The Pretender By F. Sionil Jose

The Pretender by F. Sionil Jose Summary Antonio Sam parole had in effect(p) returned from the linked States by and by finishing his doctorate studies. He visited his m new(prenominal) in prison and told his beginner that he bequeath soon be married to Carmen Villa, a member of an affluent family in manila paper whom he met in the United States.

Carmens mother did non same Tony beca put on he is abject people while her convey equivalents him because he will be good for business. Anyways, the marriage was secretly held far a straits then planned because Carmen was already pregnant. Tony was an educator at the University until he discontinue by and by a dispute with Dean Lopez, the head of the University and the peerless who religious serviceed him get a watch overedness to study abroad. Unemployed, Tony evaluate the job Don Manuel previously offered him. at present begins the morphing of Tony. A abundant salary, air-conditioned office, easy work, and meeting with influential raft, Tony was surely neat diverse. Carmen had an abortion without the go throughledge of Tony. except he soon in condition(p) and this was the beginning of their indifference. One day, Bettina, Tonys cousin, visited him asking for help. He learned from her that Emy, his first cousin and to whom he once had a relationship with, had been rear his son for the past six years. Emy did non tell him so that he could revolve about on his studies. Tony decided to visit Emy yet to find out that she does non want him or accommodate him. He was introduced to their child altogether as a stuffy relative visiting. One night, on going home after partying with his fel commencements, he saw Carmen leaving the Villa mansion with Ben de Jesus, her business partner. He saw them kiss, followed them and saw them enter a motel. He went home, true(p) in his room not minding that a partys going on. Carmen arrived and Tony told her he knows close to Ben and that hes leaving. Carmen could not do anything to a greater extent. Tony went to his sister, Betty, in Tondo and there he do a lot of thinking. He thought virtually his father whom he hid from order even telling Carmen that his father is dead; his wifes infidelity; what he did to Emy, whom he realize that he dummy up jockeys; for putting down his friends and Dean Lopez; and for change state one of the oppressors of the brusque, a traitor to his own kind. Feeling guilty for all(a) that he has done, he committed suicide by let his head be run-overed by a train. Carmen received the intelligence service the following day. She felt guilty for existence unfaithful and goddam herself for Tonys death.

Character Analysis Antonio Samson Tony comes from a poor family. Nevertheless, he is intelligent and educated, earning his doctorate degree abroad through a scholarship grant. He returned home to the Philippines expecting not the best from feel and neer the worst from it. His marriage to Carmen Villa got him caught in the orb and modus vivendi of the elite, the fibrous, where the only thing that matters is money. Though he never noticed, he has changed drastically from normal person that he was to an indifferent person who seems to lease no control any more of his own life.

He symbolizes the poor people in federation who argon exploited by people of higher status. He is weak because of he could not help falling into the lifestyle of the oppressors. provided we could never say he is evil for he was only blinded by the wealth and source. He withal pictures a harsh mankind. The reality that from down, we go up¦ only to go down again because of things never expected.

Carmen Villa A exemplary rich girl. And because of the fact that they are rich, she doesnt seem to care about anything, anyways all that she wanted are granted. She took everything for granted. She symbolizes a lot of things. She symbolizes the people in inn who do not use their brains but use their money; the infidels who realizes too late the consequence of their exploit; the vein who croaks importance to unimportant matters; and the weak morals of the upper-class. only if we crumbnot fully blame her for all of these. She was raised that way. She was raised in the way that every she does is okay, that everything she wants she gets, that everything is alright because you dumbfound money.

Money does not guarantee happiness.

Don Manuel beat of Carmen Villa, rich and influential. He approves of Tony as her daughters husband because of Tonys expertise which will be good for business. He was the one who secretly arranged the marriage of Tony and Carmen wherein only a few(prenominal) accompanied so not to embarrass Tony. Money is of main concern. nonhing matters but money. Don Manuel represents the rich people of society which have no compassion for others, especially the poor. They would step on them, use them, robbing them of their dignity just to have more money. They are the oppressor of the oppressed.

Mrs. Villa Mother of Carmen Villa who did not same(p) Tony for Carmen as a husband. She is a hypocrite. She rides with the post and glamour of her husband. Now that she is rich she forgets about what she was, poor just like Tony. She also illustrates the crab mentality of Filipinos.

Father of Tony Tony visited his father after coming home from abroad. He is serving a life sentence for burning down the municipal building of their home town, Rosales, killing three soldiers and an hacendero. The reason why he did was oppression done to them by the rich. They were robbed of their rights of owning their own drop off and could no longer stand the corruption an abuse of the brass and of the landlords. Tony never told anyone about his father. He was ashamed of his father. She even told Carmen that his father is long dead. Later, his father died in prison. Tonys father is a produce of the oppression of the rich and, because of they are rich, the powerful. They could no longer sway the injustice that they placed the law into their own hands.

Betty Sister of Tony. Now married with two children. They live in Antipolo Street, Tondo, Manila where they have migrated from Iloilo after their father was sent to prison. She was the one who paid for Tonys learning. And after coning from abroad, here is where Tony stayed. Betty represents the dutiful older sister. Helped his brother finish education even if she already had a family of her own. And in multiplication of need, she has ever so been around.

Emy First cousin of Tony whom he had a relationship with out front going abroad that later bore a son. Emy id not bother to tell Tony so that he can concentrate on his studies and not ruin his dreams. She waited for him but him marrying Carmen left her with no hope. When Tony went to see her and his son, she told him that she does not need him, nor her son. They have been doing well for the cultivation six years without him and him being married, there is no opportunity for them to be together. A symbol of true beloved. Sacrificing herself for the one that she loves. Not telling someone that youre carrying his child because you think of his welfare is actually something. That is what I call noble.

Godo Old college friend of Tony. Has a seedy wife and two children. Works with in newspaper, the sunlight Herald. He once accepted a bribe from Don Manuel to let out an appraising article about the firebrand mill, the newest venture of the Villas. The steel mill will oust residents of the place where it will be built. But because his wife will die if not operated soon, he had to accept the bribe. He represents the typical poor Filipino who hate the rich. He fights for his rights, for what he believes in. But there are times when he not take responsibility for the things that happen to him. He would rather blame others than blame himself.

Charlie A bachelor friend of Tony. He too was a writer in the Sunday Herald. On his stag party, he and Godo had an argument with Tony. They accused Tony of nice one of the rich who burdens the poor. Charlie symbolizes the wise people in society. He is also afraid of what he does not know, just like the rest of us.

Dean Lopez Head of the University. A fellow Ilocano, he helped Tony get a scholarship to study abroad. In gratitude, Tony became a professor in the University after coming from abroad. Tony as his mind-set to replace him, he signed Tony up for the Socrates Club, a prestigious club for Ivy League graduates and promised him promotions in short intervals. But after Tonys wedding, he began to change his attitude towards Tony. After being influenced by Senator Reyes, a Villa crony and a co-member of the Socrates Club, he began bountiful Tony a sturdy time and in this because of this, Tony quit his instruct job. Dean Lopez represents the anther group of people in our society. The type that would help other to get something in return. Another is the type that would use their authority to do what they want. And still another is the type that will let themselves be used and be influenced by other people.

Ben De Jesus Business partner of Carmen and the wife of Nena de Jesus. As Tony was becoming busy with his work, Carmen started going out at night until cause hour of the morning either with Nena or with Ben. Tony later put in out for himself that what they had was more than just business matters. Ben is a fruitless person driven by money. Wealth makes him feel powerful and could do what ever he wants. His affair with Carmen depicts the breakage of ethics among the elite.

Nena De Jesus Carmens best friend and one of the few persons who attended her wedding. It was her influence that Carmen had an abortion. The fear of losing her figure just like Nena make her abort their child without Tonys knowledge.

Senator Reyes An executive of the Villas who influenced and made Dean Lopez give Tony a hard time in the University and, because of this, made Tony quit his job, which was the main idea. Now that he is unemployed, he tycoon as well take the job Don Manuel had offered.

Senator Reyes is a traditionalistic politician: corrupt and untrue. He represents the disposal - wicked and raw - which functions another oppressor to the poor. He is supposed to be one of the guardian of the interest of the poor, the common people, but works for the rich. He duologue about nationality when in fact he is no different to selfish individuals.

Lawrence Bitfogel He was Tonys roommate from abroad who came to the Philippines as Tony requested. It was unfortunate person that he came here to find Tony dead. Anyways, he learned that here, the government is controlled by the rich while the poor suffer. He realizes that society killed Tony.

Thematic Analysis The pretenders is novel rich in symbolism. It depicts a certain reality in society money is power and you can do what ever you will if you have it. But besides what money can do, the story is about a lot of things which revolves around Tonys metamorphosis from a poor son of a farmer to a rich man who had become indifferent to others. It is a story of inspiration. Tonys success in term of achievement is incredible. Eventhough Betty has her own family now, being a dutiful sister, she still provides for Tonys schooling. In the part of Tony, he work rattling hard in terms of his studies which later earned him a scholarship to study abroad for his doctoral degree. It is a story of love and loss. Being in love is a very brainy thing and sometimes destructful. Like Tony, you do not know if you truly love the one you love. Maybe it is but you cant really tell. Just when everythings to late, youll finally realize. It is a story of social injustice. Tonys father took the law into his own had when the law could not protect his rights. The poor always victims of injustice so it seems, and I believe that this is the reprehensible truth. It is a story if deception. You dont know if other peoples intentions are true. With the low level of morality in society, we should be careful. People might like you because you are of use to them, of what you could do for them, all them, not because of what you are. It is a story of struggle. Tonys struggle to keep himself in rational is a difficult one. Anyone with no one to turn to, with no one seems to love you, it makes the world such a miserly place which makes you want to leave it, fast. It is a story of stand up for what you believe. You should never let others manipulate you because you are your own being. You have you will and in certain ways, you are better than other. Be wise and make your own decisions.

Personal Reaction This is a true story. This is what really happens most of the time. This a book so real that I find it close to my heart. I can easily relate to it. It bring ins a vivid picture in my head as I read. A lot of crucial things in the story are still significant today. The go against between the rich and poor is still as fast as the Great Wall. As said a gazillion times: The poor becomes poorer while the rich becomes richer. This gap is made impossible to bring together because of people who greeds money and power and would not let anything stand in their way. As the poor work hard to uplift their status, there are others who create their downfall. Reading the story makes you live the experience, and from every experience you learn a lesson. Several lessons could be drawn from the story. Taking Tonys experience, we should be careful not to be used by others. at that place are times when we do not know that we are already being used or that people like us because of what we can do for them. Let him also military service as an inspiration. Despite being poor, she was able to finish his schooling and was able to study abroad for higher learning. From Carmens experience, we should never take things for granted. We should be thankful and use all our resources in the most productive way. Another is infidelity costs. Love the one you love for they are the one that matters. If you are favour, never use this privilege to oppress others. Be thankful for it and help those who need it. The toughened perception and manipulation of the poor should be removed because they too, just like us, are humans¦ have dreams, have integrity.

Its a shame these things happen, thats all I can say. Thats my personal reaction. Thats the reality that we have to face and its a shame, really.

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