Nick Joaquin’s Summer Solstice and Amado Daguio’s Wedding Dance are

eye-opening literary works that described the reality in the Philippines before
and maybe also today. I can only imagine the criticisms that the authors went
through because of these controversial pieces.

Both of these stories revolve around similar themes—defying or questioning

the unwritten sociocultural scripts that compromise not only women but also
men. The authors introduced characters that represented some if not most of
the Filipinos. These characters highlighted the bravery needed to defy or even
just to question the course of things happening in their surroundings. The
main characters of Summer Solstice are Doña Lupeng and Don Paeng. They
are an old wealthy couple living in accordance to the behavioural standards of
their social status. Doña Lupeng was introduced as someone strict, uptight
and meticulous but has shown a free and light-hearted nature at the end of
the story. Don Paeng was first viewed as confident and light-hearted but
eventually showed a restrictive personality. On the other hand, the Wedding
Dance have Awiyao and Lumnay as main characters. They are a couple that
can’t bear a child and so they have to separate for Awiyao to marry another
woman. Awiyao was described as strong, muscular and very hardworking
while Lumnay is someone passionate, very talented and a wonderful woman;
“the best wife,” according to Awiyao.

Despite of the frailties of these characters, they still proved to be people who
are brave enough to free themselves or at least face the fact that there is
something wrong in the society they’re living. Yes, all of them face the same
conflict—self versus society. They were all in a situation where their desires
and their true selves are compromised because of the stereotypes in the
society especially that of gender. Don Paeng adores and worships Doña
Lupeng deep inside according to his revelation in the lines, “That the air you
breathe and the ground you tread is so holy to me. That I am your dog, your
slave… “ but he can’t show this because the society dictates that men should
be lord over women. On the other hand, Doña Lupeng was denied of her
enjoyment as a woman because of the roles that she has to take. But at the
end, she was able to unleash her true nature and rise into dominance. In the
Wedding Dance, the couple had to take the pain of separation because of the
pressure that men must have children. Awiyao was mocked by the men. But it
was a clear cut that they don’t want to separate. Awiyao even made the
statement, “Why did the unwritten law demand, anyway, that a man, to be a
man, must have a child to come after him?” Yes, he dared to question the
“unwritten law” but in the end, he still conformed. Lumnay even decided to “go
to the chief of the village, to the elders, to tell them it was not right” but failed
to do so.

Despite the similarities of their works based on the theme, I see a difference in
the writing style of the authors. But before looking deeper into their writing
styles, perhaps it would be better to know them first. Nick Joaquin, born in
Manila on May 14, 1917, was novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, and
biographer. He has traveled to the United States, Mexico, and Spain, and
served as a cultural representative of the Philippines to Taiwan, Cuba, and
China which may be the reason why his works reflect Filipino culture. Amado
Daguio was born in January 8, 1912 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. He was a writer,
poet, educator and a lawyer, and a Republic Cultural Heritage awardee. For
their writing styles, Nick Joaquin writes in a way that the reader feels a little
bored because of the straightness of his narration and his choices of words,
but he doesn’t fail to astonish us through the absurdity of the scenes in a way
that the reader would read the scene again just to make sure s/he’s reading it
right. Examples are the scenes of Amada in bed, the kissing of Dona
Lupeng’s feet and the death and revival of the old Tadtarin. On the other
hand, I have observed that Amado Daguio’s narration is somewhat emotional.
I see his style as aesthetic and a little bit poetic. He used simple words which
made it easy for the readers to understand and imagine the scenes. He also
used very few scenes and characters to highlight the feels of the scenes and
make the readers sympathize the characters, unlike Joaquin who used
unnecessary details and characters.
 

However the differences, both works are amazing. Even the settings
contribute to the understanding of the stories’ message and even to the mood.
The settings explained to us the behaviours of the people. Knowing that the
stories happened at a time when the Philippines is not yet that progressive,
we understand why the people’s notions in their way of living was so primitive.
We understand the fear, confusions and the dilemmas of the characters since
they are to be the trail-blazers in the demolition of social stereotypes which
goes on until now.
There were also symbolisms detected in both stories. One of them is Amada
who symbolizes women who were once oppressed but came to realize that
they are equally if not more important than men and that they can do whatever
pleases them. Also, the kissing of the feet symbolizes submission and worship
to the person. Additionally, the Lumnay’s unconscious pulling of the rattan that
holds the bamboo floor symbolizes her unconscious desire to break away
from the demands that hold them.

Summer Solstice and Wedding Dress, are indeed literary works that points out
the sufferings of not only women but also men because of sexism rooted in
the society and the culture. These two short stories highlighted the need to
break away from the imprisonment that we put upon ourselves. And there
really has to be a lot of bravery to defy these age-long way of life.