Short Story Analysis: "Wedding Dance" by Amador Daguio

I. Wedding Dance
by Amador Daguio

II. SYNOPSIS/ SUMMARY

Awiyao and Lumnay were husband and wife for seven years, but now the husband has to marry
another woman, Madulimay, because Lumnay was not able to give him a child. (In their culture in the
mountains during those times, having a child to follow after the husband’s name was a must.)

On the night of the wedding, Awiyao goes to his and Lumnay’s house to personally invite her to the
traditional wedding dance. However, Lumnay, the best dancer in the entire tribe, refuses to go. Then,
during their conversation, it is revealed that both of them still love each other, but because of their tribe’s
custom, they have to separate.

Awiyao goes back to the wedding, to the wedding dance, after being fetched by some friends.
Lumnay wants to follow, partly because of the dance, and partly because she wants to put a stop to their
tribe’s tradition of having to marry another partner just to have a child.

III. SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

A. CHARACTERS

1. Lumnay – a woman who was left by her husband because he had to marry another woman/ Developing
2. Awiyao- the husband stated above / Flat
3. Madulimay – Awiyao’s new wife / Flat

B. PLOT - Linear

a) Introduction

The story opens with Awiyao entering his and Lumnay’s house.

b) Rising Action

Things start to heat up when Lumnay says she does not want any other man.

c) Climax

There is more intensity when Awiyao says he does not want any other woman.

d) Falling action

But they both have to follow their tribe’s tradition.

e) Denouement

Awiyao has to go back to the wedding dance.

C. SETTING

a) place – in the mountains somewhere in the Philippines

b) time- a long time ago
c) weather conditions- fine
d) social conditions- lower-class
e) mood or atmosphere- sad and tense

D. POINT OF VIEW

The Point of View used in this short story is the Omniscient Limited - The author tells the story in third
person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc). We know only what the character knows and what the author
allows him/her to tell us. We can see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the author chooses to reveal
them to us.

E. LITERARY DEVICES

For me, there is an extensive use of the literary device Symbolism. There are many symbols here,
and these are the darkness, the house’s four walls, the smoldering embers, and the beads. The darkness
symbolizes how the two lead characters feel. Meanwhile, the house’s walls symbolize the former couple’s
“imprisonment.” The smoldering embers that become glowing coals symbolize the love that both of them
still feel towards each other. Finally, the beads symbolize Awiyao’s great love for Lumnay even if she was
not able to give him a child.

F. THEME

In my opinion, the theme True love never dies is applicable to this story.

G. CONFLICT

The conflict here is Man vs. Society. The lead characters have to follow their tribe’s custom --ARV
Posted by Ann Villanueva at 1:32 PM