Summer
Solstice
Nicomedes Marquez Joaquin
Nicomedes
M a rq u e z
Joaquin
Aka: “Quijano de Manila”
Born: May 4, 1917 (Paco Manila
on Calle Herran)
Died: April 21, 2004 (San Juan
Metro Manila)
Parents: Atty. Leocadio Y.
Joaquin (Colonel of the
Philippine Revolution) and
Salome Marquez (School
Teacher)
Nicomedes
M a rq u e z
Joaquin
Educational Background
Elementary: Mapa High
School in Intramuros
Secondary: Mapa High
School in Intramuros (up to 3rd
year)
College: St. Albert College in
Hong Kong
SUMMARY
The Tatarin, otherwise known as the Tadtarin,
was a three day festival that celebrated a ritual of
fertility. This was done only by women. Many men
frowned upon the extravagant dances and plays
surrounding the ritual. “Summer Solstice” is set
during the three days of the St. John’s festival.
Lupeng, a Filipino woman who feels closed to her
womanhood, is married to Paeng, who is no doubt
loyal to her.
They have three small boys and live a somewhat
wealthy life as they have a carriage driver named
Entoy and a maid and cook named Amada. Guido is a
cousin of Paeng who comes back to the Philippines
after studying in Europe. The story starts when the
family is enjoying the days of the St. John’s festival
until Guido makes suggestive comments to Lupeng,
and even bending down to kiss her feet. This makes
her leave abruptly and have a discussion with her
husband the coming night.
Lupeng secretly found herself intrigued by the
attention of Guido; she felt that he was correct in
saying that women should be ravished and men
should adore them. This causes her to participate in
the last night of the festival, which is the Tadtarin
ritual. Paeng goes with her and tries to drag her back
once the dancing begun, but she runs from him to the
women. He tries to take her back but the women in
the crowds beat him out, leaving him helpless.
As the two return home, Paeng says he must
whip his wife because he loves and feels that she
needs to be put in her place. To this, she shouts
and says she wants to be adored, not respected
and orders him to kiss her feet.
SETTING
The story takes place in the 1850’s in the
Philippines during St. John’s festival.
CHARACTERS
• Donya Lupeng Moreta – long-married woman with
three children
• Don Paeng Moreta – the highly moral husband of
Donya Lupeng
• Guido – young cousin to the Moretas who studied in
Spain
• Amada – the family cook and Entoy’s wife
• Entoy – the family driver
PLOT
The Summer Solstice is a short story written by
Nick Joaquin. The book tells the story of a ritual
performed by women to call upon the gods to grant
fertility. The ritual they perform is to dance around a
century-old Balete tree. The ritual was known as
Tadtarin and lasted for three days during the summer
months.
TADTARIN
The last day of Tadtarin is the same day as St. John’s
Day. The story is set on St. John’s Day in the 1850s in the
Philippines. Entoy tells Donya Lupeng that Amada has
participated in the ritual. While they are onboard a carriage,
Donya Lupeng talks about why Amada still believes in the
ritual. The carriage comes to a halt and everyone watches a
procession taking place. Donya Lupeng mocks the
arrogance of the men taking part in the procession. When
they arrive at a house, Donya Lupeng discovers that Guido,
Don Paeng’s cousin, had taken part in both the procession
they have just witnessed and in the Tadtarin ritual.
Guido lifted Donya Lupeng’s skirt whilst she was looking
for her children. Donya Lupeng then tells Don Paeng about
the incident and tells him that Guido had even kissed her
feet. Don Paeng is disgusted that the woman has been shown
adoration, as she feels that love and respect are more
befitting. Donya Lupeng and Don Paeng go to witness the
ritual and Don Lupeng joins in with the ceremony. Once
home, Donya Lupeng makes Dong Paeng tell her that he
adores her. He submits by kissing her feet.
The Summer Solstice was classed as controversial because
of the mix of Pagan ritual and Christian rites of passage.
THEME
• Culture of celebrating St. John’s Day
• Women Empowerment
• Respect and adoration for women
• The story is all about the freedom that
women wanted from men.
CONFLICTS
•Man vs. Man
•Man vs. Himself
•Man vs. Society
SYMBOLISM
• Tadtarin Festival and Feast of St. John –
represents men vs. women
• Balete Tree – beliefs and old traditions;
fertility
POINT OF VIEW
Third Person Point of View
METAPHOR
•The house was already a furnace.
• I am embarrassed to see him with
those eyes of a whipped dog.
SIMILE
• She is beautiful—as that old tree
• Follow her like a dog.
• Adore her like a slave.
• But now you are as strange and distant
to me as a female Turk in Africa.
MORAL LESSON
The moral in the short story, Summer
Solstice, addresses the fact that a woman
can use her feminity to claim power for
herself.
SOURCE
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
https://
[Link]/doc/36428124/Summer-Solstice-Short-Story-Analysis
https://
[Link]/homework-help-literature/121011-summer-
solstice-
by-nick-joaquin-analysis/