A human being’s life is a mystery. As he came along obstacles in life, these become factors that may contribute to his being as a whole. It might change everything about him, as well as the people around him. These changes can be good, or bad; can be anything that can change the whole society, or can mark every person’s life and change their beliefs.
In F. Sionil Jose’s novel The Pretenders, there was this man named Antonio Samson, who reveals a typical Filipino of today’s time. In the novel, we are showed how Tony changed through the story, how he was enlightened as he came across certain struggles in his life.
This novel plays an important role in the society for the characters depict certain personalities in today’s society. The discrimination between the rich and the poor; these happens every time, everyday. The bad side of politics, even the dirty works in an institution we thought will be the foundation of values, the academe. And, the one thing that makes a person whole, love.
On the first part of the story, we are shown that Tony’s father has been in prison due to a conflict in land owned by the Rich Man in their town. We are shown a scene where his father had beaten him up when we ate the Rich Man’s kitchen. “Kill him-kill him, your own flesh and blood, kill him if you cannot kill your mortal enemy” (F. Sionil Jose, 11). This line merely states a fact that the pact between the two groups, the rich and the poor has a conflict from the start.
Though engaged with Carmen Villa, Tony has still memories lingering about his cousin back in Antipolo, Emy. They have shared a lot of things, even the one thing most cousins or relatives don’t usually have for, intimate love. This happens to every person. Sometimes we cannot find the right things we want in life, the one that will surely make a difference. This was experienced by Tony. He still finds himself longing for her first love, Emy. “No, he could not brush her memory away as he could dust from a book. Emy was in him as real as his breathing and for as long as he lived. ” (F. Sionil Jose, 42)
“Tony, you don’t look like an Ilocano any more!” (F. Sionil Jose, 31) this is what Dean Lopez said when Tony came to see him. As time went by, Tony has indeed changed. Not only on his physical appearance, but also on the way he thinks and handles things. With Carmen Villa, he was forced to blend in with the elite class. He was forced to quit his job at the University; after so many years spent in America just to finish his studies to be able to teach, he have to just throw them away because he’s now a member of the Villa Family.
Tony had been a lonely man. He didn’t have a happy childhood since his father was imprisoned, his mother died too, leaving him and his older sister, Betty. He is also like a prisoner inside the Villa family; he was forced to let go of his dreams and follow Don Manuel. He was in deep confusion too, torn between two women in his life, between Emy and Carmen. He knows deep in his heart he’d still find Emy, but everything is just too late. He was also deceived by his own wife. These factors made him realize that everything was just not right; this pushed him to commit suicide. He thought everything he did is worthless.
Tony’s suicide had changed everyone’s life. Carmen most especially, had enlightenment when he was gone. From a person who thinks only herself, doesn’t care about Tony wants and needs, became a more sensitive person. Carmen had been deaf all along, “People can be deaf because, in their subconscious, they do not want to hear.” (F. Sionil Jose, 9). This was realized by Carmen when Tony passed away. And she chose to change.
In a person’s life, there can be different obstacles that we might ran into, may possibly let us lose or hopes, may probably want us to let go. But we must always remember that in everything that we do, we must give importance on our purpose in life, that we are made to change, to make a difference.
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