A Critical Analysis of The Last Time I saw MotherBy Arlene J. Chai

I. SynopsisCaridad was summoned home by her mother, Thelma. Worrying that it was something very important for her mother never wrote to her before, Caridad immediately left Sydney to go back to the Philippines.She thought her mother had heard of her separation with Jaime and was problematic how to explain the situation to her relatives.Upon her arrival to their house, Caridad immediately proceeded to her mothers room. There Thelma told her, that she was not her real mother. Caridad was shocked and was asked by Thelma to talk to two other personsher Tia Emma and her cousin Ligaya.Caridad obeyed what Thelma had told her. She went first to Emma to listen to her story. She told her of her life before marrying her father, Alfonso; how the first years of their marriage had passed; the story of his siblings while at the time of the war; and her birth after her fathers death and how she ended up with Thelma.After her meeting with Emma,Caridad went to Ligaya to listen to another story in a different point of view. Ligaya was angry to their Tia Thelma for bargaining Caridad in exchange of sustaining their familys needs. She found out from her eldest sister what their father was like and how he was so fond of his first child.Ligaya also shared some of her frustrations to Caridad, of how she gave up her piano and music inclination because of the familys financial problem and how the piano that their father had given to her was sold without her consent.Last but not the least, she heard the story of the woman who brought her up, Thelma. Thelma told her of her life with Caridads known father, Raoul. They had difficulty in having a child. One day, his father came home with a baby boy in his arms. He convinced Thelma to have the child, which she apparently accepted. Later on, she found out that the child was, indeed, her husbands and left him after knowing the truth. But she went back, caring for the child again until the death of the child because of meningitis. The couple was again left childless, until Caridads father died and Thelma saw this as an opportunity to have the newly-born Caridad because her sister have nothing to sustain the child and her other childrens needs. In return of their silence and transaction, Thelma provided for the needs of Emmas family.Carrying with her the truth about her identity, Caridad returned to Sydney, determined to patch up things with Jaime. She did save their marriage and one Sunday morning, Caridad received the news of Thelmas death which she took lightly for her mother had a smile on her face and looked like peaceful and happy in her sleep.

II. Theme No matter how hard you hide the truth it would find a way to reveal itself. Sometimes sacrifices were made to save a greater number of people. Forgiveness sets you free---free from burden, free from anger, and free from guilt. The family makes a person complete. Without it, she/he would reach her/his beings totality at all.

III. Technical AnalysisA. CharactersCaridad the adopted daughter of ThelmaJaime Caridads husbandMarla Caridads daughterThelma Caridads known motherRaoul Caridads known fatherMia Ligayas sister; Caridads closest friendEmma Caridads aunt and sister of Thelma; her biological motherAlfonso Emmas husband; biological father of CaridadLigaya Caridads eldest cousin; daughter of EmmaEnrique Ligayas husbandRaouls mother

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