THE LIFE OF CARDO
Literary Analysis using Formalism Approach
In the warzone we call life, a time comes for any man that he feels the weight of
obstacles unbearable--- to a point that life’s meaning becomes a blur; and eventually, we quit.
However, Amador T. Daguio’s short story “The Life of Cardo” unveils the fighting spirit that
resides inside one man to continue his mission. This inspiring and reflective story makes use of
insightful narration, characters, and other literary elements to show the common goal of man.
That we, possibly, are silently striving for as well.
Looking into the bitter reality of society, the short story makes use of a prevailing
external conflict between man and his environment. These events take place in the middle of
present events or in medias res, since the first half is narrated as past events and the real
present takes place later. The external conflict is seen in the people’s detest for the main
character and gives us the impression of the maltreatment that occurs in community life. The
opening statement of the story already establishes this: “The people of the town never
understood Cardo.” The story is set in the town of Pasuquin during one of the participating
character's vacation. With the opening statement of the narrator we are initially introduced to an
unfriendly community which reflects how society can be very repulsive with the things they
couldn't fathom. Though not much is described about the place, we can sense that it is set in a
traditional/rural province through the account relating to Cardo's apparel (" He always wore a
black camesa de chino, and his pants, reaching to the knees, were also black.") and the
description of his dwelling ("The people said he lived in a small cogon hut near the river)".
Another location in the story was the cemetery in Pasuquin. This was used as the stage where
the narrator and Cardo have their confrontation. The physical setting creates a gloomy mood
which perfectly complements with what Cardo feels as he told his tale of life to the narrator.
Though even both the town and the cemetery brought sufferings and sorrow to Cardo still it
didn’t hinder him from pursuing his goal.
The story was told through the narrator using first person point of view. This indicates
that the speaker is a real-time observer of the events that happened in the text. It also helped to
include the other character's thoughts or opinions that somehow shows that the narrator is
conversing with them, seeking some information about Cardo's life. Because the story makes
use of the first person POV, we can conclude that the narrator is telling the story in the way he
empathizes to both Cardo and the townspeople. This POV drives the plot to develop on the
prejudice against Cardo and his motivation to keep on living. The narrator describes Cardo as a
person with unappealing physical features that also made the townspeople call him evil. ("He
was not much over five feet tall, with a gnarled disjointed body like the trunk of a balete tree.")
("He was probably a witch, a brother of the devil.") Despite all these prejudices he receives, his
character does not lose determination to continue the quest of his life, which he said is finding
Literary Analysis using Formalism Approach
In the warzone we call life, a time comes for any man that he feels the weight of
obstacles unbearable--- to a point that life’s meaning becomes a blur; and eventually, we quit.
However, Amador T. Daguio’s short story “The Life of Cardo” unveils the fighting spirit that
resides inside one man to continue his mission. This inspiring and reflective story makes use of
insightful narration, characters, and other literary elements to show the common goal of man.
That we, possibly, are silently striving for as well.
Looking into the bitter reality of society, the short story makes use of a prevailing
external conflict between man and his environment. These events take place in the middle of
present events or in medias res, since the first half is narrated as past events and the real
present takes place later. The external conflict is seen in the people’s detest for the main
character and gives us the impression of the maltreatment that occurs in community life. The
opening statement of the story already establishes this: “The people of the town never
understood Cardo.” The story is set in the town of Pasuquin during one of the participating
character's vacation. With the opening statement of the narrator we are initially introduced to an
unfriendly community which reflects how society can be very repulsive with the things they
couldn't fathom. Though not much is described about the place, we can sense that it is set in a
traditional/rural province through the account relating to Cardo's apparel (" He always wore a
black camesa de chino, and his pants, reaching to the knees, were also black.") and the
description of his dwelling ("The people said he lived in a small cogon hut near the river)".
Another location in the story was the cemetery in Pasuquin. This was used as the stage where
the narrator and Cardo have their confrontation. The physical setting creates a gloomy mood
which perfectly complements with what Cardo feels as he told his tale of life to the narrator.
Though even both the town and the cemetery brought sufferings and sorrow to Cardo still it
didn’t hinder him from pursuing his goal.
The story was told through the narrator using first person point of view. This indicates
that the speaker is a real-time observer of the events that happened in the text. It also helped to
include the other character's thoughts or opinions that somehow shows that the narrator is
conversing with them, seeking some information about Cardo's life. Because the story makes
use of the first person POV, we can conclude that the narrator is telling the story in the way he
empathizes to both Cardo and the townspeople. This POV drives the plot to develop on the
prejudice against Cardo and his motivation to keep on living. The narrator describes Cardo as a
person with unappealing physical features that also made the townspeople call him evil. ("He
was not much over five feet tall, with a gnarled disjointed body like the trunk of a balete tree.")
("He was probably a witch, a brother of the devil.") Despite all these prejudices he receives, his
character does not lose determination to continue the quest of his life, which he said is finding
