Review: "The Wedding Dance" by Amador Daguio

1. Elements Explored

• **Conflict**: The story revolves around the conflict between Awiyao's desire for a child and Lumnay's inability to bear one.
• **Symbolism**: The ancestral beads symbolize enduring love, while the dance and rituals symbolize societal expectations and traditions.
• **Setting**: The mountain village, dance ceremony, and the bean field serve as significant settings.
• **Characterization**: Awiyao and Lumnay's characters are developed through their actions, dialogue, and internal struggles.

2. Values Explored

• **Tradition vs. Personal Desires**: The story delves into the clash between traditional expectations and personal desires of the characters.
• **Sacrifice and Love**: Lumnay's sacrifice for Awiyao and the enduring love between them are central themes.
• **Gender Roles**: The narrative explores societal expectations related to gender roles, especially concerning marriage and fertility.

3. Possible Questions for Discussion

• **How does the story depict the tension between individual desires and societal expectations?**
• **What role does symbolism play in conveying the emotions and struggles of the characters?**
• **In what ways does the setting contribute to the overall atmosphere and themes of the story?**
• **Discuss the impact of gender roles on the characters' choices and actions.**
• **How does the author use dialogue to reveal the internal conflicts of Awiyao and Lumnay?**