Child of Sorrow-mikan

A. Summarize the novel Love is a strong affection that binds Lucio and Rosa until death. In spite of its tragic ending, the story is wonderful and simple. Also, it can’t hide the fact that it’s predictable. As to the first chapter, it catches the attention of the reader because its highlight is about the love of Lucio and Rosa. There’s good sequence on how Lucio was able to express his love to Rosa even though he was warned by Juan de la Cruz. Friendship is an everlasting gift that Lucio and Camilo had. They were best of friends from the day they dreamed up to the day they succeed. Rizal was even idolized by Lucio for his oration. He had talked about political issues and patriotism of the Philippines. Also, it includes some education, industry, and civic virtues that Rizal had been advocating for. Love is really inevitable emotion that Lucio and Rosa had. As the novel described how the two lovers had madly in love with each other to the point of losing one’s sanity. There are even poems and songs which were full of inspired passion of expressing love. Though the novel stresses some negative traits of the characters like rumors, criticisms, cruelty, and others still it didn’t lose its theme. Love is enduring as Rosa promised to Lucio “till death do us part” to express the happiness and sadness. It’s true that the novel used some figurative words to show the intense emotion of the characters as to the changing of the setting. At the last part of the story, Lucio and Rosa were together until the moment of Rosa’s last breath. Sad to say that after Rosa’s death, Oscar killed himself because of guilt and repentance. Unfortunately, Lucio was left alone lonely and sorrow. It’s a skillful composition for its sequence of the plot and usage of language. The story started from the beginning and ended in Rosa's death. It’s helpful in understanding the emotional expressions of the characters. There is an exact moment of the happiness or the sadness they are both enduring love. It refrain flashback, as the readers felt the passion and trauma as the characters experienced them in the story.

B. Describe Lucio Soleman and Rosa. Are they consistent with regards to their characterization? Lucio is described as an intelligent boy who used to read books and no time for siesta while Rosa is described as diligent and bright girl. Rosa had painful misfortune because of her father. She’s forgiving and enduring woman. Lucio’s mother died. He’s intelligent, self-composed and mature, and hardworking. Thus at this point are consistent. Rosa as an obedient child she had set aside her happiness and love just to follow the will of her mother. Also, Lucio obeyed what his father’s advice not to marry yet but to pursue his dreams. They are consistent in this matter. Rosa wanted to be with Lucio at the beginning but Lucio respected Rosa. He didn’t follow the decision of Rosa for it will break her mother’s will for her daughter. In this case, they are inconsistent. Their love made Lucio strong and brave to face the challenges in his life but Rosa had become poor and down in her life. Thus they are inconsistent.

C. What are the characteristics of Filipino can you see in the novel? Filipinos are famous for their warm hospitality and for their close family ties. The parents work hard and sacrifice much for their children; in return, the children love and respect them and take good care of them in their old age. Like Lucio’s father who had been guiding Lucio’s failure in order to succeed and the warm welcome of Camilo’s family to Lucio. Filipinos owing to their beautiful country are passionately romantic. They are born poets, musicians and artists. Like Lucio who had express his love through peoms and songs. Gratitude is also a trait of the Filipinos. They are grateful to those who have granted them favors or who are good to them. The sense of gratitude is expressed in the phrase “Utang na loob” (debt of honor). Lucio had been grateful to Camilo and his father. Foreign writers assert that the Filipinos are indolent. In reality they work hard in the face of very adverse conditions. They work on the farms from sunrise to sunset like Lucio. Filipinos are noted for their durability and resiliency. Against the adversities of life or nature, they bend, but never break like the character of Lucio.

Are there still remnants of the Spaniards influence in the early American period? Cite examples. Yes there are remnants of Spaniards influence in the early American period. In terms of surnames, implementation of Spanish naming customs in the Philippines but

this doesn’t mean that they are Spaniards like for example in the novel, “de la Cruz” (of the Cross). In terms of religion, they had predominantly introduced Christianity as Roman Catholic. Traditionally, like the carnival in the novel, Filipinos adorned with Catholic icons, flowers, statues, and candles. On festival season, most barrios organized religious church service, and processions in honor of their patron saint, and cooked a variety of Filipino food. In terms of language, Spanish was still the official language of the Filipino. For example the minority who still speak in Spanish even the era of American. In terms of Music, traditional Philippine music derived from the Spanish era. Like “kundiman” of the Tagalogs as sang by Lucio. Also the way Filipino think is colonial mentality bestowed as one bad product of the Spaniards influence. Like Ismael who had been so evil. The courtship and relationship in the Philippines is considered conservative. The man will have to court the woman and prove his love for her before he can win her heart. It is during the courtship period that the man would put his best foot forward. Generally, the man is being measured on his being a gentleman, ability to respect the woman's family, and servitude like Lucio who wins Rosa’s heart. No husband is viewed as negative and destructive, because of a tradition that emphasizes that the family is the core social unit, especially for the Filipino wife. Like the mother of Rosa who had no husband but had a child. People before judged their misfortune until their next generation.

D. Comparing the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo with the child of sorrow, are the similarities in writing styles, techniques and handling the subject matter in the novel? Differences? Here are some similarities: In terms of style, techniques, and handling the subject matter the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo with the Child of Sorrow used were Spanish and Filipino names of the characters. Also the experience of Filipino in the government and religion was included in the three novels. The Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo with the Child of Sorrow that capture the interest of the reader in the first part as it goes to the climax of the story. These novels used figurative languages as to express emotions of the characters. Some flashbacks are also used. The Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo with the Child of Sorrow were the title are written on every in every chapter to have coherence of the story. Here are some differences: In terms of style, techniques, and handling the subject matter Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were made out of fictional characters, the story line, scope, plot were significantly real during Rizal’s time unlike Child of Sorrow that the characters are not that fictional. Also, those Rizal's work on: El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere were classified as novels and these were his masterpieces. Rizal was revolutionary, that he also made reformations using his works, but because he also achieved the influence of many Filipinos using his masterpieces.

E. Who is the child of sorrow? Lucio or Rosa? Justify your answer. Rosa is the child of sorrow because she was tortured not just physically but even morally, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. She was forced and trapped by Oscar’s evil will of marriage. It was also painful that people in the community condemned and blamed her for the failure of her engagement with Lucio. She had sacrificed her own happiness for her mother’s sake. She was little by little killed by her passionate love to Lucio. She was also morally degraded by rumors and criticisms of people in Merry town and spiritually bag down because of hopeless and emptiness. The way she thinks had become pessimistic. Up to her last breath, all she had been longing and waiting for is her true love, Lucio. Although Lucio was left alone lonely and sorrow, but he had been strong and brave enough to face it.

F. Evaluate the wholeness of the novel. Is it a masterpiece or just all ordinary novel? Let’s define what is masterpiece. It may reside not in the work itself but in its context and how it marshals support from its viewers' awareness of life and time. Here are some qualities of masterpiece. It includes Magnificent Prose includes word choice, proper metaphor, turn of phrase, and all the specifics of beautiful writing that the reader finds in the best written works. Shakespeare was the best at it. In relation to the Child of Sorrow figurative languages are not that fascinating due to language differences maybe. Also Specificity may be the most difficult quality for the potential writer of the Masterpiece to accept, because it requires him to eschew all thoughts of loftiness in setting and costume, and to present his story in one complete and absolutely consistent place in time. The Masterpiece takes place in a specific time and place, with characters familiar to that time, and settings and circumstances common to that time. In relation

also to the Child of Sorrow although there are just few setting used but it’s not that amazing. I find the wholeness of the novel as an ordinary novel because it’s simple and predictable. There are some instances that it’s same with the thought of Shakespeare playwrights particularly the Romeo and Juliet. Both stories had a forbidden love and tragic ending of the lovers. The sequence of the story is organized and refrain some flashbacks in order to minimize clashing of thoughts of the readers. As to the first part of the novel, it captures the interest of the reader as it goes to the next part it gets more interesting. At the climax, there are intense of different emotions and as it reached the tragic ending. Also as to compare it to Rizal’s masterpiece it had influence the life of the Filipino unlike Galang’s novel it can capture readers and not that much impact.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTANCY

CHILD OF SORROW

Submitted by: Moraya P. Caclini BSAt 4-1