PILE, Reysa Gabrielle I.

2A-MT

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE Feminist Reading

The Spouse by Luis Dato

In the poem of Luis Dato, the spouse, it could be clearly seen how women are being treated especially by their husbands. An image of a man being the superior character while the woman or wife was a subordinate or inferior to him was depicted in the poem. It shows how most of the women today are battling for their freedom, for their rights and their will to overcome the great injustice of a class society- a division between men and women with unequal rights and treatment. The woman in the poem, allows herself to be subjugated to his husband. She was dependent on him and she had accepted her faith. She embodies the image of women who had been maltreated and wasnt given the chance to execute their rights. By this, the discrimination of men to women is visible and the need for equal rights and privileges was sought after. The purpose of the union of a woman and a husband was shown- which is to procreate. The woman is to surrender herself completely to her man. In this point of view, great differences between men and women are seen and often times neglected. Women should gain justice and have equal rights, the picture of a patriarchal society should be stopped. Its not about masculinity and toughness that would define or distinguish who is greater between a man and a woman. Its about the capabilities and the things one is able to do and a society requires no gender distinction. The fine line between these differences borders on both genders intellect and views on the subject of supremacy and equality.