BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR
carriage driver named Entoy and a maid and cook
Nicomedes "Nick" Márquez Joaquín
born May 4, 1917, Paco, Manila, Phil.—died April
29, 2004, San Juan, Phil. The son of Leocadio Y.
Joaquin, a lawyer and a colonel of the Philippine
Revolution, and Salome Marquez, a
schoolteacher; she taught her children English.
Joaquin's family got into dire economic
circumstances after the sudden death of his
father.
Philippine novelist, poet, playwright, biographer,
and essayist writing in English, the National Artist
for Literature. Joaquin wrote largely about the
Spanish colonial period and the diverse heritage
of the Filipino people. Often he dealt with the
coexistence of 'primitive' and 'civilized'
dimensions inside the human psyche.
SUMMER SOLSTICE
SETTING
The story takes place in 1850s Phllippines during
the festival days of St John.
CHARACTERS
Donya Lupeng Moreta – the married woman
having three children and the senora and master
of the house which Amada and Entoy is working
and serving for
Don Paeng – the highly honorable and moral
husband of Donya Lupeng
The Three Boys – the sons of Donya Lupeng and
Paeng
Amada – the housemaid/ cook of the Moretas
family
Entoy – the carriage driver of the Moretas family
Guido – the cousin of Don Paeng who wad gone
from Europe
SUMMARY
The Tatarin, or otherwise known as the Tadtarin,
was a three day festival that celebrated a ritual of
fertility. This was one 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 women 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
named Amada. Guido is a cousin of Paeng’s who
comes back to the Philippines after studying in
Europe. The 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 Tatarin
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 her
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.
THEME
Adoration and Respect
ANALYSIS
The story “summer solstice” took place on
1850’s that time in the Philippines the women
were always shut in and felt repressed.
Summer Solstice is a story about a women
which all shows and conveys superiority.
From the story there is called ritual performed
by women during classical period.
The feasts, events and happenings shows
the differences of man and woman in terms of
which is dominate, which is higher, which is
the one the lead, who is the master, who to
be called to be a king or a queen .
What are the Western and Eastern culture
present in the text?
Feast of Saint John the Baptist And he said, in his dead voice: “That I adore
you. That I adore you. That I worship you.
is a Christian feast day celebrating the birth
That the air you breathe and the ground you
of John the Baptist, a prophet who foretold
tread is so holy to me. That I am your dog,
the coming of the Messiah in the person
your slave… “
of Jesus, whom he later baptised.
Lupeng shatters the concept of the
The Tatarin (or Tadtarin) is a three-day
suppressed woman when she gains control of
festival that celebrates a ritual of fertility done
her husband, who kisses her feet at the end
by women but it frowned upon by men.
of story. This makes it seem as though
Summer Solstice is set during the three days
women are the ones who want to be the
of the St. John's festival.
rulers of men, as seen in the Tatarin festival.
Who are the characters that represent
Western and Eastern

Western Eastern

Don Paeng Doña Lupeng

Guido Amada
Entoy
Conflict underwent by inferior character
The conflict of the story started when Dona
Lupeng realises the potential superiority of
women when she met their cousin Guido, the
young man who studies in Europe, has
witnessed the Tadtarin and tells her about
women being wild frenzy. Dona Lupeng has
insisted in going to the Tadtarin in spite of
Paeng’s disagreement which causes the
couple to argue later on.

How are this conflict resolve?

Just as the couple were arguing Lupeng had

admitted her fault and was ready to be
whipped by her husband Don Paeng, but he
admits that he cannot give his wife whipping
And she asks why,