“The World is an Apple”-Alberto Florentino

Alberto Florentino

•He was born in Nueva Ecija, Philippines on July 28, 1931 and died on September 22, 2018.•He is a Filipino

playwright and a book publisher.

SETTING

• In the small and poor home behind a portion of the Intramuroswalls. There are two wooden boxes on either side of the doorway. At left is an Acacia tree with a wooden bench under it. It is where the poor family lived in.

CHARACTERS

• Mario- He is the father in the story, the husband of Gloria. He isknown to be bad before, but he strives hard to change his life for herdaughter and for her wife.• Gloria- She is the wife of Mario. The very good and lovable womanwho just wants a simple life and decent life. She is the reason whyMario changed because of her unconditional love to him.• Tita- Mario and Gloria’s sick daughter.• Pablo- The evil man in the story and the old friend of Mario. Hewants easy and dishonest money, the life that Mario lived before.

Background of the Story• This is a story of how wrong decisions become greater

burdens to a family. This is a story about a man named Mario, who suffered in extreme poverty, so he walked through the sinful road. He steals with his friends to experience pleasures and he gained a lot of money from it. However, he changed when he met Gloria. Despite of Mario’s past, she accepted him because she believed that Mario will change. Indeed, Mario had changed and chose a legal job.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY

Mario’s family happens to be in the lower bracket of society. When Mario got home, Gloria saw Mario and she was asking for some money to feed their children. Mario said that he has no money.

Gloria didn’t believe on what Mario said and she asked Mario to tell the truth. When Mario answered it, Gloria was shocked on what she heard because Mario lost his job. Gloria asked Mario if how he lost his job and Mario answered it. Gloria was shocked again because Mario said that he lost his job because of stealing an apple.

Gloria said that how can he lose his job by just taking one apple not a dozen not a crate but one apple. Mario answered that he just saw it rolling and he found himself putting it in his bag because Tita would love to have it, and Mario told Gloria that there’s no need to worry because he found a new job.

Suddenly Pablo came in and ruined the whole conversation. He asked them if how is their daughter doing and he’ll loan a few pesos to help their daughter. Gloria said, “No, thank you.” Pablo said that Mario’s new job was with him. When Gloria heard it he told Mario that it’s a bad doing and risky.

Mario didn’t listen to his wife, walks away with Pablo, and told Gloria not to worry because he will come back early in the morning and don’t wait for him. Gloria cries and shouts at Mario, while Tita was crying also because he heard the conversation.

THEME

• It is about the choices that we have in our life. Either we’ll choose the right path or the wrong path.

• In the story, the APPLE symbolizes the wealth that the poor people can never afford which cause them to do unpleasant things.• It symbolizes temptation that will lead us to wrong doings.

SYMBOLISM