A Critical Analysis of Gagamba essays

A Critical Analysis of Gagamba essays Gagamba. Francisco Sionil Jose. Philippines: Solidaridad Publishing House, 1991. 121. P175.00 Gagamba is one great literary piece among the many novels of Francisco Sionil Jose. This 121-page papaerback is a rich product of Joses different perspective and interpretation of life and society. The archetypal gagamba (spider)-any of the order of arachnids that has a two-part body, eight legs and two or more pairs of abdominal organs for spinning threads of silk used especially in making webs for catching prey-was excellently used to show how peoples lives could possibly end at one spider web. For a while, the story was thought to give emphasis on how Gagamba-the cripple sweepstakes vendor was able to survive when Camarin collapsed, but as the story progresses, it reveals more the people from different sectors of society whose lives had given Camarin its breath and shine. Without these people knowing, it would be the same building that would take their own breaths. July 15, 1990, Sunday, around twelve oclock noon, a killer earthquake struck Central Luzon including Manila. Tranquilino Gagamba Penoy was one of the survivors of the collapse of the Camarin building-the only establishment in Manila that was totally wrecked. Even though there were less casualties because there were no offices open; still, the incident took away several lives of the people who were making profits and gaining pleasures in the classic restaurant of Camarin, that was actually a very intelligent front of prostitution. The day after the acrid incident, a cry was heard inside the totally wrecked building. The novel exemplifies how just God is. Perhaps, the incident was one of Gods ways of cleaning out the dirt of the society. Also, the story depicts the goodness of God for after the death of so many people, He still gives others the chance to live and see the beauty of life. However, behind this wonderful story ar ...