Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice is a short story that has received recognition both critical and praising. Written by Nick Joaquin, the story takes place in 1850s Philippines during the festival days of St. John. There is a pro-woman feel to the story, which has garnered a lot of debate and attention considering the setting is in a time where women must be submissive. It is obvious, that the story favors women. It is centered upon the Tadtarin, a pagan celebration for a good farming season. The celebration itself is celebrated only by women and men would still have to dress up as women in order to participate and witness the rituals.

Summer Solstice is about Dona Lupeng’s idea on women’s power over men. In the beginning, she finds out that her cook, Amada, is in deranged state. She interrogates their driver, Entoy, about his beatings to her. She then learns of Amada’s attendance at the Tadtarin fertility rites that have made her so powerful. Entoy, who is known as a wife-batterer, has even turned into a docile husband. And this has made Dona Lupeng consider the possibility of woman’s control over men.

In the Tadtarin, Dona Lupeng has lost all her inhibitions. She join the horde of women, dancing in wild fervor. Her husband, Don Paeng, who has agreed at the end to accompany his wife, tails behind to stop her. But Dona Lupeng is unstoppable. She even rejoices at the sight of her husband being attacked by the mob of women for intruding an all women rite. When they arrived atthier house, sheis changed. Sheeven challenges Don Paeng when he tells her that she is supposed to be whipped. She is no longer the meek type of wife. Don Paeng has become helpless at the sudden change of his wife, she asked him to kiss her feet. And she has felt extremely good at her husband’s submission.

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