Santos, Meg Anne G.
Prof. Joahna T. Eduarte
Humanities 014
8 September 2009
F. Sionil Jose’s The Pretenders: Yesterday is not your Friend. Tomorrow is.
This paper delves on the possible reason behind Antonio Samson’s iron-like grip with his past and how this is related to his eventual suicide.
“I am the last of the long procession of days, streaming behind you, away from you, pouring into mist and obscurity, and at last into the oblivion.
We fill your soul’s cellar.
I depart from you, yet I am ever with you.
I am one of the leaves of the growing book. There are many pages before me. Some day you shall turn us all over and read us and know what you are.
I am pale, for I have no hope. Only memories.”
The last words of Marie Antoinette to her son, before she was led away to guillotine were: “Do not seek to avenge my death; do not seek to rule over the wolves who have destroyed your mother and father; be kind, be good, be brave; but above all be- forget!”
There are undoubtedly numerous advantages in forgetfulness. If we could forget, the sting and the swelling would not remain; the whole matter would be uprooted, as if nothing had ever happened. If forgetting could spare you from so much, then why does Antonio Samson still refuse to let go of his past?
In our search for answers, first let us examine the relevance of Antonio’s past to his moral development. For this paper, two of Antonio Samson’s family members will be put into consideration.
1.Eustaquio Samson a.k.a the grandfather. His only link to his roots. “..he felt a kinship at last, tangible and alive, with this thing called the past. It was this solid memento that mattered, because it was the root on which he stood.” (Jose, p.114)
Here, we see, in Tony’s on words, how important his grandfather was to him. The root on which he stood- this was how he perceived his grandfather- a base on which he stands, someone who he was able to connect to. Eustaquio was a man whom Tony does not feel estranged. He viewed Eustaquio’s philosophies as his own.
2.Antonio Samson’s father. To whom do we owe the pleasure of Antonio Samson’s existence? To his father of course! Tony’s immediate upbringing was because of his father’s nurturing, although his father was not always there most of Tony’s life, his father, played a major role during Tony’s childhood.
It was during Tony’s childhood that he was first exposed to the difference between the social classes and the grudge that his father harbors for the rich. “..he, too, understood the tortured emotions that had propelled his father to anger and violence. Only then, too, were all his suspicions about his father’s incapacity for warmth and understanding dispelled.” (Jose, p.11)
Without the experiences of this people, and their experiences in the past, Antonio Samson would not have existed as he was.
Self-deception is the starting point of moral decay. Lying to yourself is sure to mean inward deformity, the germ-laden fleck that spreads the disease throughout your whole character. It is the easiest, commonest and most subtle of sins.
Antonio Samson, although he was enlightened because of his discovery and newly-discovered link with this past, still was not able to cure himself of the disease brought upon by the incessant corruption and greed he has been exposed to.
Each of us has his burden, of triumph, of defeat, of laughter, of bitterness; we bear our load into forgetfulness; yet as we go, we each lead something into our sub consciousness. Yet, Antonio Samson was not a man who forgets. Probably the regrets of his past and the uncertainties of his future were too much of a weight for him to bear.
His only escape or answer to this dilemma- to die at the hand of a vehicle that he so wishes to ride in order to go home.
“ I am rich for, for I have wisdom.
You do not love my voice. It does not speak to your desires; it is cool and even full of prudence.
I am Yesterday; yet I am the same as Today and Forever; for I AM YOU; and you cannot escape from yourself.
I am Yesterday. Learn to look me in the face, to use me, and not to be afraid of me.
I am not your friend. I am your judge-and your fear.
Tomorrow is your friend." (Yesterday, Dr. Crane)
Works Cited:
Jose, F. Sionil.(1962) The Pretenders. Solidaridad Publishing House, 531 Padre Faura, Ermita,
some side comments from me.. on a related note.:)
the book by dr. frank crane is actually the oldest book that i own. :) it's 90 years old.. it's a 7 volume book collection given to me by my grand mother, who received this book from my great grand father. haha. just felt like sharing this.
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