lengua para diablo

By nature, the father plays the role as the breadwinner of the family. This basically means that the father brings and is the main source of income that allows the family to acquire for their basic necessities and some leisure. To simply put, no job for the father equals to no income for the family. In "Lengua Para Diablo", contemporary Philippine-Australian writer Merlinda Bobis used several writing techniques like symbolism and reversal of roles.

(Image from cnnphilippines.com)


The story prompts a very realistic setting that shows our country's problems today — poverty and unemployment — and how it affects us. It can be seen in the text that the father's being jobless created a big difference in the way he acts around his family. He was not able to fulfill his promise of a better life for his family, especially to his wife whom he have sworn to provide an electric fan, bigger windows, and a bigger house. I think that the father used the line "the devil ate my words" as an excuse for he already lost the capability to explain why he lost his job and along losing his job, he also lost his pride and dignity as a man and a father.

(Image from blogspot.com)


Another part in the story which really frustrates me is when the father tried to comfort his wife. It doesn't make sense at all for me because it shows that he is all words and no actions. The father got so caught up on being a disappointment to the wife that he doesn't try to look for a new job so that his family can get by nonetheless.

In the end, the story serves as a reminder as to what major problems most countries are facing. Having known this story gave me time to reflect on my actions and words towards everyone around me and appreciate them more than how I used to. This story by Merlinda Bobis is indeed a story worth reading.


Comments

  1. Vanessa LlanaSeptember 10, 2017 at 9:31 AM

    This blog is very informative. The blog presented a jist of the story which gives the reader an overview of the story

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 10, 2017 at 9:34 AM

    indeed, poverty and unemployment is very hard to get rid of. and i think laziness and/or the lack of education is the reason.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownSeptember 10, 2017 at 9:55 AM

    I think the story is an excellent one because it somehow shows the common culture of a father being the breadwinner especially here in the Philippines and it makes the reader possibly reflect on his actions and words with similarity on the problem/dilemma of the story.

    ReplyDelete

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