SAN CARLOS COLLEGE

Founded 1946 (PIEAS)

Mabini St., San Carlos City, Pangasinan
College of Teacher Education
A.Y. 2020-2021

Outline Structure
for Literary
Analysis Essay

Submitted to:
Mr. Dominador E. Fermin, III Ph, D.
Instructor

Submitted by:

Ruby P. Agbuya
Title: How My Brother Leon brought home a Wife

Introduction

Change is the only permanent things in this world. This story praises the
ability to adapt to new circumstances and being positive to change and growth. It
talks about overcoming hardships and fears and ultimately in finding peace and
happiness in each other’s betterment and well being. The story is about Leon
returning to his hometown Nagrebcan with his wife, Maria who is willing to make
sacrifices to go in a rural community for her to prove herself to her father-in-law that
she is worthy to live in the province, and at last she will be introduced formally by her
groom (Leon) to his family. Manuel Estabilla Arguilla was an Ilokano writer in
English, patriot, and martyr. He is the writer of an American colonial literature short
story Entitled “How My brother Leon brought home a wife. The characters are
Leon/Noel- he is Maria's husband, older brother of Baldo. The main character of the
story. Maria- Leon's wife. She's one of the major character. Baldo- Leon's younger
brother also the narrator of the story. Mother and Father of Leon and Baldo Aurelia-
Leon and Baldo's younger sister Labang- the carabao. Leon's pet. ria Baldo had the
opportunity to meet his older brother's wife, Maria, and characterized her as
charming, tall, and stunning. On their way to Leon's house, Leon inquires as to why
Baldo drove them to the Waig rather than the Camino real; Baldo responds that he
did so because their father directed him to. The Waig route will be a test for Maria
to see if she can live in a province that is very different from the city where she
previously resided, but it appears that Maria like Leon's province; she described it
as beautiful, fresh air, clean, and dust-free. Throughout their travel, Maria was
concerned about Leon's father and family's reaction to her. When they arrived
home, father talked to Baldo asking what happened during their travel, the father
asked Baldo if Maria was afraid in their place, Baldo answered that Maria was not
afraid and instead she enjoyed the journey. How My Brother Brought Home A Wife
by Manuel Arguilla is told in first person point of view since it is the narrator, Baldo,
Leon’s younger brother who tells the story of his new sister-in-law’s arrival and how
 she came to fit in with her new family. The story tells us to sacrifice things for the
people we love. Maria was brought up in a life of comforts in the city. However, she
loved Leon truly and was committed to adapt to his lifestyle. This also emphasizes
the importance of not judging people based on appearances. All of us can adapt,
can change. We may have differences but that can’t apart us from the people we
love.

Body

The story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife" was set during the
1930's in Nagrebcan, Bauang La Union. The place is a province and we know that
the people who are living there would most likely be the farmers. The story is told in
the 1st person point of view and this narrator is Baldo, the younger brother of Leon.
His older brother is Noel but named by Maria as Leon. As what Baldo realized: "But it
was only the name of my brother Leon said backward and it sounded much better
that way." Another major character found in the story is Maria who is the wife of
Leon. For Baldo, her name is "sosyal" and it is obvious that she comes from a city.
The conflict shown in the story is centered between Maria and herself, as well
as the society by which Baldo and Leon lived in. We know that Maria is from a city
while her husband Leon is from the province. Maria is concerned if she's going to be
accepted or not by Leon's family despite of her social status. She was even tested if
she is worthy to be the wife of Leon. This was seen when Baldo ignored his older
brother's question about why they have to go to Waig instead of Camino Real. I think
Maria is a good character in the story. I like Maria because she's kind and lovely, but
because she is not the typical "matapobre" as seen in the story. She is indeed a
sympathetic woman. In fact, Maria was a bit anxious because of meeting Leon and
Baldo parents for the first time. Maria is worried that she will not be accepted by
Leon's father because she may not able to adapt their way of living in the province.
However, on their way home, she discovered the differences of the life of the people
lived of the people lived there and the life in the city where she met and fell in love
with Leon. We can see Maria's response when Leon asked her: 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". I appreciate her the most simply because she accepted
and respected Leon for what he really is. She didn't care what Leon's life back in
Nagrebcan. She was very keen to meet Leon's family. It is somewhat discouraging
that the rural is different from the city but the closer they get to the house. Maria still
managed to overcome any trials. She admits for having some fear, but she also
shows clearly it did not stop her. I believe that social status is not a hindrance if you
truly love each other.

The first theme of this story is that no matter what it takes to be with the one
you love, you will do anything to be with that person. I know that having a long and
strong relationship with the person you love is seldom nowadays. People tend to love
one another at first but eventually end up being bitter. Well, that kind of relationship
is not a true love after all. If Im going to apply this significant theme or message to
the life of Filipinos then it can be said that as Filipinos, we ae very emotional when
we think of true love.

We also care about true love. There are Filipinos who turn to sacrifice and
endure things just to be happy. If you are sacrificing it truly means that you value
and you truly love this person. In the story, we can see that Maria will sacrifice
anything just to be happy with Leon, her only love. I can say that this love is true
and genuine. This kind of love then is truly authentic. Another theme that is
portrayed in the story is the saying that " Don't judge the book by it’s cover". Baldo,
when he first saw Maria, was surprised to see that his brother Leon accompanied a
woman who is different from them because of her name, as well as lovely and
beautiful appearance. He said himself that: " He did not say Maring. He did not say
Mayang. I knew then that he had always called her Maria and that to us all she
would be Maria; and in my mind I said 'Maria' and it was a beautiful name". It is then
obvious for Baldo that Maria came from a city. As a person their way of living in the
province. But despite of the test ordered by his father, Baldo somehow realized that
Maria is also a friend and should be treated like them knowing that she proved
worthy of it.
 We can also see Filipino values or traits that are revealed within the story. One
trait is the goal to obtain one's trust most especially when you want your parents to
have a permission to marry your chosen loved one. Filipino parents are very hard to
impress. It is hard to get their trust as well. But what Maria did in the test that the
father of Baldo and Leon gave to her proved that she really deserved and love Leon.
She will sacrifice anything to be happy and be with her only love. Another value that is
revealed within the story is living a life of contentment. Filipinos who live on the
province are very well known to be simple yet they are contented for what they have.
They are happy with small things and appreciate what they have and how they live
life.

Conclusion
This work are very good pieces because of the elements of fiction used and the
way these stories were defamiliarized. This work is great because of the subject matters
and the styles of writing used by outstanding writer and playwright during the time of
American Colonial period.
I can say that we should learn to make a difference in our lives because having a
chance is the greatest gift we can receive. Don't let things like social status defines us.
We should learn to be sympathetic and understanding person to others, be able to
adopt our ways of living at least, be happy and be wise. In these ways, we can live life
meaningfully.