FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH By: Jose Garcia Villa FORMALIST CRITICISM

The short story "Footnote to Youth" by Jose Garcia Villa is an excellent literary piece in that it
emphasizes the importance of remaining calm and patient before making life-altering decisions. It
encourages young people not to overthink and jump to conclusions, only to later regret the
consequences. It emphasizes the importance of enjoying life as a youth and not allowing youthful
mistakes to become a burden in old age. It also discusses marriage laws and the difficulties that come
with being a husband and wife.

The plot is set in a typical Filipino family custom, demonstrating and describing the traditional value
system and beliefs. It also reflects the characters as a representation of the culture and reality of the
time and place. Marriage, on the other hand, is all fun and games from the perspective of the young,
such as Blas, and can often turn out to be artificial and unsatisfying.

However, the story is faithful to the reasons why youth act that way and does not send an opinion and
thought to someone because of their own belief. The story represents youth Dudong as passionate and
emotional. It is an age of rash decisions, reckless decisions, and unstoppable desires in rushing to make
decisions without weighing the consequences of their actions. Marriage, on the other hand, is
associated with responsibilities, anxiety, and regret.