Luceño, Niña Marie

BSE- Eng 2A

A Critical Analysis on
“How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife”

Characters ( Roles and Characteristics) :

Baldo - He was Leon’s younger brother who narrates the story and was one of the main
characters. Baldo was a calm man, obedient and quiet.

Leon - He was the older brother of Baldo and the responsible, gentle and a loving
husband of Maria.
Maria - She was a beautiful, supportive and loving wife of Baldo who was born and grew
up in a big city.
Labang – Leon and Baldo’s gentle and hardworking cow pet who brought Leon’s wife
to the house.
Father – Leon and Baldo’s father who instructed Baldo to discover and find out if Maria
can be a good member or part of their family. He was mildest – tempered, gentle man. 
Aurelia – She was the sister of Baldo and Leon.

Plot:
When Baldo waited for the arrival of his elder brother Leon together with his wife
Maria was the exciting part of the story since it was their first time to meet each other.
“She stepped down to the Carretela of Ca Celin with a quick, delicate grace. She look
lovely, she was tall. She looked up to my brother with a smile, and her forehead was on level
with his mouth.”
“You are Baldo,” she said and placed her hand lightly on Baldo’s shoulder. Baldo
noticed her nails were long, but they were not painted. She was fragrant like a morning
when papayas are in bloom and a small dimple appeared high up on her cheek. In their
first time of meeting each other, it is clear that Baldo fast noticed the difference in the
physical appearance of Maria. It was a clear visualization on how probinsyano people
react when they saw a person from syodad. At first, Baldo was not judging Maria but
instead he described her in his mind with positive thoughts. At the other side, baldo was
attracted to Maria.
After meeting each other, Leon and Maria rode on the cart with Baldo and
Labang the hardworking cow who’s pulling the cart. They took to Waig instead of taking
easier ways. Baldo took them to a more difficult way which was the idea of Leon and
Baldo’s father to test Maria and to made her feel what it was like to live in a province.
Their father instructed Baldo to find out the reaction of Maria towards the experience
they had their journey. Even Baldo and Labang had trouble taking the path.
“With difficulty, I turned Labang to the left, for he wanted to go straight on. He was
breathing hard, but I knew he was more thirsty than tired. In a little while, we drove up the
grassy side onto the Camino Real.” As stated by Baldo while on their way going home.
Maria appreciates everything she saw on Leon’s place and on their way, she
mentioned about Leon and Baldo’s father. She was afraid of her father-in-law thinking
that she won’t be accepted in their family.
“I am afraid. He may not like me.” Maria said to Leon with worry. We can also see
how Filipino traits are being portrayed in the story. Having the permission of the family
of marrying someone and introducing them to the family. Another thing that is bothering
Maria is her social status. As Filipino, we are known to be socially aware and from that
we are able to judge someone through their appearance and status in life which was the
case of Maria. Of course, it is always our parents who would choose someone right for
us and to check if we are in the right person. Another value that is being revealed in the
story is living a life of simplicity especially those who are living in the province.
Appreciating what they have and being happy with simple things.
So, when they reach home, Baldo went to his father and reported him their
journey. However, at the end their father accepted Maria to be part of the family. As
Filipino, we are known to be hospitable. At the end of the story, hospitality, as one of the
Filipino traits is being portrayed by Leon and Baldo’s father.

Setting:
The story happened in Barrio Nagrebcan in Bauang La union. It was Leon’s
hometown. The author used local colors in describing Leon’s hometown such as the
carabao, the cart which is pulled by Labang, the sound of crickets, the smell of dangla
and the scent of arrais. Since, the place is a province, we can say that Leon’s
neighborhood including his father are most likely farmers. Leon’s province is a bit
different compared to where Maria came from and we can noticed how Maria tries to
adopt and change the life style she had before.
“But it was so very wide here,” Maria said. The light of the stars broke and scattered the
darkness so that one could see far on every side, though indistinctly. “You miss the houses, and
the cars, and the people, and the noise, don’t you?” my brother Leon stopped singing. “Yes, but
in a different way. I am glad they are not here.”
 The place they took and the journey they had symbolizes how simple it was to
live in a province. The challenges and difficulties Maria went through during the journey
says a lot about her personality. She was willing to adjust and sacrifice something just
to be with her love and to prove that she was worthy to be part of Leon’s family.
Maria’s social status was being judge and challenge by the society but during the
obstacles she prove that her social status does not affect her and has nothing to do with
her personality and attitude.

Moral Lesson:
The story was about love, sacrifices, determination, patience and acceptance.
“My brother Leon laughed and she laughed and they looked at each other and it seemed
to me there was a world of laughter between them and in them” as narrated by Baldo, we can
imagine how Leon and Maria feel the love between them through their laughter.
Suddenly, he broke out into song and the song was “Sky Sown with Stars” – the same
that he and Father sang when we cut hay in the fields of nights, before he went away to study.
He must have taught her the song because she joined him, and her voice flowed into his like a
gentle stream, meeting a stronger one. And each time the wheels encountered a big rock, her
voice would catch in her throat, but my brother Leon would sing on, until laughing softly, she
would join him again.
Maria proves to us that if you truly love someone you will do everything, endure
the pain and sacrifice something just to be with someone you really love. With
determination and patience she was able to overcome the challenges and learn to
adopt things. You cannot judge a person or someone by their appearance or by their
social status.
There might be a difference between the two but they learn to accept and
appreciate each other.
“Look, Noel, yonder is our star!” Deep surprise and gladness were in her voice.
Very low in the west, almost touching the ragged edge of the bank, was the star, the
biggest and brightest in the sky. “I have been looking at,” my brother Leon said. “Do you
remember how I would tell you that when you want to see stars you must come to
Nagrebcan?” “Yes, Noel,” she said. “Look at it,” she murmured, half to herself. “It is so
many times bigger and brighter than it was at Ermita beach.” Maria learn to appreciate
things that are new to her and whole-heartedly accept Leon’s status in life.
“The air here is clean, free of dust and smoke.” “So it is, Noel,” she said,
drawing a long breath. “You miss the houses, and the cars, and the people and the
noise, don’t you?” My brother Leon stopped singing. “Yes, but in a different way. I am
glad they are not here.” She discovered the big difference from the life she has in the
city and the life Leon has.