A Critical Analysis of the Last Time I Saw Mother

A Critical Analysis of The Last Time I saw Mother By Arlene J. Chai

I. Synopsis Caridad was summoned home by her mother, Thelma. Worrying that it was something very important for her mother never wrote to her before, Caridad immediately left Sydney to go back to the Philippines.She thought her mother had heard of her separation with Jaime and was problematic how to explain the situation to her relatives. Upon her arrival to their house, Caridad immediately proceeded to her mother’s room. There Thelma told her, that she was not her real mother. Caridad was shocked and was asked by Thelma to talk to two other persons—her Tia Emma and her cousin Ligaya. Caridad obeyed what Thelma had told her. She went first to Emma to listen to her story. She told her of her life before marrying her father, Alfonso; how the first years of their marriage had passed; the story of his siblings while at the time of the war; and her birth after her father’s death and how she ended up with Thelma. After her meeting with Emma,Caridad went to Ligaya to listen to another story in a different point of view. Ligaya was angry to their Tia Thelma for bargaining Caridad in exchange of sustaining their family’s needs. She found out from her eldest sister what their father was like and how he was so fond of his first child.Ligaya also shared some of her frustrations to Caridad, of how she gave up her piano and music inclination because of the family’s financial problem and how the piano that their father had given to her was sold without her consent. Last but not the least, she heard the story of the woman who brought her up, Thelma. Thelma told her of her life with Caridad’s known father, Raoul. They had difficulty in having a child. One day, his father came home with a baby boy in his arms. He convinced Thelma to have the child, which she apparently accepted. Later on, she found out that the child was, indeed, her husband’s and left him after knowing the truth. But she went back, caring for the child again until the death of the child because of meningitis. The couple was again left childless, until Caridad’s father died and Thelma saw this as an opportunity to have the newly-born Caridad because her sister have nothing to sustain the child and her other children’s needs. In return of their silence and transaction, Thelma provided for the needs of Emma’s family. Carrying with her the truth about her identity, Caridad returned to Sydney, determined to patch up things with Jaime. She did save their marriage and one Sunday

morning, Caridad received the news of Thelma’s death which she took lightly for her mother had a smile on her face and looked like peaceful and happy in her sleep. II. Theme  No matter how hard you hide the truth it would find a way to reveal itself.  Sometimes sacrifices were made to save a greater number of people.  Forgiveness sets you free---free from burden, free from anger, and free 

from guilt. The family makes a person complete. Without it, she/he would reach her/his being’s totality at all.

III. Technical Analysis A. Characters Caridad – the adopted daughter of Thelma Jaime – Caridad’s husband Marla – Caridad’s daughter Thelma – Caridad’s known mother Raoul – Caridad’s known father Mia – Ligaya’s sister; Caridad’s closest friend Emma – Caridad’s aunt and sister of Thelma; her biological mother Alfonso – Emma’s husband; biological father of Caridad Ligaya – Caridad’s eldest cousin; daughter of Emma Enrique – Ligaya’s husband Raoul’s mother

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