"RICE"

by MANUEL ARGUILLA
MARXISM APPROACH:
concentrates most on the relationship between the test and reality
ultimately past of much larger effort to uncover the inner workings of the society
generally look at the unresolved tensions or conficts
CHARACTERS:
PABLO -an old farm
SEBIA -Pablos wife
SEORA -Watchman
ANDRES -Pablos co-farmer, much younger than Pablo
OSIANG -Andres wife
SUMMARY
An afternoon on a hut with a tamarind tree beside it, Pablo, an old farmer, came from the farm and
unhitched his carabao upon its empty sled and began to feed it with a zacate. Then, he called her wife,
Sebia, from their hut but no one answers him. He goes to the neighborhood to ask if theyve seen Sebia
and his children but Osiang, their neighbor, seems not hearing what Mang Pablo is asking and give a
question back regarding his husband Andres. Later sometime Osing told Mang Pablo that his wife and
three children went to the creek for some snails.

Mang Pablo reminisce the scenario later that morning when he with the several other tenants driven
with their sleds to the house of the senora to borrow some grains. But as they go changes come, their
usual tersiohan system on borrowing became takipan meaning the amount that they borrow becomes
double at harvest time. His co-tenants refuse for this is too much and cant even know if they can pay it
exactly at the time given. In the end everyone leave with an empty sled and will come home without any
rice to eat.
Then, Osiangs voice broke the silence. Asking if he had already cook their rice and offered him pieces of
coal. When he is about to go back home Andres came and give a sign telling he must wait for him.
Andres dark, broad and squat man, wearing a printed camisa de chino appeared asking Mang Pablo if
he is coming with them. Mang Pablo advice him not to continue this because they will commit stealing
but Andres together with other men is desperate.

As he turned, he had seen wife and three children and was accompanied with a man. The man told
him that they are fishing in the fields but Sebia disagreed and told him that they are just gathering some
snails. Then, the watchman told Mang Pablo that they must pay five cavanes. Sebia is asking for the rice
but Mang Pablo told him that there is no rice while looking in his hungry children seeing weakness and
pain then he asks for his bolo joining Andres and together they walked to the house of Eli.
SYMBOLS:
Rice - hope for starving people
Empty Sled - symbolize their emptiness on foods
Carabao - represents people who worked hard everyday
Broken-down fence - shows broken dreams
Snails - people who cant go over the mud
Multa(fine) - means additional burden for the people
Trucks - heavy stealer of their foods
THEME:
"That even the righteous man can do anything just for his family's sake"
TONE:
Man vs. Society
-society plays an important role to Pablo's life because it serves the biggest obstacle for him to live a
good life..
POINT OF VIEW:
Objective Point of View
-the story is revealed by characters dialogues and actions