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Midsummer Output
Midsummer Output
Manuel Arguilla
Manuel Arguilla (Nagrebcan, June 17, 1911
an Ilokano writer in English, patriot, and martyr.
SUMMARY
It is noontime and a very hot day in summer. Manong was dragging his
cart towards the well when he saw a young woman who happened to be
Ading. Ading at that very moment was fetching a bucket of water from the
well. Manong observed the details of the very sweet and fresh young lady
which is undeniably attractive. At first, Ading didnt notice Manong while
Manong, on the other hand, was hesitating to talk or even approach her.
Ading left without leaving a word to Manong, but a moment later, she
returned to where Manong was. And on the second time around, while
Manong was eating, Ading approached him and stared at him. They had a
little conversation, and suddenly, with a bit of Adings clumsiness, the bucket
of water spilled in his food unintentionally. After that incident, Manong helped
Ading in filling the jar again. Ading examined how masculine are the features
of Manong which made her attracted to him even more. 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.
CHARACTERS
Ading young, sweet, and fresh (She was young, surprisingly sweet and
fresh amidst her
parched surroundings)
traditional dalaga---hospitable ( the girl spoke: Manong, why
dont you come
to our home and bring your animal with you? There is a shade yu
can sleep,
though our house is very poor.)
PLOT
Exposition
Introduction of setting and the characters
(He pulled down his hat until the wide brim touched his
shoulders. He crouched lower under the cover of his cart and
peered ahead. The road seemed to writhe under the lash of the
noon-day heat; it swum from side to side, humped and bent itself
like a feeling serpent, and disappeared behind the spur of a low
hill on which grew a scrawny thicket of bamboo.
The man in the cart did not notice the woman until she had
rounded the spur of land and stood unmoving beside the road,
watching the cart and its occupant comes toward her.)
Rising Action
Manong sees Ading and followed her. However, she ignores him
at first.
(She stood straight and still beside the road and regarded him
with frank curiosity. Suddenly she turned and disappeared into
the dry gorge. Coming to where she had stood a few moments
before, he pulled up the bull and got out of the cart.Driving the
animal before him, he followed the path. It led up the dry bed of
the stream; the sharp fragments of sun-heated rocks were like
burning coals under his feet. There was no sign of the young
woman.)
Climax
Falling Action
After Manong helped Ading, Ading invited Manong to their house.
Manong refuses at first, but Ading insisted.
(He sent the bull after her with smart slap on its side. Then he
quickly gathered the remains of his meal, put them inside the
jute sack which had almost dried, and himself followed.)
Resolution
Manong felt stronger and more enthusiastic.
(He felt he could follow the slender, little figure ahead of him to
the ends of the earth.)
CONFLICT
THEME
Sexuality
Based on how the author described what the characters
observed with each other, the details were kind of sexual in a
way. How Manong perceived the wetted breast of Ading and how
Ading was amazed with the masculinity if Manongs body.
(But she staggered a little and water splashed down on
(He lowered the bucket with his back to her, and she had time
to take in the tallness of him, the breadth of his shoulders, the
sinewy strength of his legs. Down below in the small of his back,
two parallel ridges of rope-like muscle stuck out against the wet
shirt. As he hauled up the bucket, muscles rippled all over his
body. His hair, which was wavy, cut short behind but long in
fronts fell in a cluster over his forehead.)
SECOND REPORTERS:
Hannah Laine Abelo
Pamela Mennet Llorente
Charlyn Sulad