The short story "Footnote to Youth" by Jose Garcia Villa explores how history can repeat itself through generations. In the story, Dodong marries his childhood sweetheart Teang at a young age of 17 against his father's advice. They struggle with the difficulties of marriage and raising children at a young age. Years later, Dodong and Teang's son Blas also wants to marry young. Dodong recognizes the similarities to his own past and realizes that without learning from mistakes, history is destined to repeat itself across generations. The story emphasizes the challenges of marriage and parenthood at a young age and encourages youth to avoid repeating the mistakes of their parents.
The short story "Footnote to Youth" by Jose Garcia Villa explores how history can repeat itself through generations. In the story, Dodong marries his childhood sweetheart Teang at a young age of 17 against his father's advice. They struggle with the difficulties of marriage and raising children at a young age. Years later, Dodong and Teang's son Blas also wants to marry young. Dodong recognizes the similarities to his own past and realizes that without learning from mistakes, history is destined to repeat itself across generations. The story emphasizes the challenges of marriage and parenthood at a young age and encourages youth to avoid repeating the mistakes of their parents.
The short story "Footnote to Youth" by Jose Garcia Villa explores how history can repeat itself through generations. In the story, Dodong marries his childhood sweetheart Teang at a young age of 17 against his father's advice. They struggle with the difficulties of marriage and raising children at a young age. Years later, Dodong and Teang's son Blas also wants to marry young. Dodong recognizes the similarities to his own past and realizes that without learning from mistakes, history is destined to repeat itself across generations. The story emphasizes the challenges of marriage and parenthood at a young age and encourages youth to avoid repeating the mistakes of their parents.
The short story "Footnote to Youth" by Jose Garcia Villa explores how history can repeat itself through generations. In the story, Dodong marries his childhood sweetheart Teang at a young age of 17 against his father's advice. They struggle with the difficulties of marriage and raising children at a young age. Years later, Dodong and Teang's son Blas also wants to marry young. Dodong recognizes the similarities to his own past and realizes that without learning from mistakes, history is destined to repeat itself across generations. The story emphasizes the challenges of marriage and parenthood at a young age and encourages youth to avoid repeating the mistakes of their parents.
A. Santos St., Buting, Pasig City PACHECO, DIANNE P.
THROUGH PSYCHOLOGICAL CRITICISM LENS: The history repeats itself
The literary criticism is based on the story of: Footnote To Youth
INTRODUCTION
According to Mary The Psychological criticism is literary criticism that examines texts, authors, and readers through a psychological lens. In this kind of literary analysis, the critic takes into account the symbols used in the piece and their possible interpretations. They also evaluate the psychological well-being of the characters by considering psychology when analyzing their motivations and behaviors. (Mary, M. 2023). People experience different types of situations in life where they experience psychological criticism where there is something that effecred the character and explains why he or she would do that thing.
According to (Hasa, 2016) This method examines the author of the work or a character in it psychologically. It helps readers understand the motivations of the author and the characters. To put it another way, this criticism helps us to understand the inspirations behind the author's writing, the ways in which his own experiences have shaped it, and the goals that drive the characters' actions in the story. According to (StudyMoose, 2023) The analysis of literary texts using psychological concepts, particularly the unconscious human desires and feelings, is known as psychological criticism. The text is examined and understood along with the potential responses of both the reader and the author. In essence, psychological criticism starts by attempting to comprehend the author's psychological conflicts as they are expressed in the literary work. The story's characters are also examined in terms of their placement in hypothetical situations. Last but not least, psychological criticism also aims to understand how readers respond to a piece of literature and their capacity to recognize their own desires and fears in life.
When Blas, one of Dodong's children, has been lacing up his dad's old shoes, the tale "Footnote to Youth" is proven. After a while, fate turns the clock backwards, and their firstborn, Blas, now approaches them with the same wish. He still considers Tena to be the girl of his dreams and wants to marry her. Dudong warns Blas about the repercussions of such a significant choice after realizing how history is repeating itself. (Anonymous, 2023). Marcus Thuillier asserts that as memories fade, past events may turn into current ones. According to historians William Strauss and Neil Howe, this is because history is cyclical in nature, repeating itself and moving with the generations. They contend that it takes four generations before similar occurrences begin to recur, which would place the millennial generation's coming of age at the same time as the events of the first half of the 20th century. if the recent events are any guide. (Marcus, T. 2019). A history has a tendency to repeat itself based on one generation of a person's origins. History is destined to repeat itself for those who don't learn from the past.
In the final chapter of Volume I of his book, George Santayana utters the well-known phrase, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." He is credited with the creation of this famous adage. He basically makes the case that, in order for our world to develop, we must remember and learn from the events that came from history so that they do not repeat themselves. After all, progress is not the same as change. Progress means building on what you've learned, but in today's culture, knowledge is lost so quickly that it is impossible to draw valuable lessons from the past. (George, S. 2019). The past may repeat itself in the future if what happened there is accurate. It is true that we cannot predict the future with absolute certainty because history is influenced by our choices, which could have an impact on future generations. (Joseph, P. 2021)
According to Alex, History repeating itself is a well-known concept. Many ancient thinkers conceptualized history using grand theories emphasizing how it has an inherent repetitive nature or, if you consider that every historical event was once a present moment, the events themselves. The past and future, according to 18th-century French socialist Claude Henri de Rouvroy, are periods of organic growth followed by critical decay. ( Alex, P. 2019). According to Ho Sum Chan learning from history is not something that humans are particularly good at. Either we haven't lived long enough to have experienced everything, or we simply lose track of what has happened. ( Ho Sum Chan, 2014)
Particularly in our psychological and interpersonal relationships, history repeats itself. Described repetition compulsion as a psychological condition in which a person repeatedly acts out or imagines a traumatic event or its circumstances. (Tom, W. 2013). History will remain in people's pasts, and the situation can be experienced again. For example, the story titled "Footnote to Youth," written by Jose Garcia, can be read in this story, where his father's past is re-experienced by his son in the present time.
Jose Garcia Villa published the short story titled "Footnote to Youth" in the United States of America in 1933. Jose Garcia Villa was a poet, critic of literature, painter, and lecturer from the Philippines. In this book, a boy and a girl describe how their naivete and stubbornness caused them to experience real life at a young age. They married at the age of 17, gave birth to their own children, and generally did what they felt was right. They have struggled to establish stability in their lives as a result. Additionally, their son experienced the same circumstances as them, proving that history repeats itself. It emphasizes the importance of working hard by using the main character and the main character's father as examples. Dodong, a 17-year-old boy, desired to wed Teang, his true love. When Dodong informed his father of their choice, he was questioned about whether he should actually get married. Even though his father advised him against getting married, he persisted. Dodong was very eager to marry Teang and managed to quickly obtain his father's approval. Later on they had several children, one of whom was named Blas. They both know firsthand how challenging it is to balance parenthood and daily life. (francis, X. 2017)
DISCUSSION
The story "Footnote To Youth" can be viewed as a psychological criticism approach. Because it is implied that the characters had inner feelings through their dreams and thoughts. The writer's motivations for choosing this topic and how pas has influenced his choice can be explored through this criticism approach. When analyzing a character, psychological criticism views the writer's creation as someone whose actions have an explanation. The story "Footnote to Youth" is to encourage young people to not let their hormones and emotions rule them and then pay the price later. It draws attention to the length of life and the importance of avoiding letting youthful mistakes weigh you down as you get older. It also discusses the difficulties of marriage and the sacrifices that must be made if a marriage is to be based on trust and love.
It was the tale of a boy who chose to wed his beloved when he was just 17 years old. He could not wait for the appropriate age to settle down in a committed relationship because he was dodong and he loved teang so much. It is the "marriage". Dodong and Teang got married at the age of 17 without considering the risk of being in a precarious situation. They simply go with their feelings. They don't consider what might occur in the future. They had a baby. Teang understood the challenges of being a young parent. Until their son grows up one day. He carries on his parents' legacy. At the age of 17, he also desires to get married. He revealed his plans to his parents. Dodong has no choice but to discuss how difficult and dangerous "marriage" at a young age is. However, like Dodong before him, his son also wants to go after his dreams.
Dodong believed that after marrying Teang, his life had become ugly. Teang shared these sentiments and wished she had never been married or at the very least never had children. When Blas told his father, Dodong, about his proposal to Tona, there was also denial. Dodong couldn't believe his son was engaging in the same activity that he had done himself 17 years prior. However, he had no choice but to reluctantly bestow his blessings on his son and pray that he would be able to endure life's trials. The story can best be summed up by the adage "History repeats itself," as Dodong was faced with the realization that his son Blas is traveling on the same route he did when he was his son's age. The sad part is that he was powerless to stop it.
Young people shouldn't get married too soon because most of them are still immature and don't have enough financial security. When a young couple decides to live together, they may influence their offspring to get married young as well, starting a cycle where the process is repeated. When Dodong was determined to marry Teang, his childhood sweetheart, this is what happened to him in the story. Dodong started to experience the poverty and hardship of life that he had seen in the past but had not given much thought to before choosing to marry as the years went by.
Dodong realized that raising children required a serious, lifetime commitment. When he and his wife begin having children, Dodong discovers the hard way how much self-control, selflessness, and patience it takes to raise a family. Dodong may find it challenging to figure out how to balance his needs with those of his kids. Following nearly ten years of marriage, Dodong and Teang experienced regret and disappointment. When they got married, they realized that they were too young and that life would present them with many difficulties. They also believed they had lost their youth and the chances it brings.
Dodong is the poster child for the typical young person who encounters many uncertainties in life and realizes that he must sacrifice his youth in order to demonstrate that he is mature enough to handle the challenges of this life. Given that he is of legal age and can make independent decisions about right and wrong, he can manage to start a family if he so chooses. But he struggled to live up to the standards he was required to meet because of his stupidity. Because he has just come to the realization that it was a mistake for him to ignore his parents' advice regarding marriage, family, and life after marriage. And now that he has a family of his own, he simply accepts the reality that it already occurs.
They married young and lacked the wisdom and experience required for raising children, so they were unable to carry out their parental duty by guiding their offspring down a more wise path. After that, it becomes an abusive cycle that never ends. Even Dodong, who goes outside to meditate in an attempt to learn something, fails. Given that neither he nor his father possessed that wisdom, this is particularly true. Such wisdom can only be given by those who have a significant influence on our lives, typically our parents.
Additionally, footnotes frequently offer additional readings and references and hint that a particular word or phrase is crucial in comparison to the rest of the text. We must recognize the importance of the themes presented in this story just in this one sense. The first would be the lack of effort made by the parents in this story—Dodong's father and Dodong—to mold and shape their sons' lives. They both made the decision to give in to their son's wishes rather than providing guidance and wisdom based on their own personal experiences. These parents neglected their duty by choosing to hold their tongues, which is a crucial part of shaping a child's future. As a result, their children endure terrible marital hardships and suffer.
It draws attention to the length of life and the importance of avoiding letting youthful mistakes weigh you down as you get older. It also discusses the difficulties of marriage and the sacrifices that must be made if a marriage is to be based on trust and love. The short story "Footnote to Youth" by Jose Garcia Villa is titled as such because it serves as a brief reminder of what real life in the Philippines, and particularly among the youth, might be like today. The main goal of the story, the main goal of the story is to make young people aware of how challenging it can be to be a parent at a young age.
The narrative portrays youth as overly zealous and sentimental. It is a time of snap judgments and uncontrollable desires. On the other hand, middle age and marriage are represented by Responsibilities, anxiety, and regrets, on the other hand, are symbolic of middle age and marriage. A foundation for compassion and understanding is intended to be established within the family structure, which is meant to lessen such anxiety.
CONCLUSION
According to the adage, "Everything happens for a reason; it just depends on your decision," everything you do is dependent upon your choice. It teaches young people to deliberate over their choices and to be aware of the effects of their actions. This brief but powerful story compels the reader to value love and desire. Occasionally, pursuing what we want and love might not be the best move. Decisions we make occasionally that are emotional and poorly thought out can define and shape our entire life. Young people are especially susceptible to this. Young and optimistic, they want to act on every whim without giving it much thought.
The lesson is that marriage can wait until the right time, but if we want to be in this stage of life, we need to be ready for the possibility. I am aware that if we choose, we can all become involved, but not at such a young age. More issues will arise if you get married at a young age and are unprepared for the responsibilities that come along with it. As a result, before getting married, we should think a hundred times before taking the plunge.
The Footnote to Youth story particularly affects us as teenagers. Communicating with our loved ones is simple in modern times. I'm not saying the narrative is subpar. Although love is good, we must always be aware of our limitations and guard against any negative influences. Today, teenage marriage is quite common. We always want our wants but not our needs during this stage of life because we don't listen to our parents' advice. Even so, it results in poor choices and actions. The best advice of all comes from parents because they have firsthand experience. Our parents work very hard to make our lives easier so that we can meet our daily needs. If you disobey it, you must accept the consequences.
After reading the story, I wasn't surprised by its plot because many people I know have done the same thing, so I wasn't surprised by it either. Some of them were not sharing a home and simply abandoned the other to raise the child alone. Seeing a child suffer as a result of his incomplete family is so heartbreaking. I will therefore always follow both my heart and mind and keep them in balance as a realization and application. I won't make a snap decision; instead, I'll focus on finishing my studies so I can support myself. And if I'm already planning to start a family, I'll always make sure that we have enough money to cover all of our expenses and won't need to borrow from or lend to others. I'll also constantly consider my family's future, my kids' futures, and our day-to-day needs.
The short story "Footnote to Youth" illustrates how challenging life can be if you don't have a reliable job and start a family young. Youth are the key to the motherland's future. We are the hope of our nation. Teenagers today are impulsive and aggressive, wanting to act immediately on whatever they are thinking or feeling. Be aware of the potential consequences of our actions if we fail to take caution. Before making important decisions in life, we should prioritize our lives while we are still young. Because if a choice is made, you must be prepared to deal with and accept its consequences.
Marriage can wait because everything has its proper time and because once you make a decision and fail, you can never go back and make a change. Regrets come at the end. Don't let falling in love overshadow your youth. Youth is not the time to make hasty decisions; instead, it is a time to dream big, discover oneself, make improvements, and shape oneself into something that will make us ready for whatever the future holds. And since your parents have been there, heed their advice. Furthermore, no parent wants their children to be in the wild; they only care about what is best
All four characters—Dodong, Teang, Tena, and Blas—are motivated by youthful vigor and enthralled by these desires. They believe marriage is just for fun and games, so they are unaware of the serious side of life.
The truth is that we frequently lack the maturity and patience to consider our choices carefully when we are young. Such rashness frequently results in regrets that we must live with for the rest of our lives. Therefore, the key lesson is to exercise patience and con0sider our options carefully before making major life decisions, like getting married.
We shouldn't hurry things up when we're young. Enjoying our teenage years now will help us make wiser decisions later in life that may impact our future. Our opinions should be voiced loudly and clearly in daily life. We shouldn't just hold onto our opinions, especially if they have the power to correct other people's errors. REFERENCES (APA 6TH EDITION FORMAT)
Mary, M. (2023) What Is Psychological Criticism?. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from
George, S. (2019) Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from https://www.shmoop.com/quotes/doomed-to-repeat-it.html
Francis, X (2017) Footnote To Youth. Retrieved June 8, 2023 , from
