The Wedding

Dance
Reported by
Riz D. Caada

Amador T. Daguio
Born :
in Laoag, Ilocos Norte,
Philippines
January 8, 1912
Amador T. Daguio was a poet, novelist and
teacher during the pre-war. He was best
known for his fictions and poems. He had
published two volumes of poetry, "Bataan
Harvest" and"The Flaming Lyre". He served as chief editor for the
Philippine House of Representatives before he died in 1966.

Summary:
This is sad story of a man, Awiyao, who in spite of being in love
with his wife, Lumnay, feels the need to marryanother in order to have a
son. According to the story if a man does not have a son he is considered
to be inferior to others intheir community. It is not a case of not loving
Lumnay, which he does, but of his perceived necessity of a son to
beconsidered a man. He is however, insensitive believing the answer to
Lumnay's sorrow would be to join the other women at
the wedding dance.Little regard for her feelings and the willingness to
abandon her seem to be the predominate thoughts in the author's
mind.She seems to obsess over the necklace of his grandmother which
he had given her. Towards the end of the story I had thefeeling she
contemplated suicide but in the end changed her mind.Introduction:
The introduction is when the protagonist is in their hut listening to the
festivity outside and thinking of the past.Initial Incident: When she
remembers how her husband courted her in the past.Rising Action:
When they realized that they cannot have any childClimax: When they
society norms dictates their future that her must marry another girl to
have a childFalling Action: The Wedding Day: She's alone in the house
contemplatingEnding: When she's in the field touching the grains.

Characters

Awiyao

The Husband stated in the short story.

(Wedding dance) Humorous and physically
fit.

Lumnay
Wife of Awiyao.
The woman who was left by her husband
(Awiyao) because she cannot bear a child.
Beautiful, a good dancer, strong in planting beans, fast
in cleaning jars, and a good housekeeper,

Madulimay
Awiyao's new wife.

Setting and Points of View

Place:

Mountain somewhere in Philippines

House of Lumnay's and her Ex husband Awiyao

Points of View
The Point of View used in this short story is the
Omniscient Limited - The author used the third
person (he is using pronouns such as they, she, he, it,
etc) to tell us the story. We can only see or feel the
thoughts and feelings of the characters if he allows it to
reveal on us. We only know what the character knows
and what the author allow us to know.

Plot
Introduction:
The story started when Awiyao went ti his and
Lumnay's house to invite his ex-wife to join
the dance.
Rising Action:
Things get complicated when start talking,
and she can't let go of Awiyao. When Awiyao
was fetched by his friends and he had no
choice but to go back to the wedding.

Climax

So much intense felt in the story when they

both stated that they do not want any other man or
women for them. There so much intense formed when
they stated that they still love each other.

Falling Action:
When Lumnay and Awiyao have to follow their
Tribe's Custom.
Denouement:
When Awiyao was fetched by his friends and he
had no choice but to go back to the wedding.

Time
A long time ago.

Mood or Atmosphere
Sad, there is regret and intense

Theme
True Love- is all about sacrifices and hope.
That in life, love is never enough to have a
happy ending. Sometimes you need to set
someone free not because you don't love him/her
but because it's the best for the both of you.

Symbolism
There are extensive literary devices-symbolism used in this story and here it
goes.
"I'll keep them because they stand for the love you have for me," she said. "I love you. I love
you and have nothing to give.
--> Beads- in the Story, the beads represents the great love of Lumnay to her
Ex husband Awiyao. Awiyao gave the beads to Lumnay as a gift, he said
that she can keep the beads and it is worth 20 fields but Lumnay said that
she will keep the beads because of her love to Awiyao.
"After some moments during which he seemed to wait, he talked to the listening darkness.
--> The Darkness symbolizes of what Lumnay is feeling. She is feeling sad
and somehow lonely like when you are in the middle of the darkness, you'll
feel that you're all alone.

"He crawled on all fours to the middle of the room

--> The houses four walls symbolizes the Lumnay's imprisonment. We
used the term imprisonment because in the story Lumnay has no choice but
to follow the rules of their tribe, even though she do not like the idea of
separation just like when you are in prison, you have no choice but to
follow and obey the rules.
"With bare fingers he stirred the covered smoldering embers, and blew into the stove. When
the coals began to glow, Awiyao put pieces of pine on them, then full round logs as his
arms. The room brightened.
--> The smoldering embers that become glowing coals then after a while
will disappear symbolize for the love of Awiyao to Lumnay. At first a warm
love then eventually it was fading.