Francine Marie B.

Imperial 07/31/19

11 HUMSS Weber

Sugmat: An Affective Literary Critique

THIS CRITICAL READING assumes that Corazon M. Almerino’s short story, “Sugmat” yields
in the reader the depiction of the life of a mother suffering from Postpartum depression.

The outset of the story is Chona remembering her triumph on the battle against her son’s
illness and the horrors of her life.
The story went on with remembering how Chona and Boyet were accepted as teachers for
special education in an institution in California to which they reside. Chona and Boyet are
undeniably connected to each other with utmost love and affection. However, they have not been
granted a child. As the story went on, after numerous attempt and wishes, they were blessed to
have a baby boy, Dodong. Due to the abnormality of Chona’s uterial wall, she gave birth to Dodong
way prior his supposed birth, he was born on the 26th week resulting to him being a pre-mature
baby. Chona is best described as a loving mother that would submit anything for the survival of her
son. As the story went on, it has been revealed that Dodong, her son, is diagnosed with multiple
illness and is battling death real hard. Amidst his multiple illness, Dodong survived but however his
eyesight was amputated.
The story unfolds but another misfortune paved way to Chona’s life. Her husband, Boyet,
was diagnosed with illness and just like his son, he suffered the same tragedy. With Boyet enclosed
in misery, he asked Chona to help him face death. Everything has been set and planned but on the
latter part of the story, Chona decided to save her husband by means of consulting their doctor with
regards the serious concern. Although a lot of efforts have been exerted for the survival of Boyet, at
the end of the story, he was deprived of life and welcomed death himself.
At the end of the story, Chona is left with nothing but imprints of her past, and she is left to
decide now about everything in front her way.

This critical assumption is held up by the reader - response theory in literature, which
suggests that the reader is essential to the meaning of a text, for it is only then in the reading
experience that a literary piece is brought to life. The literary theory of reader – response can be
traced back through Phenomenology, who was founded by the German philosopher, Edmund
Husserl (1938), to which he asserted in his studies that an individual’s attention towards the
external world shifts to ways as to how it appears to the human subject, and the subjective
contribution to this appearing.

The story gives the reader an imprint and sense of empathy through the representation of
Chona, who dwells in a serial stumble upon hardship and struggles as depicted in the story. The
story showcases choice of words that is in contrast to the usual depiction of a mother. For most
parts of the story, Chona carries the unbearable weight of sadness. It is evident how her emotions
are mostly jumbled up however denominates toward melancholy. This grants the reader the idea
that Chona may be suffering from the severe after - effect of childbirth, which in her case, seemed to
result to depression.

The reader’s attention is focused on the rising suspense structured in the story, however
Chona, the mother, portrays evident sadness and delineates disconsolate from the series of
misfortune she underwent.
 Postpartum depression is not a character flaw or a weakness. Most mothers unfamiliar to
child birth experience postpartum “baby blues” after giving birth, however postpartum depression
is a more severe case which entails mood swings, difficulty of sleeping and anxiety. The given
symptoms and signs is apparent to Chona’s behavior in the story, thus giving the reader the
assumption.

The story revolves around the life of Chona in between the series of stumble she battled in
order to get through, which is well represented by the line “Lunod-patay gyud ta dinhi. Dili ta
magpaanod.” The line suggests the swim-shrink concept. The concept compares life to the harsh
currents of the ocean, on whether the person in between the vast ocean paddles toward survival or
shrinks toward evanesce. One symptom of postpartum depression is the reduced interest and
pleasure in different activities. The reader is given the impression that maybe there must have been
more prior asperity to annex Chona’s melancholy and reason why Chona directs herself towards
survival and nothing more.

The author also used symbols in order to present the situation to the reader which is
emphasized in the line, “Puti ang pintal – aron tingali taptapan ang kangiob, ug aron ihaya ang mga
handomanan sa mitaliwan”. The line strongly induces to the reader its underlying meaning. The
color white is used to stand for an aspired beginning, a new commencement. However behind it, is
the undeniable darkness Chona is held captive with. The painting of the wall with color white
suggests Chona’s appeal to unlearn melancholy. Another symptom of postpartum depression is
hopelessness, which Chona is trying so hard overcome as stated in the story.

Another symptom of postpartum depression is the reoccurring thinking about death, which
is best reflected in Chona’s statement, “Ang kamatayon wala panag – iyaha sa sakit, iya kini sa
kinabuhi lamang, bisan sa iyang kapintas, adunay grasya sa paghalad sa tagsa – tagsa nga
katapusan. Ug sinugdanan.” The line reflects a depth realization of Chona with regards the
inevitable death. Death does not discriminate, between the sinners nor the saints. Death does not
discriminate for when it takes, it takes.

Therefore, the story “Sugmat” by Corazon Almerino is a story which induces to the reader
the idea of a mother suffering from Postpartum depression.

References: Almerino, Corazon M. Bisaya Magazine. 09 December 2009. Web.

https://bismag.pbworks.com