A Marxist Analysis of Rice by Manuel Arguilla

Rice by Manuel Arguilla is a story about farmers who lives in the rural area and suffered from
maltreatment. As mention by Dave Frankin (2011), It is a kind of story that was in poor people control by
the landlord and treats them like different in the society so that farmers could do nothing but think of a
way to survive.

In the story, Mang Pablo together with his fellow farmers was maltreated by the Seniora because
of unfair treatment and they accept the consequence regarding the borrowed rice. As mention by
Stephen Lim Seniora is a representation of a rich person who can buy everything and manipulate people
because she has the privilege to help the poor but in unfair treatment.

Also, rice symbolizes a lack of food were in the farmer who is suffering from hunger because of

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unfairness treatment of the landlord.

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The Tone of the story is Man vs. Society because Andres, his neighbor, gives him inimical ideas

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of stealing rice. At first, Pablo didn’t want to steal rice but after seeing his family suffer in hunger and
pain, he then asks for his bolo and joined Andres. According to Christopher Cascio occurs when the

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protagonist is placed at odds with a government or cultural tradition and societal norms. The society
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plays an important role in Pablo’s life because it serves the obstacles for him to live a good life.

The story revealed by the characters' dialogues and actions when his neighbor Andres gives him
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some ideas about stealing rice then Pablo is not interested but when he saw that his family was hungry,
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he immediately decided to accompany Andres to his plan

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The story shows how they treated the farmers as if they were different people in the society
because of poverty they were able to take advantage of paying ten cavans of rice in return for the five
cavans they borrowed.
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In conclusion, people are driven to do things they do not want because of the situation they are
in. They are forced to live that way for they do not have any options. The story primarily emphasizes the
class relation in the Philippines. The poor are the oppressed ones the pit of the society. The rich are the
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oppressors the ones responsible for the suffering of the poor.

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