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Prelude - Daryll
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Daryll Delgado
Preludes
The 21st Century Literatures
About our author
Daryll Delgado
She has taught in the University of the Philippines, Ateneo De Manila University, and Miriam College. She presently works for an international labor rights NGO, where she heads the research and stakeholder engagement programs for Southeast Asia and writes global reports on labor issues. She was born and raised in Tacloban City but resides in Quezon City with her husband (and former college paper editor), William.
- Daryll Delgado’s first book, After the Body Displaces Water (USTPH, 2012), won the thirty-second Manila Critics Circle/Philippines National Book Award for best book of short fiction in English, and was a finalist for the 2013 Madrigal-Gonzales First Book Award.
- She also received a Philippines Free Press award for her fiction in 2010.
- She has received writing residencies in Australia, Spain, and the Philippines.
- Daryll Delgado holds degrees in journalism and comparative literature from the University of the Philippines (Diliman).
Characters
Elements of the short story "Preludes"
Nenita - the story's major character; the widow of the deceased husband
Nenita's husband - good singer; died because of his sickness; had relationships with several women
Judge - hated by everyone; his 9th death anniversary is celebrated at the hall
Judge’s widow - the mistress of Nenita's late husband
Herbalist friend - the one who gave the medicationto Nenita
Grandson - heartbroken; also likes music; sent off to the city
Setting
Topic
The narrative took place at 3 p.m. in the Municipal Hall, where the sun was high and dry, and the heat crept into the bones of the people. It also happened in Nenita's home,particularly in the sala and kitchen, where she was cooking and watching TV.
Conflict
Topic
The narrative focused on several conflicts, particularly within married couples. Adultery, concubinage, and gender discrimination are examples of these conflicts. "Nenita took her husband back again when, with the money her in-laws sent for his medication,he went away to be with one of his women. People say her husband went to Manila with the judge's widow. Nenita never confirmed this."
Point of View
Topic
Third Point of View (Narrator's Perspective) - "A man died singing. Hehad sung a total of three songs before heheaved his last breath and collapsed on a chair."
Theme
Topic
Gender inequality - It demonstrates how women may accept their husbands who are having affairs, but it is a different story for women who are having affairs. Women who cheat are labelled as "whores" by those who believe they have forfeited their female dignity.
Love and betrayal - Even though she knew he was unfaithful to her, Nenita was described as kind, caring, understanding, and compassionate towards her husband in the narrative. Her spouse was ungrateful; rather than recognizing Nenita's hard work, he decided to cheat and see other women.
Exposition
It happened at the Municipal Hall. The time was three in the afternoon. The sun was high. Heat seeped into people’s bones. Someone’s 9thdeath anniversary was being celebrated
Inciting Incident
Conflict
Conflict
Nenita's husband used the money from her in-laws to pay for his medicine. He used the money to join the judge's widow to Manila.
Climax
Climax
Nenitas's herbalist friend recommended a medicine that would shrivel his husband's ball, cause hallucinations, and make his blood boil till his veins burst.
Denouement
Denouement
Nenita continued to look after her husband and declined the medication provided by her herbalist friend.
Resolution
Resolution
While performing a classic Spanish song about kissing someone for the final time, Nenita's husband died.