11/22/2015

Analysisof"SummerSolstice"byNickJoaquin

AnAnalysisoftheClassic,"SummerSolstice"
writtenby:LinClarkeditedby:ElizabethStannardGromischupdated:2/8/2012
"SummerSolstice",alsoknownasTatarin,isashortstorythathasgarneredmuchattentionsinceitspublishdatein1972.Itwasmadeintoafeaturefilmin2001,and
hasbeenstudiedinmanycollegeclasses.Readananalysisofthestoryhere.

"SummerSolstice"Analysis
"SummerSolstice"isashortstorythathasreceivedrecognitionbothcriticalandpraising.WrittenbyNickJoaquin,thestorytakesplacein1850sPhilippinesduringthe
festivaldaysofSt.John.Thereisaprowomanfeeltothestory,whichhasgarneredalotofdebateandattentionconsideringthesettingisinatimewherewomen
mustbesubmissive.Inthisanalysis,learnaboutthesetting,thethemesandsymbolismthatthisshortandinterestingstoryincarnates.

Summary
TheTatarin,orotherwiseknownastheTadtarin,wasathreedayfestivalthatcelebratedaritualoffertility.Thiswasdoneonlybywomen.Manymenfrowneduponthe
extravagantdancesandplayssurroundingtheritual."SummerSolstice"issetduringthethreedaysoftheSt.Johnsfestival.Lupeng,aFilipinowomanwhofeels
closedtoherwomanhood,ismarriedtoPaeng,whoisnodoubtloyaltoher.Theyhavethreesmallboysandliveasomewhatwealthylifeastheyhaveacarriage
drivernamedEntoyandamaidandcooknamedAmada.
GuidoisacousinofPaengswhocomesbacktothePhilippinesafterstudyinginEurope.ThestorystartswhenthefamilyisenjoyingthedaysoftheSt.Johnsfestival
untilGuidomakessuggestivecommentstoLupeng,andevenbendingdowntokissherfeet.Thismakesherleaveabruptlyandhaveadiscussionwithherhusband
thecomingnight.
LupengsecretlyfoundherselfintriguedbytheattentionofGuidoshefeltthathewascorrectinsayingthatwomenshouldberavishedandmenshouldadorethem.
Thiscauseshertoparticipateinthelastnightofthefestival,whichistheTatarinritual.Paenggoeswithherandtriestodragherbackoncethedancingbegun,butshe
runsfromhimtothewomen.Hetriestotakeherbackbutthewomeninthecrowdsbeathimout,leavinghimhelpless.Asthetworeturnhome,Paengsayshemust
whiphiswifebecausehelovesherandfeelsthatsheneedstobeputinherplace.Tothis,sheshoutsandsaysshewantstobeadored,notrespectedandordershim
tokissherfeet.

SettingandConflicts
SettingSincethestorytakesplaceinthe1850s,womenwererepressedandfeltshutin.Lupengmayseemtobehappyinherroutinelife,butshealsofeelsangry.
YoucannoticethiswhenshestatestothechildrenHush,hushIimploreyou!Nowlook:yourfatherhasaheadache,andsohaveI.Sobequietthisinstantorno
onegoestoGrandfather.Itindeedsoundslikeshefeelsasthoughshehasadutythatshemustcarryonbutshegetsannoyedatherfamilybecauseofhersubdued
stateofwomanhood.AlthoughshetriesacthorrifiedwhenGuidotellsofherwomanshouldbeadoredratherthanbeneaththeirhusbands,shecontemplatesand
realizesshewantstobetheleaderofthepack.
ExternalandInternalConflictsThestereotypesofmasculinityandfemininetraitsrunrampantinthestory.Womenaresupposedtolookaftertheirhusbandsand
childrenwhilethehusbandsworkandwaitfortheirsupper.Notonlyisthisseeninthestorybutindailylifeaswell,whichmakesthestoryshockingtoreaderssinceit
isaboutwomenwantingtobefree.Lupengshatterstheconceptofthesuppressedwomanwhenshegainscontrolofherhusband,whokissesherfeetattheendof
story.Thismakesitseemasthoughtheinternalconflictwasthatwomenaretheoneswhowanttobetherulersofmen,asseenintheTatarinfestival.

ThemesandSymbolism
MainTheme:St.JohnsandTatarinFestivalsTheSt.Johnsfestivalisaboutmenandtheirfertility,whichseemsquitevulgartoLupengandmakesherstartto
realizehowshewisheswomencouldbeseeninthesameway.TheTatarinfestivalistheexactopposite,showingwomenasleadersoffertilitysincetheycarry
children.ThisfestivalisthelasttriggertomakeLupengfeelasthoughsheisstrongerthanamananddeservesadoration.
Symbolism
AmadaWhenLupengrushestofindhercook,Amada,sheseesherinacompromisingpositiononthebedwhichmakesLupengblushandfeelrestrainedabouther
ownsexuality.ThisisthefirsttriggerforLupengbeforesheannouncesshewantsadmiration.
GuidosSpeechWhenPaengscousinGuidoreturnsfromEurope,hetellsLupengofhistravels.HealsosaysIrememberthatyouareawoman,yes.Abeautiful
woman.Andwhynot?Didyouturnintosomedreadfulmonsterwhenyoumarried?Didyoustopbeingawoman?Didyoustopbeingbeautiful?Thenwhyshouldmy
eyesnottellyouwhatyouarejustbecauseyouaremarried?ThismakesLupenglashoutandcallitsimplecomedybutitisalsothesecondsetoffbeforeshefeels
liberated.Shetakeshiswordstoheartaswellaswhenhelowershimselftokissherfeetinappreciation.
Afterreadingthisanalysisof"SummerSolstice"byNickJoaquin,youshouldnowunderstandthecontroversy,thesymbolsandthethemesandsymbolsinthestory.
Whatdidyouthinkofit?

References
Joaquin,Nick.SummerSolstice.Manila:AlbiertoFlorentino:January1st,1962

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homeworkhelpliterature/121011summersolsticebynickjoaquinanalysis/

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11/22/2015

Analysisof"SummerSolstice"byNickJoaquin

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homeworkhelpliterature/121011summersolsticebynickjoaquinanalysis/

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