Short story: Midsummer (Manuel Arguilla)

Midsummer by Manual Arguilla

The theme of the story is all about attraction and being enamored during the first meeting
between two people: Manong and Ading. The story is set in the middle of summer where we
can feel the hotness and scorching heat of a relationship that is growing. It is during midsummer
when plants are growing just like the growing relationship of the two characters. The story is a
not-so-special meeting between a man and woman that might have a promising relationship in
the future. The character’s conversation is plain just like the landscape setting but it was filled
with passion and emotions. The story is very detailed which let us readers conclude that they
both have the same feelings for each other. Although the story is more on portraying the
feelings of Manong, we can also say that Ading is attracted to him in the way she observes and
approach him. As readers, we can feel the tension between the two people as Manuel Arguilla’s
details how the characters look and act; for example: Her lips parted in a half smile and a little
dimple appeared high upon her right cheek. Manuel Arguilla might want his readers to capture
the possibility of seeing love between two strangers in their first meeting. The story might be
described as love at first sight. It’s about the encounter of Manong and Ading at an isolated
village well. It is noontime and a very burning day in summer, Manong was carrying his cart
towards the well when he saw a young woman named, Ading. At first, Ading didn’t notice
Manong and Manong is hesitating to talk or approach her. Even though Manong was
unfortunate that Ading didn’t mind him, while he was eating, Ading approached him and stared
at him. They had a little conversation, and the bucket of water splashed in his food
unintentionally. After that incident, Manong helped Ading in filling the jar again. The sun is
almost everywhere, it is then that she invited Manong to her home which made Manong more
interested to her. Midsummer closes with Manong, following Ading in the direction of her house
where there is a shade of relief from the heat of the day. Midsummer might be read as an
illustration that is simple. When we reflect on the story, there is a comparison between the youth
and liveliness of the couple. The story is full of emotion that captivates the readers easily. In
reality, love at first sight simply opinionated by other people. We can’t really feel love when you
first met someone, especially to a stranger, but you may feel attracted to him or her. The story is
only after the attraction during the first meeting of the character; therefore readers are kept
thinking what might be the ending of their relationship – is it a happy or bad ending? Destiny
also works in the story because things were going unexpectedly especially the last part. The last
part which is “He felt very strong. He felt that he could follow the slender, lithe figure to the end
of the world” struck us the most because that part made us know that there will be something
more after that meeting- something unpredictable might happen between the characters. The
characters in the story symbolize the Filipino people before particularly the dalagang Filipina
and a binatafrom rural area. The man in the story or Manong is the one striving to look for a
work with his pet bull. The woman is hospitable because she invited Manong to their house. The
story is describing the typical way of a dalagang Filipina met a binata; which is comparable to
our generation where traditional way of meeting someone is different. The faced-paced lifestyle
in urban areas is far from the simplicity living in rural areas. Manong treated Ading with respect
and kindness. Nowadays, we misinterpret love and attraction. Love is something you will feel for
the longest time; while being attracted is the opposite. Life is also full of surprises and you’ll
never know what’s waiting for you. Things go unexpectedly just like the story. In the middle of
the summer, a man never felt anything like that before when he saw and got a chance to talk
with the woman. Comparing the characters, the physical strength of man and their power to
captivate women are shown; while women are also trying their best to be strong but then they
always have weakness. Manuel Arguilla wrote this openly using the Filipino setting and
attributes. The story is really happening. Only Filipinos could relate in the story because it
describes Filipino people before- mahinhin andtorpe. We think that Arguilla wanted to write the
way Filipino acts. Filipino traits like how we eat, how we greet other people, especially
strangers, our casualness toward other people, and also our quick acceptance of others are
seen it the story. Manuel wrote this story with vivid and understandable descriptions. Manuel
Arguilla wrote Midsummer during American colonial period where Filipinos are striving their way
to live with new influence and balance it with their traditional way. The overall story is simple
and uncomplicated yet bringing us modernized Filipinos to look back on our past and appreciate
its simplicity.