A SON IS BORN

MANUEL E. ARGUILLA

I. CHARACTERS

II. SETTING
When: November to December
Where: Katayaghan Hills, Bauang, La Union Philippines

The Settings can influence the way characters behave, affect also the dialog
foreshadow events, invoke an emotional response, reflect the society in which the
characters live and sometimes even play a part in the story. They are simple citizen or
family in the province of La Union living in simple way or traditional way. The life in
province was tough and hard. They lived in katayaghan hills that was so cold in the
morning but was hot in the afternoon. Their father was working in Santiago to build
the House of Don Anchong because they are not rich to sustain they daily needs in
their life, so they need extra income or other job to support the family that they have
but in the other side it was a good thing even if their life was difficult theyre sticking
together and theyre house was most appropriate to call a HOME.
In the story the mother was a carrying a child in her womb well. It seemed that the life
in the province was not modernize or what I mean is lack of knowledge or family
control (because their hobbies is to make love everyday xD joke lang to hahahah )
because they dont have anything, place or past time in their life except for making
love. So this is the one reason why people or citizens in the rural area have a lot of
children.

When it term to TIME; November to December was the season for planting a tobacco
so thats the reason why theyre haying and planting.

The Children like Berting, baldo( I think hes the narrator? ) Artemio, Inzo and
Peddong was playing in the railroad tracks. Also berting and baldo while having or
doing their job or task. They still manage to play in the field.

Tia Accol, old midwife represent the people in the rural area has kind, generous and
hospitality.
When Tia accol gave a birth to the new child born, only in the home of bertings
mother. Inside the one room

Im not sure kung tama tong pinaglalagay ko hahaha pa check n lang ^_^

Is there a relationship between the setting and the theme?

 - Yes because the Theme is shaped by the character, SETTING and plot of the
story.
The setting causes conflict and influences the main characters thought, feelings, and
action.

III. PLOT
It was the year the locusts came and ate the young rice in the fields. My father left
everyday for Santiago to build the house of Don Anchong. My father said to my
mother before he left to cut the hay in the southfield while he told me to water my
carabao in the Waig in the afternoon. During the morning Berting and I played
with Artemio and Inzo and Peddong. Their fathers had gone to work in Santiago
with my father. We came home in the evening, tired and hungry from playing. I
am so tired said my mother. In the dim light, she appeared big, especially in the
middle. Berting noticed it and asked Mother, why is your stomach so big? She
looked down on us without a word. I turned away from my mother and cuffed
Berting in the head, saying, Take the carabao in the waig. I walked with him
beyond the barn, I told Berting about mother. She has a child inside her When
father came home that night, he saw how little had been of the hay in the south
and he was very angry. Get the sickles from the barn said my father, and we ran
to obey him. Those were long nights cutting hay under the November moon.
Tomorrow at midday, father did not go to Santiago. We three, my father, Berting
and myself, went out to the fields to made rows for the tobaccos. Toward
sundown, Tia Accol came by, asking my mother How are you feeling?
Sometimes I feel the child kick she said, smiling up at Tia Accol. For two
weeks we planted tobaccos in the fields. It was December now and the nights had
become chilly. One afternoon, Father came home with a load of dried molave.
These are for heating your mothers bath when she has given birth Tia Accol,
the mid wife, was often at the house those days. It was now the time of the misa
de gallo At dawn we walked two kilometers towards town and to the mass.
Mother walked slowly everyday to the fields to kill worms and Father still wen to
Santiago, the house of Don Anchong was almost finished, and a letter from
Emilio, the son in America had said that he was on his way home by Christmas.
The next day mother fed the pig and explained to us that we will eat it for Pascua
and will make it a lechon. At sundown, my mother dropped on the lowest rung
with a sharp, agonized cry and Father ran to her side. Get Tia Accol he said. I
ran out as fast as I could and saw Tia Accol and I shouted Tia Accol, come
quickly, my mother is giving birth now Three other women came with Tia Accol.
Nana Ikkao, Tia Anzang and Nana Dalen came with blankets under their arms.
Tia Accol told my father everything to do and what is needed to be brought. For a
long time I sat with Berting on the ladder, trying to answer his many questions.
Many women went home passing us by and told us to go up and eat our supper.
When the bells began to ring announcing the midnight mass, a great cry of pain
came from inside the house. The bells were ringing until the world seemed filled
 with their sweet, joyous sound. And then it came, the first shrill of cry of the baby
just born. We went softly in to the house. On the winnowing basket lay the baby,
there was no noise except that which the baby made in the room. It is a boy said
Tia Accol. It was then that my mothers tired pale face broke into a smile and said,
His name shall be Jesus. My father agreed with her and that was how my
brother Jesus was born, in the year the locusts came.

IV. THEME

AFTER DESTRUCTION, NEW BEGINNINGS COME AND THERE IS HOPE

FOR THE FUTURE.

It was stated in the story that it was the year the locusts came.

It was the year after the locusts came and ate the young rice in the fields..

And that was how my brother Jesus was born, in the year the locusts came

Locusts are a type of grasshopper that travels in very large groups and can cause great
destruction by eating crops, this details that it was a tough year for the family, so they
have to work day and night in order to get by for the current and coming year. The
locusts caused destruction that for some it may be hopeless, but the family was
hopeful and continued to work on the lands.

The coming of the new beginning is reflected in the story through the coming of the
new-born in the family and the coming changes in the family as represented with
Baldo going to school the next year. It was also mirrored with the near arrival of the
son of Don Anchong. The story tells new beginnings in different ways but all gives
the feeling of hope, especially it was the year after the locusts came.

In connection with the title, A Son is Born, it reflects the theme, for a life being born
is a new beginning and the baby being named Jesus just says a lot for hope.

V. DIALOGUE/LANGUAGE
VI. SYMBOLISM
VII. TONE
VIII. POINT OF VIEW
First person Point of View. It was told by one of the main characters. Baldo
the eldest son ,