The Wedding Dance

by: Amado Daguio

Analysis:

Honor and dignity are signatures of men. These two things are significant because
for them men are naturally born to be respected. Women, on the other hand, are
known for their love and caring. When they love, they could give everything beyond
their capabilities.

The story, The Wedding Dance, is just simply the portrayal, the shadow, the
mirror, and the mere representation of the two different individual, a man and a
woman. Awiyao represents a well-defined being. His characteristics as a person are
bold, passionate, a good follower, and at the same time seeking the honor and
dignity for himself. Lumnay as a woman is defined to be unselfish, faithful, and
ultimately strong. She is very courageous and has the will to give all the things that
she could give to her husband.

In the story, we could see how passionate Awiyao was. He was a dreamer. He wants
to have a child. For him, having a child is a fulfillment of a lifetime. But heres
Lumnay. Even though she was forced by Awiyao to find another man, she cant be
unfaithful to her husband. All she ever wanted was to be with him. She doesnt want
another man; she just wants to be with Awiyao for the rest of her life.

The Wedding Dance is not just a simple story of two lovers. It is a story of passion
and love, a story of sacrificing and believing, a story of being faithful and a good
follower, a story of honor and dignity, and of course, a story of love and caring.

I. Wedding Dance

by Amador Daguio

II. SYNOPSIS/ SUMMARY

Awiyao and Lumnay were husband and wife for seven years, but now the
husband has to marry another woman, Madulimay, because Lumnay was not able to
give him a child. (In their culture in the mountains during those times, having a
child to follow after the husbands name was a must.)

On the night of the wedding, Awiyao goes to his and Lumnays house to
personally invite her to the traditional wedding dance. However, Lumnay, the best
dancer in the entire tribe, refuses to go. Then, during their conversation, it is
revealed that both of them still love each other, but because of their tribes custom,
they have to separate.

Awiyao goes back to the wedding, to the wedding dance, after being fetched
by some friends. Lumnay wants to follow, partly because of the dance, and partly
because she wants to put a stop to their tribes tradition of having to marry another
partner just to have a child.

III. SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

A. CHARACTERS

1. Lumnay a woman who was left by her husband because he had to marry
another woman/ Developing
2. Awiyao- the husband stated above / Flat
3. Madulimay Awiyaos new wife / Flat

B. PLOT - Linear

a) Introduction

The story opens with Awiyao entering his and Lumnays house.

b) Rising Action

Things start to heat up when Lumnay says she does not want any other man.

c) Climax

There is more intensity when Awiyao says he does not want any other woman.

d)

Falling action

But they both have to follow their tribes tradition.

e)

Denouement

Awiyao has to go back to the wedding dance.

C. SETTING

a) place in the mountains somewhere in the Philippines

b) time- a long time ago
c) weather conditions- fine
d) social conditions- lower-class

e) mood or atmosphere- sad and tense

D. POINT OF VIEW

The Point of View used in this short story is the Omniscient Limited - The
author tells the story in third person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc). We
know only what the character knows and what the author allows him/her to tell us.
We can see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the author chooses to reveal
them to us.

E. LITERARY DEVICES

For me, there is an extensive use of the literary device Symbolism. There are
many symbols here, and these are the darkness, the houses four walls, the
smoldering embers, and the beads. The darkness symbolizes how the two lead
characters feel. Meanwhile, the houses walls symbolize the former couples
imprisonment. The smoldering embers that become glowing coals symbolize the
love that both of them still feel towards each other. Finally, the beads symbolize
Awiyaos great love for Lumnay even if she was not able to give him a child.

F. THEME

In my opinion, the theme True love never dies is applicable to this story.

G. CONFLICT

The conflict here is Man vs. Society. The lead characters have to follow their
tribes custom --ARV
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Critical Analysis of Wedding Dance, Distance to Andromeda and May Day Eve
1. A Critical Analysis on Amador Daguios Wedding Dance, Gegorio Brilliantes
Distance to Andromeda and Nick Joaquins May Day Eve An Occasional Paper
Presented to Dr. Fulgencio T. Soriano Department of English and Humanities College
of Arts and Sciences Central Luzon State University In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements of the Course Literary Criticism By: Catubig, Rona Calderon March,
2013
2. I. Synopsis A. The Wedding Dance The Wedding Dance is a story of Lumnay and
Awiyao, who as members of a tribe in Cordillera, have to conform to the dictates of
their culture. After seven harvests, Lumnay and awiyao are still childless. Not having
a child creates a problem with them. Lumnay, as a woman is expected to be
suspected as infertile. Awiyao has to look for another wife even if he loves Lumnay
so much. At the day of Awiyaoswedding to Malidumay he paid visit to Lumnay for
the last time and invited her to come to her wedding. They are both wretched.
Lumnaytried to fight for her husband. She wanted to defy the unwritten law of the
tribe besides they both love each other. During the course of their conversation
Awiyao explains his opposition to his marriage to other woman but is defeated with
cultural dictates. Awiyao called by the loud sound of the gongs goes back to the
ceremony. Lumnay considered breaking into the ceremony but ends up alone in the
company of bean plants. The love for their tribe reigned over Awiyao. 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 mean nothing if she cannot bear a child. B.
Distance to Andromeda Distance to Andromeda is a story about a boy named Ben
who went to a movie house to watch with his friend Pepe. The movie which they
watched is about survivors of the Earth who went to travel or journey in outer space
in search
3. of a new place to live in. After the movie they have watched Ben thinks of staying
for one more screening but Pepe his friend stood to leave already in the aisle
waiving at him. When the two are already outside they still linger before the movie
house looking at the photos tacked on the display board. As Ben looks again at the
pictures he feels again what he has watched. Ben cannot get over it. The two
crossed the street away from the theater to the main street. They come to the plaza
where children are roller-skating around the kiosko. Tito, another friend comes by.
They talked about swimming and basketball until their conversation shifts to the
movie Ben and Pepe have watched. Tito does not go to that kind of picture, so
fantastic he says, so untrue to life. While the two, especially Ben cannot get rid of
the movie on their minds and cannot help but to think of it and ask questions like
Do you think people will ever get to the moon? Tito verbally opposed them

thinking that those were crazy talks since they are unreal. The three boys part
ways. Ben walks home alone. On the bridge he suddenly feels lonely. He recalls the
view of the heaven through the port holes in the movie. C. May Day Eve May Day
Eve is a story that involves three generations. The first generation is the generation
of Agueda and Badoy, the second generation is the generation of Aguedas
daughter and the third generation is the generation of Don
4. Badoys grandson, Voltaire. The story revolves on what happened one May day
eve on the year 1847 when Agueda young and stubborn as she was persuaded
Anastacia to tell her the mystic superstition on a May day eve. Carrying a candle
she went downstairs where the mirror is. She insisted on finding out who will her
husband be and there passed her shoulders stands Badoy. Later on the story Doa
Agueda tells her daughter about but denied that it was her daughters father Don
Badoy. It was the devil she tells her. On a May day eve of the year 1890 Don Badoy
saw his grand child holding a candle, facing the mirror and it reminded him of one
May day eve of the year 1847, and of Doa Agueda.He almost forgot that she is
long dead already. When Don Badoy tells Voltaire that he saw a witch in it and it
bewitched him Voltaire tells him that it is a horrible mirror. Don Badoy surprised with
it asks him why and he answers him that his mama once told him that his
grandmother, Doa Agueda, once saw the devil in the mirror. The story shows how a
certain belief of the mystic May day eve changed their lives forever.
5. II. Interpretation A. The Wedding Dance The Wedding Dance tells the reader that
there could be a conflict between your personal love and love for ones people
(tribe) and culture, and in some cases culture prevails. The story clearly
demonstrates how their culture prevents Lumnay and Awiyao from loving each
other and living together as husband and wife.Their love for each other is revealed
through their conversation. Awiyao, no matter how it pains him to leave Lumnay has
to conform to the social dictates. Lumnay, no matter how much she loves Awiyao
chose to give in to their unwritten law. There could also be an underlying theme of
the story that is love as self- sacrifice. The couple, Lumnay and Awiyao has to give
up for their love not only because of what their culture dictates but alsoto save each
other from the scorn of the society. In Awiyaos case he had been mocked being
childless because a man to be considered a man should have a child. B. Distance to
Andromeda The Distance to Andromeda tells the reader that life is a journey and
therefore it involves of departures and arrivals until we reach the FINAL
DESTINATION. The story manifests how life is a journey especially in the movie Ben
and Pepe have watched. The survivors of Earth, the last men and women of this
world ride in a rocket `and travel outerspace in search of another place of air and
6. greenness. As they travel they see through the portholes the planets and stars
until a globe of shining water and green-shadowed land appears through the
viewports. They have found a new world to live in. There is a journey involved.
There is a departure on Earth and there is arrival as well, arrival in their new-found
world. The story shows that if you leave you will arrive somewhere, the destination.

There is always a destination for every leaving. In the case of Ben and Pepe, they
arrive at the movie house and watched. After the movie they have to leave,
although Ben still wanting to stay for another screening they really need to leave
and so they leave. In life no matter how long you want to stay if it is already your
time to go, you will have to leave. When the two arrived at the plaza they see Tito
and talked for a while. The three then part ways to go home. Just like in life we meet
people but then there would come a time when we really needed to part. Ben
headed home alone and suddenly he feels lonely. He feels like a tiny boy standing
between the dark river and the lights in the sky. He feels lonely because he does not
want to go home just yet but he needed to leave to arrive to his final destination. C.
May Day Eve The story May Day Eve tells the reader that time moves in our life
without stop and as it passes by, the heart and mind forget and distracted but if
reminded it remembers.
7. As Don Badoy Montoya visited his old home, memories of his youth came back.
He recalled how he fell in love with Agueda, a young woman who resisted him.
Agueda learned from Anastaciathat she would be able to know her future husband
by reciting an incantation in front of a mirror. She saw Badoy in the mirror. They got
married. When Don Badoy saw his grandson, Voltaire, in front of the mirror, he
remembers Agueda. Don Badoy ponders on love that had been wasted.Badoys
heart forgot how he loved Agueda in the past. But as he sees Voltaire in front of the
mirror he remembers everything about Agueda, about the mystic Mayday eve of
1847. III. Technical Analysis A. Plot The plot of TheWedding Dance does not follow
the traditional plot structure. The conflict is already revealed in the beginning of the
story. Nevertheless, the problem is not clear to readers yet. The technique used by
the writer allows a sense of suspense. Knowing the existence of the problem which
is still unclear hooks the reader to continue reading in their pursuit to know what
the problem is. In addition, such technique prevents predictability of the flow of the
story. If the story followed a traditional plot which it could not create the suspense
and emotional intensity it is able to do with the way it is structured. On the other
hand the story Distance to Andromeda followed a traditional plot structure, it used
foreshadowing though. The outcome of the conflict is hinted or foreshadowed
8. before the climax and ending of the story. The description of the movie at the
beginning of the story is a foreshadowing of what is about to happen to Ben in the
end of the story. There is a repetitive designation in the narration of the story. There
is a repetitive references to the movie, to the sky and the stars that make the
readers curious what these has got something to do with the story. While May Day
Evemade use a plot technique of a frame story, there is a single scene or event in
the beginning and ending of the story which is a mystic May day eve. There is a
background narrative that explains the world of the main story. Simply put, there is
a story within the story. The mystic May eve was told in a story by Agueda to her
daughter, and her daughter to her son. These past events told in the story add
meaning to current circumstances in the story. The course of three generations in

the story made its theme. Although these three short stories made use of different
plot techniques these three are similar with its sense of suspense. There are
elements in the stories that make readers continue reading and read for more. B.
Setting The choice of the storys setting The Wedding Dance fits the story perfectly.
The triumph of culture and tradition over personal love is emphasized by framing
the story in the Cordilleras because the Cordillera region is known for its richness in
culture and its peoples obedience and conformity to their tradition. Setting the
story in the Cordillera region highlights the importance of fertility and
9. gives the events of the story a realistic appeal. On the other hand, the story
Distance to Andromeda took place in a movie house, in the town of Tarlac. The
setting also fits the story perfectly since the movie has got something to do with the
theme of the story. It makes the story realistic. If the writer chose to set the story
outer space and Ben is the one inside the rocket seeing through the portholes with
his very own eyes the story might not seem realistic than it is. While May Day
Evewas set on a mystic May Day Eve of the years 1847 and 1890 in front of a
mirror. The three generations involved in the story intensified the theme of the
story. Assuming there was only two or one generation in the story or it only
happened in just a couple of years or so, the theme of the story would be different
from that of its theme. The duration of time made the theme of the story. The
settings of the three short stories are well crafted that they fit the stories perfectly.
C. Characterization The characters in the story The Wedding Dance are Lumnay,
Awiyao and Malidumay. The author greatly used dialogues and actions to reveal his
characters nature. Lumnay is the lead woman character in the story. She is
allegedly infertile and her believed inability to bear a child causes her to lose the
man she loves, her husband. The writer effectively used Lumnays character to
reveal how personal love is defeated by culture dictates. Lumnay represents what a
deep attachment to tradition could bring to an individual. Her actions and words
make the readers feel
10. pity to her situation. On the day of her husbands wedding with another girl she
bounds herself in their house, not moving in the darkness. She is not a passive
follower of the situation although she is the victim of the superiority of their culture.
She does not easily give in to their culture she wants to fight back and defy the
unwritten law. Her words say so: I dont want any man., I dont want any other
man., Neither can you blame me. You know that I have done my best. I have
prayed to Kabunyan much. I have sacrificed many chickens in my prayers., It is
not right. It is not right. How does she know? How can anybody know? It is not
right. Her actions and words reflect opposition. In the latter part, she decides to
break in to the ceremony, go to the chief of the village, to the elders and tell them it
was not right: Awiyao was hers.. Nobody could take him away from her.. Let her
the first woman to complain, to denounce the unwritten rule that a man may take
another woman. There is such strength in Lumnays character and it could be the
authors way of waging an attack against the sovereignty of the culture. There is

much sympathy felt in the character of Lumnay. Making her the victim signifies the
ill effect of the influence of the society. Although Lumnay is described by her
husband as one of the best wives in the whole village she admits that it done her no
good since she still cannot bear a child. She is even the best dancer in their tribe
and is envied by most women and captures mens attention: Did not the man
praise her supple body and the women envy the way she stretched her hands
Tonight all women who once danced in her honor, were dancing now in honor of
another whose only claim
11. was that perhaps she could give her husband a child. These lines strongly tell
how her sole deficiency has overshadowed everything. Lumnay attempts to go to
the wedding ceremony and fights for her man. However, in the end, she did not
have the courage to break into the wedding ceremony. She ends up in the mountain
away from the ceremony. She hears the sound of the gongs that seem to thank her
for her sacrifice. The other character is Awiyao, Lumnays husband. Like her wife,
his character represents the defeat of personal love and the victory of culture and
tradition. Awiyao repeatedly expresses his love for Lumnay, but he submits to the
dictates of the culture in the end. Several aspects of culture are depicted in his
character: the superiority of culture, proliferation of his family name and the
concept of machismo. He is not in favor of what he has done, but he has to do it. His
need to conform to their tradition pains him as much as it pains Lumnay. During his
wedding ceremony he pays visit to Lumnay and asks her to come to his wedding
although it is an emotional blow to himself. He utters words which are against his
wishes. It hurts him to leave Lumnay, but he has to: It is taking away half of his
life to leave her like this. As he leaves her, he laments why a man has to have a
child. Doubtlessly, the fact that he visits Lumnay on his wedding day asserts his
love for Lumnay.
12. Awiyaos words tell about the superiority of their culture: ..I am very sorry, but
neither of us can help itYou know very well that I dont want any woman either.. I
do this for the sake of our tribe. Awiyao is a depiction of the so-called machismo as
well which is proven by being able to have a child: ..If I did this it is because of my
need for a child. You know that life is not worth living without a child. The men have
mocked me behind my back. The last character is Malidumay, the woman Awiyao is
getting married to. Nothing more aside from that is said about her. Her character
also emphasizes the function of a woman in the society, to bear children. Her
character shows conformity to tradition as well because even though she knows
that Awiyao is only marrying her for the sole reason of having a childshe still
marries him regardless of Lumnay. On the other hand, in the Distance to Andromeda
there are three characters as well, Ben, Pepe and Tito. The actions and dialogues
also reveal the characters nature like in The Wedding Dance. Since the author did
not make any description about the characters and did not made use of many
exchange of dialogues as well, just sensible ones. Ben is a thirteen year old boy who
wants to stay for another screening in the movie house although he had already

watch one movie. Meanwhile, even if he already went out the theater when his
friend called him he still stood before the theater looking at the photos of the movie
on the display board. His character
13. portrays a character of wanting to stay a little longer, of not wanting to leave. It
is shown in the lines: ..Ben thinks of staying for one more screening but his friend
Pepe stood up to leave, waving to him from the aisle. He could not get over with
the movie he and his friend just watched: Ben looks up at the pictures, and he
feels again, deep in a silence within him, like the vibration of invisible wires, the
hum of universe, the movement of the planets and stars. I wonder if there are
people on Mars- like in the comics. Do you think people will ever get to the
moon?.He wonders of the outerspace. He always looks up to the stars and sky.
Bens character believes that life is a journey at a certain point people will end up to
their final destination. This is shown with his frequent looking up at the stars in the
story. Another character is Pepe, the friend of Ben. His character portrays the
willingness to leave. He is the one calling Ben and waiving at him to leave the movie
house. The last character is Tito, opposite Bens character he does not go to the
kind of picture Ben and Pepe like. His character portrays a realistic being. He does
not believe to fantasy, for him those are crazy talks: If there are any, says Tito,
theyd look like Mr. Cruz. Ahh, nobodys going to land on the moon, says Tito,
theres no air up there. Moon, rocketship, Mars- what kind ofcrazy talk is that?
14. While the story May Day Eve has many characters but the main characters are
Agueda, Badoy, their daughter, and their daughters son. Like the two other stories
the actions and dialogues of the characters also reveal their nature. Agueda was
described to be a bold, liberated, and a non-conformist young woman. These
characteristics are depicted in her words: I am not afraid, I will go. And I will not
lie down!Stay old woman. Tell me what to do. I do not care. I am not afraid. I will
go. Her character during her youth represents the youth who are stubborn and
persistent. During her old age she turned a bitter old woman: I saw the devil, she
said bitterly. Badoywas characterized in the beginning as a persistent, promiscuous
young man who wanted to prove his machismo. It is depicted in his words:
Charms like yours have no need for a candle fair one. You are Agueda whom I left
a mere infant and came home to find a tremendous beauty, and I danced a waltz
with you but you would not give me the polka. But I want to dance the polka with
you fair one. Oh, do not cry little one! Oh please forgive me! Please do not cry!
But what a brute I am! I was drunk, little one, and knew not what I said. No, say
you forgive me first. Say you forgive me Agueda. He realized that he was
deliriously in love with Agueda: ..he had fallen madly inlove with her. He ached
intensely to see her again, to touch her hands and her hair;to hearher harsh voice.
15. Badoys character is the depiction of young men who are persistent to pursue
women they like at any cost. During his old age, Don Badoy becomes bitter like
Doa Agueda as well, especially in their marriage. He almost forgot that Doa
Agueda is long dead. His heart and mind forgot the memories of Agueda through

time: But, alas, the heart forgets; the heart is distracted; and May time passes;
summer lends; the storms break over the rot-tipe orchards and the heart grows old;
while the hours, the days, the months, and the years pile up and pile up, till the
mind becomes too crowded, too confused: dust gathers in it; cobwebs multiply; the
walls darken and fall into ruin and decay; the memory perished...and there came a
time when Don BadoyMontiya walked home through a May Day midnight without
remembering, without even caring to remember; being merely concerned in feeling
his way across the street with his cane; his eyes having grown quite dim and his
legs uncertain--for he was old; he was over sixty.. Don Badoy and Doa Aguedas
daughter, however she is not named in the story. She is the one who asked Doa
Agueda what she saw in the mirror on a May day eve of 1847. When Doa Agueda
told her it was the devil, she asked her mother to describe it. Doa agueda
described the devil in a way that the girl noticed that it has resemblance with her
father. When she asked Doa Agueda if it was her father she denied it. The
character of the daughter in the story represents the youth who are curious and
always has questions to ask. Doa Agueda, in this case, represents the typical
mother who conceals things to her children to preserve the good image of their
father.
16. Voltaire, Don Badoys grandson. His character was used by the writer to be the
instrument to unlock Don Badoys memory of Doa Agueda: wholly unconscious
of the May night, till on his way down the hall, chancing to glance into the sala, he
shuddered, he stopped, his blood ran cold-- for he had seen a face in the mirror
there---a ghostly candlelight face with the eyes closed and the lips moving, a face
that he suddenly felt he had been there before though it was a full minutes before
the lost memory came flowing, came tiding back, so overflooding the actual
moment and so swiftly washing away the piled hours and days and months and
years that he was left suddenly young again; he was a gay young buck again, lately
came from Europe; he had been dancing all night; he was very drunk; he s stepped
in the doorway; he saw a face in the dark; he called out...and the lad standing
before the mirror (for it was a lad in a night go jumped with fright and almost
dropped his candle, but looking around and seeing the old man, laughed out with
relief and came running. Voltaire was exactly doing what Agueda did one May Day
Eve of 1847. Don Badoy warned him that he might see a witch and the boy said it
was a horrible mirror since he told him his mother once told him that his
grandmother saw the devil in it. It shows the bitter marriage the two old couple had
shared for Don Badoy was described by his wife a deviul and Doa Agueda was
described by her husband a witch. They were not able to mend their broken
marriage because their love was a raging passion and nothing more.
17. The characters from the three stories were described mostly in indirect
presentation, that is, their true nature is depicted on their actions and words. D.
Point of View The three short stories are told from a Third Person Omniscient point
of view. The narrator in each story is able to enter the minds and feelings of

characters. This kind of narration offers a lot of information for the readers to
understand better how the characters exactly think and feel. E. Symbolism The
common denominator of these three short stories is the use of symbolism. In fact, it
is their best feature, the richness of symbols. Symbols are used in the stories to
effectively point out the message of the stories. In The Wedding Dance the symbols
are: the sound of gongs or gangsas, the rattan flooring, the beads, the beans, the
fire/flame, the dance, the stream or river and other objects symbolizing abundance
such as harvests, jars filled with water and the field. The sound of the gong most
particularly is the most important symbol in the short story. The gong signifies the
call of culture and its victory over mans personal love. It is very dominant in the
story since it is mentioned many times. Nevertheless, what is more important is
when the sound of gongs is heard in the flow of the story. The rattan flooring:
Lumnay is twice described as pulling at the rattan that keeps the bamboo flooring in
place and tugging at the rattan flooring. The
18. bamboo signifies Lumnay and Awiyao as individual person. However, they are
bound by their union as wife and husband. This binding is symbolized by the rattan
as it described to hold the split bamboo together. Lumnays pulling at the rattan
represents the breaking of their union. The beads: The beads are the only objects
Lumnay asked from Awiyao to be in her possession. The beads are very precious
since they are said to be worth twenty fields. The beads stands for Awiyaos
love.Before he leaves he put the beads on her head. The beans: The beans
represent abundance and fertility. Beans or bean pods contains seeds, which
signifies fruitfulness. In the end of the story Lumnay is seen in the company of the
bean plants and there seems to be an envy felt by Lumnay as she touches the
plants for they are oozing with fruitfulness while she is fruitless. The flames: It
symbolizes the intensity of love Awiyao and Lumnay has for each other. The dance:
It symbolizes culture because dancing marks any form of cultural celebration. The
stream or river: It represents the unending flow of life. Lumnay recalls how she and
Awiyao had to pass through the growling waters as he took her away from her
parents. This may signify the troubled life they had because of being childless. In
the end of the story, Lumnay goes to the mountain stream which is said to be very
cold. It represents the continuation of Lumnays life alone.
19. On the other hand Distance to Andromeda used symbols as well and these are
the movie house, the rocket, the outer space, the skaters, the stars, the sky and the
moon. The movie house: It represents the world people live in. Different movies
screening in it signify the different lives people have, there are drama, comedy,
tragedy and its sort. The rocketship: In the movie it became the mode of
transportation of the survivors of the earth in the quest to their search of a new
world. In life it can represent the faith of people, the faith of people who believes
that they will go back to their creator and it is their faith that would bring them
there. It can also represent whatever it is that is significant to people to arrive at
their final destination, whatever that final destination is for them. The outer space:

It is where the last people on earth travelled. It is where they see though the
portholes the stars, planets and the moon. These things they saw represents the
multitude of circumstances people face in their journey to this life. It includes the
different people they see, different places they go and different situations they
encounter. The skaters/ skaters rink: In the white light of the neon lamps, the
continuous rumbling sound of the skaters rises and falls with the quality of the
cemented rink: now hollow and receding, now full and ascending, going around,
seemingly unending. Life as a journey is not always a smooth ride. Nevertheless, it
is not always a tough ride. The skaters and skaters rinks signify the ups and downs
of life. It is not always everyday that we are on top and vice
20. versa. The falls are the trials and challenges while the ups are the joys and
victories of life. The stars, sky and the moon: In the story Ben always look up to
these, so these symbolize the final destination. In the story it reminded Ben of the
movie he watched, in real life it will also be a reminder that all people will surely be
where they are supposed to be. While on the story May Day Eve the symbols used
are the mirror, the cane and the candle. The mirror: It is the most important symbol
in the story because the story revolves around it. The mirror is the symbol of truth
since what you see is what you get. It is through the mirror Doa Agueda saw Don
Badoy. Although it was just a superstition that who she will see will be her husband,
in the end it turned out to be true to her because they got married. She let herself
confines to her belief of the mystic May day eve.The mirror resembles, suggests and
associates something more and something else. For one, the mirror symbolizes the
illusory love between Agueda and Badoy. When they first met, the mutual physical
attraction was strong as may be confirmed in the recollection made by both. On the
part of Agueda, her physical attraction was evident in seeing the young Badoys
very black and elegant mustaches, his fine clothes, his flashing eyes, his curly
hair as they were reflected in the mirror. On the part of Badoy, his physical
attraction was evident in seeing the young Aguedas charms, tremendous
beauty, the eyes she had, bare shoulders gold in the candlelight and delicately
furred, the mobile insolence of her neck, her taut breast, her
21. enchanting fire and grace,her hair that was like black waters as they were
reflected in the same mirror. However, their attraction being founded on something
so superficial as physical appearance, their loves roots are not anchored deeply so
their feelings for each other did not endure. Just a few years after their chance
meeting by the mirror on a May Day Eve, with the product of their marital union still
a very young girl, Agueda is already referring to her husband as the devil and
attaches negative descriptions to him like having a scar of sin, mustachesdirty
and greying and smelling horribly of tobacco, and horns and tails. Badoy has the
similar antagonistic attitude against his wife, whom he refers to as ahorrible,
dark, fatal creature of a witch who tortured him and ate [his] heart and drank
[his] blood. This reversal of Agueda and Badoys initial passionate pronouncements
toward each other implies that like a mirror reflecting analmost-similar yet actually

false image, the skin-deep love they had already disillusioned them. The cane: In
the story the walking cane is used by Don Badoy. It symbolizes superiority, authority
and old age. The candle: A candle can give a sense of direction especially in
darkness; it can also draw two people together. This is exactly what happened to
Badoy and Agueda. They were drawn to each other because of the candle Agueda
lighted and because of her belief. IV. Evaluation
22. For me the most effective among the three writers is Amador Daguio because
the symbolism he used in his story is really effective in conveying its message. His
story is rich with symbolism which is relevant and effective. The second most
effective writer is Nick Joaquin. He comes second in my preference since I needed to
read his story May Day Eve over and over again to understand the symbolism he
used and to get the meaning or the message his trying to convey with his short
story. Doubtlessly, his short story is well crafted. The third most effective is Gregorio
Brillantes On a personal note, although I read his short story Distance to Andromeda
over and over I find it hard to figure out the connection of the theme within the
story. Although I believe life is a journey is its theme I find it hard to extract from
the story how it became its theme.
23. A Comparative Critical Essay onDaguios The Wedding Dance, Brillantes
Distance to Andromeda And Joaquins May Day Eve An Occasional Paper
Presented to Dr. Fulgencio T. Soriano Department of English and Humanities College
of Arts and Sciences Central Luzon State University
24. In Partial Fulfilment Of the Requirements of the Course Literary Criticism by:
Catubig, Rona C. March 19, 2013
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Amador Daguio

SYNOPSIS/ SUMMARY

There was a couple named Awiyao and Lumnay. They were married for a long time
but Awiyao her husband has to marry another girl named Madulimay because
Lumnay cannot bear a child. On the night of the wedding of Awiyao and Madulimay,
Awiyao went to his and Lumnay's house where they used to live to personally invite
his ex wife to join the dance but Lumnay refuses to join. Lumnay is the best dancer
in their tribe.

They had a heart-to-heart talk about their separation, and on their conversation
they found out that the couple still had a thing on each other. They still love each
other but they have to separate because their tribes custom is--every man in that
tribe should have one (or more) child that would carry his name and if his wife
cannot give him a child he can marry another woman. It's a man's necessity to have
a child.

Lumnay can hardly let go of her husband. The two both agreed that if Awiyao's
second marriage did not work, he will go back to Lumnay's arms and this was
sealed by the beads that Lumnay will keep. Then Awiyao goes back to the wedding
because someone is calling him already. After being fetched by others, Lumnay
decided to go to the wedding not to dance or to join the celebration but to stop the
wedding. She decided to break the unwritten law of her tribe, but when she is near
all her guts to stop the wedding suddenly disappeared. She did not have the
courage to break into the wedding feast. Lumnay walked away from the dancing
ground, away from the village. She went to the mountain instead and in the
mountain is where she diverted all her bitterness in her and she partly reminisce
their story of Awiyao.
Review on Wedding Dance (Amador Daguio)

To bear children is very important element in creating a family and establishing

better relationship between husband and wife; but it is something which Awiyao and
Lumnay will never achieve. It is a story between two people belonging in one of the
ethnic groups in the Philippines, the Ifugao. In order for us to better understand the

story, we must understand their law. It states "A couple who wish to divorce due to
infertility of either one of the partners is allowed by the law. A husband who
divorces a wife without any valid reason will have to leave all properties to the
children and the wife, this is another law." Though it was hard and painful, Awiyao
wanted to have children so much that he divorced Lumnay and remarried another
Ifugao named Madulimay. In the old Filipino culture, when people have not known
anything about how fertility happens, a man questions another mans masculinity if
he does not have a child. In the case of Awiyao, though he feels that no one can
replace Lumnay as the best wife, he still feels the need to divorce her just for him to
have children who will follow him in the fields in the future. Lumnay asked why they
should part if theyre love for each other is eternal. Why should they separate if
there really is nothing wrong in their personal relationship?

I nearly burst into tears while I was reading the story. Daguio had shown the readers
the great love Awiyao and Lumnay have for each other by heartbreaking lines they
exchange while saying goodbye. Daguio had written a great love story with a great
sense of ethnicity. He really showed people how rich culture Filipinos have.

In the story mentioned about Gangsas (gongs), which many ethnic groups in the
Philippines play at a time of celebration. Women together with other men should
dance around the fire at the sound of gongs while children sit and watch. The
gangsas in the story is like a spirit calling Lumnay to take part in his ex-husbands
wedding. To her, hearing the gangsas is just like eating a poisoned apple, softly
killing her, and taking away her soul. However in the end, the gangsas made
Lumnay want to go to the wedding dance and question their law. She wanted to ask
them why is it wrong to not bear children if you are married. Could they not stay the
same way? They love each other anyway.

I like how Daguio constructed the story. It is very local, very nationalistic, no stain of
western culture at all. If I were of another race, Ill surely be more amazed and
curious while reading the story. The story is very cultural from the way Awiyao
opened the door and lit their fireplace up to the end where Lumnay ran into the
woods and sit with their crops. It also mentioned about beads, and farm tools: the
only worldly possession they have. Filipino life before was so simple yet so beautiful.
If you would think about it, people in the ethnic group have a very different but
astonishing way of living their lives. Now, youth could not live without computer as
part of their school life; and gems, diamonds, and pearls are couples symbols of
love for each other. In the story, the simple necklace made from beads is the
symbol of their promise. See how simple they live in simplicity?

I needed to reread the last part because I was not able to understand it that much;
but as I was reading it for the second time, I realized what the growing bean pods
mean. At the last paragraph of the story states:
The stretching of the bean pods full length from the hearts of the wilting petals
would go on.

In my opinion, Daguio meant that life still goes on. The hearts of the wilting petal
symbolizes Lumnays broken heart. It means that though her heart is broken today,
still her life goes on and there will be a new morning to face.
She would be holding the bean flowers, soft in texture, silken almost, but moist
where the dew got into them, silver to look at, silver on the light blue blooming
whiteness, when the morning comes.

Her painful experiences from getting out of the desolate memories she had while
reminiscing Awiyaos love will eventually fade and will transform her to a beautiful
bean pod.
Though there is a huge gap between ethnic filipino groups from modernized
Filipinos, surely the readers of the story could still relate a lot. Filipinos have great
adoration of love stories relating to family crisis; and though the Wedding Dance by
Amador Daguio is a simple one, it deserves a vote of confidence, for it stands up
and shows the world how rich culture the Filipinos have.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES FOR WEDDING

DANCE INCLUDES:
Plot Diagram | The Wedding Dance Summary
"The Wedding Dance" Characters
Symbolism in "The Wedding Dance"
Talk About The Theme of Letting Love Go!

"The Wedding Dance" by Amador Daguio is a powerhouse of raw emotion for such a short
story. As the reader is drawn into the story of love and cultural reality, it jars with our
contemporary view of the world. Use this teacher guide to get the most out of the story and
explore the deep symbols and themes it contains.

By the end of this lesson your students will create amazing

storyboards like the ones below!

Wedding Dance - Plot Diagram

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Wedding Dance - Symbolism

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Wedding Dance - Theme

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A Quick Synopsis of "The Wedding Dance"

(Contains Plot Spoilers)
"The Wedding Dance" by Amador Daguio, is a short story about a husband and wife,
Awiyao and Lumnay, who had been married for seven years. In spite of being in love with
his wife, Awiyao feels the need to marry again in order to have a son. At his second
marriage celebration, Awiyao goes to check on Lumnay, knowing she was upset. Awiyao
thought the answer to Lumnay's sorrow would be to have her join the other women during
the wedding dance. Lumnay was in fact at his wedding, but left. She could not stand the
idea of her husband marrying another woman because she could not give him children.

Essential Questions for "The Wedding

Dance":
1. What is your legacy?
2. How important is having children to you? How important is it in your family? What
about in your culture?
3. When is love not enough to conquer all?

Wedding Dance Lesson Plans,

Student Activities and Graphic
Organizers
Plot Diagram | The Wedding
Dance Summary
Lesson Plan Reference
Print Activity
Grade Level: 6-8
Difficulty Level: 1 (Introducing / Reinforcing)
Type of Assignment: Individual, Partner, or Group
Type of Activity: Plot Diagrams and Narrative Arcs
Common Core Standards:

[ELA-Literacy/RL/7/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development
over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text

[ELA-Literacy/RL/7/3] Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how
setting shapes the characters or plot)

[ELA-Literacy/RL/7/6] Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of
different characters or narrators in a text

A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events
from a novel. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces
major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures.
Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a novel with a six-cell
storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students
create a scene that follows the story in the sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising
Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

Plot Diagram Example "The Wedding Dance":

Exposition
The setting is a mountain village of the Philippines where Awiyao has been
remarried.

Conflict
Awiyao has left his wife Lumnay, who he loved very much. However, she couldnt
give him a child. He has now married Madulimay in hopes to have a son, who will
continue his legacy. This is something Awiyao expresses as important in his culture.
However, Lumnay is upset because she loves Awiyao and doesnt want this
separation.

Rising Action
Outside of their house, the women of the village are dancing in celebration of the
wedding. Awiyao leaves to try and comfort Lumnay. He offers her the house, fields,
and his mother's beads, all of which are items of the life that they built together. This,
however, is not what Lumnay wants. Despite her repeated attempts to sway him,
Awiyao stands steadfast that they cannot be together because he needs a child.

Climax
Awiyao finally leaves to re-join the wedding and Lumnay runs into the hills.

Falling Action
Lumnay sits on the side of the mountain overlooking the blazing fire and dancing
women, thinking about how her life has changed. She has a sense of desperation,
isolation, and worthlessness.

Resolution
The reader is left not knowing what will become of Lumnay.

Wedding Dance - Plot Diagram

Create your own at
StoryboardThat.comEXPOSITIONCONFLICTRISING
ACTIONCLIMAXFALLING ACTIONRESOLUTIONThe setting is a
mountain village in the Philippines,where Awiyao has just been
remarried.Awiyao has left his wife Lumnay because she
couldntgive him a child. He has now married Madulimay inhopes
to have a son and. Lumnay is upset because sheloves Awiyao
and doesnt want this separation. Outside the villagers are
dancing in celebration of thewedding. Awiyao leaves to try and
comfort Lumnay. Heoffers her many items of the life that they
builttogether. Lumnay refuses them and repeatedlyattempts to
sway Awiyao to stay.Awiyao finally leaves to re-join the wedding
andLumnay runs into the hills. Lumnay sits on the side of the
mountain overlookingthe blazing fire and dancing women, thinking
abouthow her life has changed. She has a sense ofdesperation,
isolation, and worthlessness.The reader is left not knowing what
will become ofLumnay.
Example
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