The Wedding Dance

The Wedding Dance
By: Amador T. Daguio

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

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.

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

Conflict: The conflict here is Man vs. Society. The lead characters have to follow their tribe’s custom.

Characterization:
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

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.