roberting at the end of the play. So to avoid these
issues Don Francisco and Doña Dolores look for chaperons for their children to guide them
instead of the muchacho (servant) (Casuyon, 2011).

The writer poked fun at middle-class characters grappling with the problem of Americanization
(Lumbera B. and Lumbera C., 2005). To use a Marxism approach for this play, we can see how
Don Francisco wanted to call himself as someone who is high than their servant Francisco. He
even changed Francisco’s name into Francis to avoid confusion. Francis often gets into trouble
and that’s why he was being yelled by Don Francisco.

The message or the theme of the play is that our traditional culture, customs, and ways of living
must always be alive in our heart knowing that these are now fading most especially in the
technological age by which we are living in. We have been adopting other countries’ cultures or
activities that we are not open to our own culture. Don Francisco said that: “Outward things
change, like the styles of women’s dresses and men’s ties, but the human heart remains the
same.” I think the play is a best example on how we should live our life with our own. That is
why there is a saying in Filipino that says: “Dapat nating mahalin ang sariling atin.” We should
then live life in accordance to our original beliefs that our ancestors wants these teachings to be a
mark for us Filipinos.

Another theme in the play is the giving of importance to the reputation of women. As we all
know, most young women nowadays are getting too liberated. They are liberated in terms of
their sexual behaviors or clothing ways that men would easily tempted to them. As a result,
they’ll end up being harassed or raped. They’ll also end up being pregnant in an early age which
can also lead to abortion. However, the play only reminds us that young women should behave in
their daily living. It’s important for them not to be influenced too much by the other cultures
most especially some Westerners and Americans who are sexually liberated. Filipino young
women from the past used to be conservative and modest. They were accompanied and courted
by their parents or relatives whenever they have occasions. We all know, for some reason, that
women are treated equally. But they should also learn and strive to live life carefully and wisely
most especially in the present time.

Also, there are people who tend to be so judgmental nowadays. They easily give comments and
opinions to other people without certain evidences. They are gossipers who make the issues very
complicated (Casuyon, 2011). I think, we have to get rid of this unpleasant attitude as well
because this would definitely causes a lot of trouble.

Now, we can see clearly the differences between the two works above. In terms of their
similarity, Arguilla’s short story and Guererro’s play portrayed the socio-economic problems in
Philippine society. The characters think that social status really defines them. We can see that
Maria is from a city while her husband Leon is from a province. Maria is concerned if she’s
going to be accepted or not by Leon’s family despite of her social status. We can also see that
Don Francisco thinks himself as high than their servant Francisco by treating him immorally. He
has a conflict with that kind of situation.

Conclusions and Insights

The two works are very good pieces because of the elements of fiction used and the way these
stories were defamiliarized. These works are great because of the subject matters and styles of
writing used by outstanding writers and playwrights during the time of American Colonial
period. I can say that we should learn to make a difference in our lives because having a chance
is the greatest gift we can receive. Don’t let things like social status defines us. We should learn
to be sympathetic and understanding persons to others, be able to adopt our old ways of living at
least, be happy, and be wise. In these ways, we can live life meaningfully.