The Quarrel

Andres Cristobal Cruz

 Andres Cristobal Cruz was born in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. He holds a degree in Bachelor of Arts major in English at the University of the Philippines. He joined the staff of Liwayway Publishing after his graduation. He was chosen one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYU) for his contributions to Philippine Literature. He received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1964 for his short stories. His selection “The Quarrel” won first prize in 1952-53 Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.

He portrayed the character of his wife, Nina as a good housewife and a fast housekeeper. However as good as she was, she often got into conflict with their landlady because of her inhuman attitude toward the couple.

It is a Short Story, which is a kind of Prose. Short Story is an artistic form of prose fiction which centered on a single main incident whose aim is to produce a single dominant impression. Its qualities are economy, compression, brevity and emphasis.

  Elements or Ingredients of Prose

1..    Characters/Characterization

Nina- a good housewife and fast housekeeper

Ismael- a good husband

Missis Smith-cruel lady

2..    Setting

Apartment

3..      Plot

a.      Beginning Action

Ismael had a nightmare and her wife comfort him and they did not sleep until morning came. On the second floor, Mrs. Smith, their landlady was up there and had her rheumatism, the couple talked about Mrs. Smith.

b.      Rising Action

As usual Mrs. Smith was barking out order to the men who were to take out her jeeps for the routes. Imael had his breakfast and they talkd about of what they are facing. The mother of Nina decided to live her daughter with Ismael when she found out about the baby that Nina going to have, while listening to the music through the radiophono that they bought after their child died.

c.       Conflict

Mrs. Smith came in by the backdoor, her care tapping against the polished rungs of the low stairs, and asking for the rent because it was due on that day, but Nina and Ismael apologized for they cannot pay for the rent and they are asking for an extension. But Mrs. Smith insisted that they should pay, and she did not listen to any reasons of the couple.

d.      Climax

Until it came to physical hurting between Nina and Mrs. Smith, all the people around them appeared.

e.      Denouement

Mrs. Smith realized what she did to the couple, in a violent way just only to pay the rent.

f.        End

D. Theme

Quarrel

                                                Sentence Outline:

I.                    Ismael had nightmare

1.      With a half shut eyes he tried in his mind to make out other things of the objects in the still dim room.

2.      He heard the first trip dragging itself in the distance, leaving three tortured shrill whistle blasts and the irregular rumbling of iron wheels to echo in whose consciousness lay listening.

II.                  The couple backfight Mrs. Smith.

1.      “She’s not very old nor very ugly “Ismael said “forty or forty-five?”

2.      “I wonder if her husband still remember her, “Nina said in a sarcastic voice.

III.                The jeeps of Mrs. Smith

1.      Ismael stood out in the sunlight , wiping his face with a towel in his mind reciting the word “Too much”.

2.      He could hear the jeeps warning up on the small street in front of the Accessoria.

3.      As usual Mrs. Smith barking out orders to the men who were to take out her jeeps for the routes.

IV.                Ismael had its breakfast

1.      He likes the eggs to be his breakfast.

2.      He took up the clean shirt lying on the already made up bed.

3.      He smiled, Nina was such a fast housekeeper.

V.                  Mrs. Smith asking for the rent

1.      Nina apologized and seconded by Ismael for they don’t have yet the mone.

2.      Mrs. Smith insisted.

3.      Mrs. Smith start to have her oral defamation.

4.      Mrs. Smith realized her violence approach to the couple.