Philippine Normal University

National Center for Teacher Education

Faculty of Arts and Languages

Taft Avenue, Manila

Novel Analysis:

Filipinos’ Different Ways of Facing the Challenges of Life as Shown in Galang’s Child of

Sorrow

Submitted by:

Angelie T. Magdasoc

II – 17 BSE English

Submitted to:

Prof. Maria Sarah Palma

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life

meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine

People have diverse ways of confronting trials. Some may choose to be with

someone, but some may choose to be alone. Some are real patient, while some always

complains. Some may bear it strenuously while some may find ways to escape. Some

takes challenges in life as a complete burden, while some take it as their motivation to

succeed.

The Child of Sorrow was the first Philippine novel written in English. It was so

evident because the characterization, setting, and the plot of the story were very simple

but what is admirable about this novel is that you’ll really be able to learn something

about life from selected characters of the story namely, Lucio Soliman, Benito Soliman

Camilo David, Juan de la Cruz, and Rosa Garcia. At this point, let us get to know more

about these people and let us see how they influence each other’s life.

Lucio was defined as a simple yet a very attractive and intelligent man. He

always wanted privacy whenever he reads. His love for literature and music inspires him

to work and serve for himself and for others. Lucio suffered so much when it comes to

love. He lost the one and only woman he loved because of some people who keep on

destructing their happy relationship. He gave her up but he persists in his life. He went

to Manila where he studied in a college. He took commercial subjects to enable him to

make a decent living and he took literature and reading to enable him to write for that

was his passion. The following lines from the story will further prove Lucio’s

determination in life:

“If I fail, I shall not be sorry, for I have done my best. Man cannot do more. But

the effort put forth will make me stronger. Man is by nature imperfect, but even so

I shall strive to be good, and to avoid mistakes. For our success and happiness

lie in not repeating the same mistakes but in profiting by our errors and by the

experience of others. Experience is a mighty teacher and it makes the difference

between a small man and a great one. For that is our wisdom – to be strong, he

should succeed, if not in the eyes of the world, then in the eyes of God.”

Throughout Lucio’s endeavors, there was this person who has been there to

support and comfort him – his father, Benito Soliman. By his thoughts, he was able to

thrust his son to success. Some of the wisdoms he bestowed to Lucio say that he

should not forget to look up to God Almighty. Here are some:

“My son… Do that which your aptitudes and abilities are best suited to… And I

know positively that there are a thousand misfits in the world, bright young men

who become useless – yes, for not following their natural bent where nature

meant them to excel. If only a man can find himself in the world where he truly

belongs, and doing his best, then the Millennium will no longer be an illusion. It

will be at hand. Therefore, do what you think is best – and call on God.”

“… To honor your parents is in the Commandments. To give up passion and

happiness for the sake of your parents is the truest gratitude of a son. It will make

you healthy in heart – and you’ll gain a blessing from our Great Father.”

“Yes son, he is happy who values honor and his name, above all; who can brave

misfortune with cheerfulness and courage; who appreciates all the beauties of

life; who has a mind contented and filled with beautiful thoughts; whose real

riches are his wisdom, his high thinking and his love for humanity; who is

conscious of his relations with God, and who is happy, calm, and has learned to

suffer like a man.”

On the other hand, Camilo David was Lucio’s long time friend. He is one of those

who encourage him to explore life and find some other hobbies besides books; he’s

pertaining to women perhaps. He was the one who invited Lucio to take a vacation in

Merry Town where he met the woman of his dreams. Two of the remarkable lines of

Camilo which convinces Lucio are: “A sleeping dog catches no bone” and “Early bird

catches the early worm”.

In the province of Merry Town, Lucio met different people. One of those is Juan

de la Cruz, a law abiding citizen of the town. He was everyones’s friend for he could

keep secrets. He has no permanent residence, and always roamed around the

countryside, talking with the young people to convince them take more interest in their

government and other affairs. You could not imagine that this person with a very simple

living could actually influence some other people’s life. He always gives Lucio unraveled

thoughts especially when it comes to Lucio’s one and only love – Rosa Garcia.

Yes. Rosa was Lucio’s one and only love. She was a woman of fairness and

purity which makes Lucio fall in love with her easily. Lucio’s persistence and innate

eloquence made Rosa feel the same way as he is, and they’ve been very happy with

each other’s company. They even made a promise that even death will not take them

apart. But the time comes when Lucio’s vacation in Merry Town comes to an end. He

needed to go back in Fertile Valley to continue his work, but he promised to come back

then they will marry. Sadly, problems really occur when you least expected it. The

rumors about Rosa’s engagement with Oscar, a well-to-do man who secretly admires

her, spread out all over the province, and her true identity as a the long hidden daughter

of Governor Pancho Ismael, the corrupt politician, was revealed. She has no enough

power to fight against his father’s will so she still marries Oscar. These happenings

made her lose Lucio.

Among the characters, Rosa was the one with a weak personality. Those

unexpected revelations really broke her into pieces and she can’t prevent her emotions

from coming out. Her lines when she had confronted Lucio will prove this statement.

“But your coldness, it conceals your heart and makes me cry… I have suffered all

these days, yes, for you – for you alone. To live any longer, I cannot. I simply

cannot live and lead this life. I am not born to it.”

“Oh. Lucio, what a miserable fate! Look into my heart and you will see how

lonely I am. Open the book of my life, you are there, and if not, the pages will be

black, utterly black…” She paused as feelings deep and sad filled her whole

being with dark forebedings. She could not hide her sorrows…

Both Rosa and Lucio suffered so much from their separation, but it is really

evident that Rosa was the one who got severely affected. She got ill which lead her to

death. Lucio got really miserable because of what happened but he had no choice but

and he felt was so much guilt and regrets. Only several days after Rosa’s death, Oscar

died in his own hands.

We really can’t say what life could give us, so we should keep ourselves

equipped to whatever problem may arise. But one thing is for sure, God will not give us

trials which we can never overcome. Just like what Lucio did. Those trials encourage

him to pursue his dreams. Rosa, on the other hand, tried to fight but she was defeated

by her own feelings that cause her illness. Thus, she was proclaimed as the ‘child of

sorrow’. At the end of the story, even Oscar became a victim of these challenges

causing him to suicide. See how we deal differently to our problems? But of course the

right thing to do is to face it with all your strength and make it as your motivation to

succeed.