The Woman Who Had Two Navels Key Points:

The Woman Who Had Two Navels is an award-winning novel by the national artist for literature, Nick Joaquin. Set in a post world war II era, the novel points out the colonial influences of the Spaniards, Americans and Japanese. QUESTION: What are these influences found in the novel? Identify the Spanish, American and Japanese influences. List down as much as you can. For example, how do their names sound like? Do some names sound Spanish? How about their delight in after work parties? Night clubs? Is it brought about by Americans? How about their favor in trips abroad? Is it because of the war in Intramuros between Filipino-American forces and the Japanese? The protagonist is Connie Escobar, an eighteen year-old girl who believed she had two navels. Definition: Navel means belly button (Fil. PUSOD). This is the cut-off point of the umbilical cord. IMPORTANT CHARACTERS 1. Connie believes that she has two navels in order to be different from the people around her; when, her belief seemed that the world is a little too evil and bad that she needed to have another one so she wouldn t be seen bad and evil just like them. She has been married to Macho Escobar for a year now (the time of the novel). Her mother is Seniora de Vidal and a politician father. Her conflicts were, to step away of her father s bad political reputation, her mother s affair with her husband before they got married (she found their love letters one day, that s how she found out) and, to remain pure and clean despite all the evils of the world. CHARACTER SKETCH Connie: How does she look like? Do you think she is sane or crazy based on the description? Do you believe she really has two navels? What do her navels stand for? What do her two navels mean? 2. Seniora de Vidal is a woman in her mid-forties. She is a very glamorous girl, always adorned by gold jewelries, esp. necklaces. She s just small in height but she is undoubtedly youthful looking. She is often compared with her daughter, Connie but the conclusion of the people always goes for her as the more beautiful, charismatic woman. She can mingle with both the influential world of politicians and the rather lower, happy-go-lucky world of bar-goers at night. She can also mingle well with people her age (old people) and the younger ones. She had an affair with her daughter s husband in the past. She met Macho in a dance party attended by politicians and other powerful people. Macho was then only twenty. They developed love for each other but, because their affair inspired political intrigues, they separated. However, she can t let go of him that way, so she just introduced him to her daughter. The reason she can t be with Macho is also her daughter s welfare; in the end, she arranged their marriage. She s also had two husbands.

CHARACTER SKETCH de Vidal: Describe de Vidal. What kind of woman is she? She can mingle with the rich and poor, powerful and weak, young and old alike--- what does that make of her? Do you think she is powerful herself? Why is there always an emphasis on the golden necklace (beads) on her neck? Why do you think did she have a lot of love affairs? Do you think she s kind or evil? Do you think she did her daughter good for having she marry Macho? 3. Macho Escobar is a son of a wealthy farm owner or a haciendero. When he was still a teen ager, his father provided him a girl to have sex with. His father explains to his mother that Macho will sooner also solicit the service of a prostitute so, why not give him a fresh woman for his first time. The woman was a daughter of a farmer. Macho s father used her as payment when her father had owed them something and was not able to pay on time. He studied in an all-boys school in Manila and had a good relationship with his father: they get drunk together, went to night-outs, bars and even sought the service of prostitutes together. Macho had an affair with Seniora de Vidal. When de Vidal just vanished after intrigues about their relationship, he still wanted to be with her. When de Vidal came back after some time, they went with each other back again but she arranged him to be wed with Connie. He says that, in the process, he started loving Connie. CHARACTER SKETCH Macho: based on his actions, what kind of person do you think is he? Is he fit to be like a knight-in-shining armour to the distressed Connie? Is his family powerful? What kind of lifestyle do you think he has? What does his character represent in our society? Why do you think did he marry Connie? How will you connect his lifestyle to his social status?

Note: guys, please focus on these three characters. Please read and try to understand this paper so we will all do well tomorrow. Orayt? Ah, thank you.