Reading Notes: Filipino Tales Part A

1. One of the most surprising moments in the story of the Three Friends was that the monkey was clever enough, but also evil enough, to through the Bungisngis into the pit. His friends, however, were not so clever. It's cool to see the parallel between the three animals, especially because monkeys are so similar to humans in both anatomy and in the way that they think. Is the story playing on the idea that monkeys are wiser than other animals?

2. There seems to be a pattern with the number three (three animals, three brothers, three sons, etc.). I wonder if the stories would change any if the number was changed to two, or increased to a higher number, like five. For example, if there was two brothers, instead of three like in the second story, or five or more animals in the first tale. If the number of animals in the latter increases, then it would provide more foundation for the fact the tale is trying to explain the wisdom contrasted between animals.

3. The characterization in the story, The Clever Husband and Wife, is interesting, because when I read it, I hated the two protagonists. They were con artists and cheats and exploited the friendship between themselves and the doctor/mistress. However bad they were, though, I liked that they were unapologetic and had decent flaws. It's not all the time that you see a main character with a trait that doesn't redeem itself at the end of the story.

4. I would like to change the end of the story, The Devil and the Guachinango, by changing the ending. Instead of having the princess be saved, I would have her die and force the Guoachinango to have to go to Hell. Maybe that's just me being morbid, though.

5. I find it amusing one of the protagonist's name in these stories is Don Juan.

6. The stories that involved religion also involved the monarchy; that is, the stories that had either the Devil or God in them also had princesses and kings involved as well. It parallels the idea that the monarchy is appointed because of Divine Right.

7. The story of the monkey-prince was my favorite, mainly because I love the trope. I'm glad that it didn't take the route of the woman falling in love with an animal (*cough* Beauty and the Beast *cough*). I also liked that the girl was poor and not a princess.

8. I like the concept of the Wicked Woman but I don't like that they pit two women against one another. I wish that it wasn't because of a man that the two grew jealous.

Buddy the Elf reading meme. Found on Memes Happen.

 Bibliography: Filipino Popular Tales by Dean S. Fansler (1921). Link to online reading.