Servant Girl — by Estrella D. Alfon

 




The short story entitled “Servant Girl” is written by Estrella D. Alfon and published in 1937. The story is about Rosa, a maid dealing with problems like the way society sees her and figuring out who she is. She's kept away from being friends with others because her boss won't let her. Even though she's treated badly, Rosa has to deal with a guy named Sancho who bothers her and another guy named Angel who unexpectedly helps her. Rosa starts thinking Angel is a good person and dreams of having a better life with him. But she feels let down when she sees that he doesn't really care about her. The story shows Rosa feeling different things, like hope and then disappointment, as she wishes for someone to genuinely care about her. In the end, Rosa goes back to her boss's house, realizing that her dreams of a better life might not come true. This shows the struggle between what she wants and the tough reality she faces in trying to have dignity and connect with other people.

 

The story talks about a time in Philippine literature called the Emergence period. It looks at the colonial background, where there were clear differences between the people in charge (colonizers) and those being ruled (colonized). Rosa's tough situation in the story clearly shows how hard life was for people with lower social status, focusing on real-life problems and social issues of that time. The story goes deep into Rosa's personal struggles, emphasizing how characters grow and learn about themselves during this period. It brings up themes of unfair treatment, showing how people like Rosa were treated badly. Despite these challenges, the story hints at a feeling of hope, suggesting a move towards more positive stories. This reflects the idea that, even in a tough cultural setting, people still have personal dreams. The Emergence period is known for stories that honestly talk about the struggles and dreams of regular people, revealing the problems in society and the influence of the colonizers, as seen in Rosa's story.

 

I wouldn't suggest this story for a Seventh-day Adventist school because it talks a lot about the tough parts of life, like how people are treated badly, unfair things happening, and the difficulties faced by those in lower social positions. The story's realistic portrayal might be seen as too intense or not matching the positive, uplifting stories usually encouraged in SDA schools. Also, the story doesn't strongly focus on spiritual or religious themes, which are important in SDA education. Its attention to societal problems and personal dreams might not directly connect with the spiritual teachings and moral values emphasized in SDA institutions. Additionally, some parts of the story could be seen as inappropriate or too mature for a school setting because they show mistreatment and tough situations. Overall, even though the story has literary value, its content and themes might not completely fit with the educational and spiritual goals of SDA schools.


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