Jecel A.

Mercurio BSIT 4-A December 02, 2019

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE LITERARY ANALYSIS

“The Wedding Dance”
by Amador Daguio

Cultural analysis
Tribal Law/Cultural norms
-cultural norms have always been used as an excuse to control the behavior of people.
They can be constricting and oppressive though it was probably not initially the intention of the
practices.
The story depicts about the ancient Filipino traditions concerning about marriage,
wherein a man could only be a man if he had a child. The man must have it’s dowry in order to
won the heart of the girl’s family or the things that the man should do before asking to marry the
girl. Also about the importance or the sacredness of tradition, that many Filipinos until this time
have this attitude. That despite on modernization we still believe in traditions, in terms of
medicine, illness, and other traditional beliefs and superstitions.
Thematic analysis
"Love about to be lost", "Letting go", and "Love of a woman for her husband"
The significance of children in a couple’s life. It teaches us to be selfless for the person’s
we love for them to be happy.
The story of the wedding dance bring lessons to the youth today, wherein theirs a
tradition they must follow especially in a province area like in the setting of the story. Youth
must be ready before they do such decisions that can make them a less of a man or a woman. It
must consider not just the traditions, but the feelings of both parties which may lead to some
other problems or disappointment.
Biographical analysis
The story was written as it was by the author, this could be the way of an author to
represent or to show to the readers, who are from another tribe or religion, the differences of
cultures of every tribe. In the story, it is the Ifugao tribe’s norms that is represented. Although
we are all Filipinos, we all know that our country is composed of 7,107 islands that is divided by
a body of water. This is the reason why we still do not have or share the same culture and
norms. The culture and norms that are still followed by our native folks should be respected
and should not be criticized based on our own culture or the moral that we believed in.
 The author, Amador Daguio, was born in Ilocos Norte but he grew up in Lubuagan, a
place in Mountain Province. This could be the main reason why he wrote the story, “The
Wedding Dance”. He could be exposed to the tribal tradition of the native people in Mountain
Province.
Formalism analysis
The plot is almost the same with other literature wherein as the main character solves the
problem the story also ends, like the story My Father goes to Court as the moment that the father
paid the rich man the story ends. As also Lumnay accepts the reality that Awiyao has another
wife the story ends.
The story settings is same with other literatures wherein it shows about a filipino
traditional way of life, the stories just like How My Brother Leon Brought Home His Wife it also
happens in the barrio or in a mountains or small village, also like a story We Filipino are Mild
Drinkers it also happen in a mountain. Usually in a house depicting Filipinos ancient way of life.

Archetypal analysis
Innocent Archetype
Lumnay, the wife of awiyao, the woman who was left by her husband (Awiyao) because
she cannot bear a child. Lumnay is beautiful, a good dancer, strong in planting beans, fast in
cleaning jars, and a good housekeeper. Lumnay becomes the image of a woman whose qualities
as a good wife and the best dancer among all the other women in their tribe. Lumnay has no
intentions in the properties of Awiyao, she only wants to fight for the love they’ve built for a
long time but unfortunately Lumnay accepts the decision of her ex husband. Lumnay is the
woman who suffered from the cultural norms of their tribe. She considered as an innocent in a
sense that she was left by her husband despite of those good qualities as a responsible wife.
Caregiver Archetype
Awiyao, the husband of Lumnay made a decision for the sake of their culture. He is a
strong and healthy person. The significance of having children in a couple’s life which they
believe in their tribe was the reason of him to find another. Awiyao left his wife in order to have
a children which make him a less of a man if they remains childless. He considered as an
caregiver in a sense that he explore to another for the sake of having a child.
Symbolic Archetype
In the story, Lumnay goes to the bonfire where Awiyao held his wedding to Madulimay.
The bonfire symbolizes light which Lumnay must have the hope to stop the wedding, but
unfortunately Lumnay stops where the place is dark. The darkness symbolizes despair which
make her accepts her husband’s happiness even if it really hurts to her part.