GROUP 2: BSE- ENGLISH 2A

 Arias, Trisha Mae

NOVEL: A CHILD OF SORROW

Source:

 A Child of Sorrow by Zoilo Galang Academia.edu

SETTING
Fertile Valley It is the home town of Lucio Soliman. Camilo's uncle lives here. It is where Lucio's family
lives. Merry Town It is the home town of Camilo David. It is also where Felipa Garcia, Rosa Garcia,
Pancho Ismael, Juan dela Cruz and Oscar Ramirez live. Manila It is the place where Lucio Soliman went
to work. It is also where Lucio saved a mother and her child.

CHARACTERS

 Lucio Soliman- He is a protagonist. He is a slender and well-built with brown hair, dark clear eyes
and a gay and graceful demeanor. His face was oval and handsome in a truly manly fashion. He
is a calm, pensive and poetic.

 Pancho Ismael Pancho Ismael- He is a corrupt governor. He is a father of Rosa


Rosa Ismael Rosa- She is the prettiest woman in the Merrytown.

 Camillo David Camillo David- He is a friend of Lucio Soliman.

. Character Analysis
Lucio Soliman He is the protagonist. He is a round character. He is slender and well-built with brown hair,
dark clear eyes, and a gay and graceful demeanor. His face was oval and handsome in a truly manly
fashion. He is calm pensive and poetic. Camilo David He is a flat character. He is a friend of Lucio
Soliman. HIs home town is Merry Town. His uncle lives in Fertile Valley. Pancho Ismael He is the father of
Rosa. He is a flat character. He is the corrupt governor of Merry Town. Oscar Ramirez He is a flat
character. He loved everybody, if they also loved him. He was a patriot, but his patriotism was only for
himself. He is the antagonist. Felipa Garcia She is a flat character. She is the mother of Rosa Garcia.
Rosa Garcia She is a round character. She was gracefully built, with a light Malayan complexion, curly
hair, and a buoyant step. She was kind-hearted and modest, and her manners were simple and artless.
Her beautiful body harbored a pure heart and an honest soul. Everybody loved her because of her sweet
disposition. Her plump, cheerful face was like one of the lovely virgin creations of Raphael.
Plot Summary

Lucio Soliman had just graduated fom the provincial high school. Before the closing of school, his friend
Camilo David invited him to spend his summer vacation at his hacienda in Merry Town. When they
arrived on Merry Town, Lucio was introduced to its people. There he met Rosa Garcia, whom he fell in
love with. When Lucio and Camilo were about to leave, both Lucio and Rosa vowed to love each other till
death do them part. Oscar Ramirez also loved Rosa, and asked permission from Governor Pancho
Ismael to marry Rosa, and the governor agreed. As Lucio received the news that Rosa and Oscar were
engaged, he was in deep sorrow. After a few months, a carnival was held in Manila. Lucio saw Rosa
there and conversed with her. As the carnival ended, they both go their separate ways. After a few
months, Lucio received news that Rosa is terribly sick and is at the verge of death. Lucio hurriedly went to
Merry Town to see Rosa. As he arrived, he rushed to Rosa's house. Rosa told him that she means to be
true to Lucio till death do them part, then Rosa died. Lucio had wished peace for her soul. From then on,
Lucio goes to her grave every day of her death anniversary in deep sorrow, thus, he was called the child
of sorrow. V. Theme Love It is about the love of Rosa and Lucio. It is about how powerful love can be. It is
about how love can be easily destroyed. It is about how you can love each other even if you are
separated. It is about how love can last forever. Sorrow It is about the sorrow of Lucio when he learned
that Rosa really loved him, not Oscar. It is about how sorrow can be eternal. It lasts forever because
Lucio can not ask forgiveness anymore. Acceptance It is about the acceptance of Lucio about the fact
that Oscar and Rosa are engaged. It is the acceptance of Lucio about the fact that Rosa is out of his
reach. It is the acceptance of Rosa that she is Oscar's bride to be. It is about the acceptance of Lucio
about the fact that Rosa is no longer for him. It is about the acceptance of Rosa that Lucio is no longer for
her, but still loves him.

SUMMARY

A Child's Sorrow" is the very first Filipino novel written in English. It was published in 1921 by Zoilo
Galang, a Filipino Novelist.

The story was set one summer when Lucio Soliman decided to accompany his friend Camillo in
the beautiful town of Merry Town, Camillo's hometown. Lucio was a very poetic man who'd prefer
sitting all day just to read. But because his friend was too eager to show his friend reality, he insisted
that Lucio must take a vacation in their town.

There she met a young, innocent, and delicate maiden that made Lucio's heart beat by the
name of Rosa Garcia. He felt in love with her. And as Lucio describe the love he felt towards this girl, he
said it will make Apollo's lyre play. He was madly in love. Rosa felt the same towards Lucio.

Until the end of summer vacation drew near and they knew they have to be temporarily apart.
Lucio has to pursue his dreams, he studied. Known for his intelligence, he became a popular person. He
became very busy, but still he misses the company of his dearest loved. He became sorrowful. Not until
Rosa wrote a letter to make him bliss. Then he regained his strength. They have not forgotten the love
that empowers both of them. Until a celebration in merry Town paved way for the lovers to reunite.
Lucio was invited to speak in the public. But the Governor ( Rosa's Father) was not please and her has
this ill feeling towards Lucio. He instantly asked Oscar (His most trusted man and Rosa's persistent
suitor) who the man is speaking. When he found out that it was her child's fiancee, he was not happy.
 Days, week, and months had passed they were surprise of the news that Rosa will be married
not to his fiancee, but to Oscar. But because Lucio was to obedient to his parent, he permitted Rosa to
marry Oscar which made both of them sorrowful .It was hard for him though. But he just wanted Rosa
to follow her mother. Though Rosa does not want to marry Oscar, she was forced to because he was
raped. For the sake of her " delicadesa" she was betrothed to Oscar.

Later had passed Lucio's father died, and after several weeks his love, Rosa died. This made
Lucio felt a lot more of sorrow.

Theme
Love- It is about the love of Rosa and Lucio. It is about how powerful love can be. It is about how love
can be easily destroyed. It is about how you can love each other even if you are separated. It is about
how love can last forever.

Sorrow- It is about the sorrow of Lucio when he learned that Rosa really loved him, not Oscar. It is about
how sorrow can be eternal. It lasts forever because Lucio can not ask forgiveness anymore.

Acceptance -It is about the acceptance of Lucio about the fact that Oscar and Rosa are engaged. It is the
acceptance of Lucio about the fact that Rosa is out of his reach. It is the acceptance of Rosa that she is
Oscar's bride to be. It is about the acceptance of Lucio about the fact that Rosa is no longer for him. It is
about the acceptance of Rosa that Lucio is no longer for her, but still loves him.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

The setting, the scenarios, and the traditions in the novel were much alike in the early 1920's.
Back then, the way how people live is being conveyed through the portrayal of the traits of people. Like
for example before, there is a long process of courting, they don't just easily give there answer. They
tests their suitors if they are really serious about them.

It can also be seen in the stories that politicians, especially rich people use their prowess in
order to gain whatever they wanted. They will do whatever it takes just to acquire what they needed ,
even though acquiring it through the means of force and harassment. Manipulating people through
their power is showed in the novel. Which is very evident until now.

Touch of Spanish culture is also shown in the novel. Wherein their traits, even the way they
dress is being employed. Allusion even are present in the story.

CONCLUSION

The story tells us about the feeling of being in love. In loving a person, you must be prepared to face
the ups and downs, and the twist and turns of life. Couple with the feeling of love and happiness, there
is always sorrow. You must learn to sacrifice and be hurt in the thing called LOVE.

It also tells us the fact that in the world of politics, politician use there powers in order to
conceive what they wanted whatever it takes. Which Don Ismael represents.
 Another representation are of Rosa and Lucio. Rosa represents the true nature of a Filipina. A
demure, moral and beautiful inside and out. Lucio represents the author, who addicted to books. This
made him experience life in a second hand way.

In totality, the story conveys the reality that life is a series of challenges. Life is not all
about being happy. In order to truly experience life, you must bravely encounter both the happiness
and sorrows. This serves as an inspiration to all.

AUTHOR

Zoilo Galang was born on June 27 1895 in Bacolor, Pampanga. An encyclopedist, and the very first
English-language Filipino novelist.He spent his early life in a Bucolic town famed for its writers and artist.
He lived with influenced of Spanish culture but was raised and gained consciousness under American
culture. He went to school at the Bacolor Elementary School and then went to Manila to study at the
Escuela de Derecho, the country’s eminent law school where he graduated in 1919. A self-starter, he
learned typing and stenography in English and Spanish all by himself. Attracted to the English language,
he took special courses at the University of the Philippines in 1925, then went to Columbia University for
further studies in Literature.

After which, he began to write books of fiction, biography, and philosophy.His early poems saw print
of the Kapampangan paper, “E Mngabiran”. He authored “ A Child of Sorrow”, the first English novel
written by Filipino. This was later made into a movie in 1930. Other notable works include “ Nadia”,
“ For Dreams Must Die”, “Springtime”, “ Leaders of the Philippines”, “Glimpse of the worlds”, “ Life and
Success”, Master of Destiny”, “Unisophy”, and “Barrio Life”

But his greatest opus undoubtedly is the Encyclopedia of the Philippines, which began as a 10
volume set when first printed. Galang himself, edited and wrote entries for the book set which covered
Philippine literature, biography, commerce and industry, art, education, religion, government, science,
history and builders of the new Philippines. The Encyclopedia of the Philippines came with a general
information and index.