Simara, Ma. Chabelita B.

BSMA-3102

Mrs. Geni in December

by Arswendo Atmowiloto

Theme

1. What belief does Mrs. Geni hold about marriage? How does this belief influence her work as a
makeup artist for bride-to-be?
The first belief that have been perceived by Mrs. Geni in the story about marriage is that the soon-to-be-
bride should be happy first, she's not doing the make-up or she's not showing up on the wedding when
she saw a sad face on the bride-to-be. Second, for her the marriage is the most illogical of ceremonies,
she thinks that all the preparations on the weddings doesn't even have a connection with the marriage
itself, even though she's not believing with the ceremonies of the weddings she's still doing her work as
a wedding make-up artist on the weddings. Lastly, for her marriage is happiness, that is why even
knowing that her husband is going to marry again, she will still accept the woman to do her make-up
and she is still able to do the make-up for the brides-to-be who are about to become second or third
wives.

2. Mrs. Geni considers marriage as “not a success,” how does this idea relate to her own marriage and
her reason for marrying her husband?

Mrs. Geni's marriage is actually not successful. She only married her husband because it is just the time
to get married. She never thinks about having a divorced with her husband but she often thinks about
killing him. We can observe on her statements how she negatively defined the marriage because for her
all we need for a marriage is a little courage and a lot of foolishness. A definition of a word sometimes
changes from our experiences, Mrs. Geni experienced a failed marriage that is why she negatively
defined the word marriage.

3. How does Mrs. Geni react on the upcoming marriage of his husband to his second bride? What does
she mean when she says that she will personally do the makeup for her husband’s second bride?
Mrs. Geni reacted unexpressively after hearing that her husband is going to marry again. She said that
she will still do the make-up of her husband's bride-to-be cause it will be just a useless if she's going to
prohibit her husband and she knows that there's nothing she can do about stopping him.

4. Whenever Mrs. Geni does the makeup for the brides who are second and third wives, she makes
them feel the joy of wedding ceremony. What does this action reveal about her attitude toward
marriage?
For her marriage is happiness, she wants them to be happy once in their lives because they cannot find
any happiness other than being married that is why she's still happy to do a make-up for the second and
third wives.
5. What is the significance of this concluding statement from Mrs. Geni, “Let the buffaloes experience
happiness, just as we have believed all this time that marriage is happiness”?
There is no exceptional when it comes to happiness whether you are a second or third wife, a disabled
person, a tree, or even buffalo, there is no exception, because we all deserved happiness.

Literary Approach: Formalism

1. Which situation is emphasized in the story? What do you think is the writer’s attitude towards this
situation? Explain.
There are two situations that have been emphasized in the story; marriage is not a success and marriage
is happiness. In the first situation the writer's attitude is hostile because we know that not all married
people does have a negative marriage, maybe the writer does based his story on his experiences that is
why he came up with a conclusion that marriage is not a success. The writer shows a jovial attitude in
the second situation, this is actually what the author wants to convey that even though a marriage is not
a success it is still a happiness.

2. What is the dominant mood expressed among the dialogues of the main character in the story? How
does this mood affect the readers?

The dominant mood expressed by the main character among the dialogues is being optimistic. Mrs. Geni
is very positive in the story, she knows what will be the best for everbody. I, as a reader, it affects me
positively, Mrs. Geni taught me that we can still be happy for others even if that means hurting us. Mrs.
Geni is not a selfish person or a revengeful person because she accepted her husband's second bride-to-
be and she will also even do her make-up, she should not do that but she will still do it because she
believe that everyone deserves happiness.