May Day Eve
"May Day Eve" is a short story written by Filipino National Artist Nick Joaquin. Written after World War II, it became one of Joaquin's “signature stories” that became a classic in Philippine literature in English because of lasting worth or with a timeless quality. May day eve was a story about the man who forgot how he loved the woman that he loved in the past, and portraying a bitter marriage.
The story started with a flashback. Dona Agueda was facing the mirror on Monday eve because her sister told her to do so. Dona Agueda really believed in her sister. That is when she faced the mirror, her future lover would appear in the mirror.
As soon as Don Badoy appeared in the mirror, they decide to marry each other because they believed in Anastasia. When they got their married life began it goes out miserable because of the fact that they do not really love each other and nothing special happened to them.
The plot of the story was that as Don Badoy Montiya comes home to his old home at Intramuros, Manila late at night he finds his grandson chanting an old spell in front of a mirror, memories of his youth came back. He recalled how he fell in love with Agueda, a young woman who resisted his advances. Agueda learned that she would be able to know her future husband by reciting an incantation in front of a mirror. As she recited the words: “Mirror, mirror, show to me him whose woman I will be,” Agueda saw Badoy. Badoy and Agueda got married. However, Don Badoy learned from his grandson that he was described by Doña Agueda (through their daughter) as a "devil". In return, Don Badoy told his grandson that every time he looks at the mirror, he only sees a "witch" (Agueda). Don Badoy ponders on love that had dissipated. The truth was revealed, Badoy and Agueda had a “bitter marriage”, which began in the past, during one evening in the month of May in 1847. The tragedy of the story is Badoy’s heart forgot how he loved Agueda in the past. They were not able to mend their broken marriage because their love was a “raging passion and nothing more”.
The author started the story with some sort of flashback or reminiscing the moments. The story didn’t just told about the love story of the two persons involved but also it implies realization with the readers that you don’t have to rush everything specially in love, just like what the story portrayed using a mirror that not just because you saw the man who you dreamt about and was looking to be with, you will just suddenly live in to that believe that it will last without even knowing his true personality. It’s not just that, you have to wait and don’t rush things.
The story implies that we should not believe in superstitions as what agueda did, that he believes that she will be able to see her future husband by reciting the phrase she knows in the mirror. In marriage, we should always consider love because love is the foundation of all. We shouldn't force another person to love us in return. Instead, do something special in order for you to be loved back.
Analysing the story, I therefore conclude that, love is not to be played or to be based with anything else, it’s about how and what you feel, so that it will turned out beautiful, true and honest, not miserable just like what the story “may day eve” tells about.
Reference
http://lovelycaluag.blogspot.com/2014/12/story-analysis-and-summary-may-day-eve.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day_Eve
The story started with a flashback. Dona Agueda was facing the mirror on Monday eve because her sister told her to do so. Dona Agueda really believed in her sister. That is when she faced the mirror, her future lover would appear in the mirror.
As soon as Don Badoy appeared in the mirror, they decide to marry each other because they believed in Anastasia. When they got their married life began it goes out miserable because of the fact that they do not really love each other and nothing special happened to them.
The plot of the story was that as Don Badoy Montiya comes home to his old home at Intramuros, Manila late at night he finds his grandson chanting an old spell in front of a mirror, memories of his youth came back. He recalled how he fell in love with Agueda, a young woman who resisted his advances. Agueda learned that she would be able to know her future husband by reciting an incantation in front of a mirror. As she recited the words: “Mirror, mirror, show to me him whose woman I will be,” Agueda saw Badoy. Badoy and Agueda got married. However, Don Badoy learned from his grandson that he was described by Doña Agueda (through their daughter) as a "devil". In return, Don Badoy told his grandson that every time he looks at the mirror, he only sees a "witch" (Agueda). Don Badoy ponders on love that had dissipated. The truth was revealed, Badoy and Agueda had a “bitter marriage”, which began in the past, during one evening in the month of May in 1847. The tragedy of the story is Badoy’s heart forgot how he loved Agueda in the past. They were not able to mend their broken marriage because their love was a “raging passion and nothing more”.
The author started the story with some sort of flashback or reminiscing the moments. The story didn’t just told about the love story of the two persons involved but also it implies realization with the readers that you don’t have to rush everything specially in love, just like what the story portrayed using a mirror that not just because you saw the man who you dreamt about and was looking to be with, you will just suddenly live in to that believe that it will last without even knowing his true personality. It’s not just that, you have to wait and don’t rush things.
The story implies that we should not believe in superstitions as what agueda did, that he believes that she will be able to see her future husband by reciting the phrase she knows in the mirror. In marriage, we should always consider love because love is the foundation of all. We shouldn't force another person to love us in return. Instead, do something special in order for you to be loved back.
Analysing the story, I therefore conclude that, love is not to be played or to be based with anything else, it’s about how and what you feel, so that it will turned out beautiful, true and honest, not miserable just like what the story “may day eve” tells about.
Reference
http://lovelycaluag.blogspot.com/2014/12/story-analysis-and-summary-may-day-eve.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day_Eve