1.

Write an analysis of the play The World is an Apple using the

sociological- Marxist approach. (Please include the whole literary
text in your analysis)

THE WORLD IS AN APPLE – by: Alberto S. Florentino (Analysis)

Setting/s
 In the small and poor home behind a portion of the Intramuros walls.
There are two wooden boxes on either side of the doorway. At left is an
Acacia tree with a wooden bench under it. It is where the poor family
lived in, and where the story starts on how life was going on and end in
the complexity of life in which the main character lived with no choice but
to go back again with his old ways of life.

  Character Analysis
 Mario- He is the Father of the story, the husband of Gloria. He is known to
be bad before but he strive hard to change his life for her daughter and
for her wife, but life sometimes is unfair that force him with no choice to
go back the old way of his life.
 Gloria- She is the wife of Mario. The very good and lovable woman who
just want a simple life yet descent life. She is the reason why Mario
changed because of her unconditional love to him.
 Pablo- The evil man in the story, the protagonist, the old friend of Mario.
He wants easy and dishonest money, the life that Mario lived before.

Plot
 This is a story of how wrong decisions become greater burdens to a
family. Mario’s family happens to be in the lower bracket of society. When
Mario got home, Gloria saw Mario and she was asking for some money to
feed their children to Mario. Mario said that he have no money because he
did something.
 Gloria didn’t believe on what Mario said and said to tell the truth. When
Mario answered it, Gloria was shocked on what she heard because Mario
lost his job. Gloria asked Mario if how he lost his job and Mario answered
it and Gloria was shocked again because Mario said that he lost his job
because of an apple.
 Gloria said that how can he lose his job by just taking one not a dozen not
a crate but one apple and Mario answered that he just saw it rolling and
he found himself putting it in his bag because Tita would love to have it,
and Mario told Gloria that there’s no need to worry because he found a
new job.
 Suddenly Pablo was there ruining the whole conversation and asked them
if how is there daughter doing and he’ll loan a few pesos to help their
daughter and Gloria said that no thank you because Mario stopped
depending on Pablo. Pablo said that Mario’s new job was with Pablo. When
Gloria heard it he told Mario that it’s a bad doing and risky.
 Mario didn’t listen and walks away with Pablo and told Gloria not to worry
because he will come back early morning and don’t wait for him. Gloria
cries and shouting Mario, while Tita was crying also because he heard the
conversation.
Theme:
 The one-word prevailing message in the story is the word “Apple” that
symbolizes temptation and the dishonest life lived by Mario before. The
theme of the story is, it is man’s basic instinct that drives him towards his
survival. But, no matter what he should not forget that society expects
him to confirm to its norms. One’s action is weighed right or wrong and
thus should be kept towards the proper action and his wrong decisions
become greater burdens to a family that symbolizes the word “Apple”.
Tone
 The mood of the story is serious. It tackles many aspects of human flaws
and what is wrong in the culture. The story is sometimes sad but in the
end, there’s a glimpse of hopefulness even though it is in vain.
Point of View
The author used the Imagery and symbolic type of narration:
 Mario: Why? Did God create apple trees to bear fruit for the rich alone?
Didn’t He create the whole world for everyone? That’s why I tried to bring
the apple home for Tita. When we brought her into this world, we
promised her everything. She has the right to have everything in life.
Gloria: So, for just an apple, you lost a job you need so much?

https://ellecej.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/the-world-is-an-apple-by-
alberto-s-florentino-analysis/