Romance of Magno Rubio, Essay Example

Introduction

In the short story version (Bulosan) and the play (Carter) of “The Romance of Magno Rubio, the reader or audience of the play can observe the life of Filipino immigrants; their financial struggles, beliefs, emotions, and hopes. Nick represents a unique, outstanding type of Filipino immigrant: one who wants to take advantage of freedom, opportunities, and education. Unlike the other characters, he does not imagine his future on the farm. He reads and improves his English, and his ultimate goal is to become an educated man and go to college. Through depicting Nick as a superior, Bulosan suggests that for immigrants of Asia, the only preferable option to become a respected member of the society and settle in the new country is to learn the language and become a member of the American society. While this process is hard, and immigrants need to face discrimination, marginalized by the society, some of them do not give up.

Character Analysis

Nick is the most assimilated member of the group of Filipinos. In the short story he spends a lot of time to educate himself. In the play he appears to be more like a superior character that everyone listens to. The short story depicts Nick more of an outsider than the play does. In both the short story and the play, Nick appears to have a much better command of English than the rest of the group. He writes the letters for Magno, and gives him advice on his love affairs. His narratives during the play have sophisticated language. He does, however, understand the way other men think in his group, and helps them, without judgment.  He understands Magno Rubio for wanting to achieve the love of the “big woman”, Clarabelle, and he does not judge him. He can relate to the feeling, as he wants to get hold of the “American Dream” himself, too. Both of the objects (Clarabella and America) seem to be unachievable, but this does not mean that Nick or Magno give up. In the play, Nick gets teased about going to college. Just like Magno is teased about trying to win the heart of Clarabella. Nick does not give up  his dreams, nor does Magno. Nick’s dream is to become a “valued American”, while Magno would like to achieve a status of a “husband”. Nick’s goal is assimilation, Magno’s is marrying his love. Nick’s goals are different from the goals of the rest of the group, and this is what makes him unique.

Nick is an outsider. He does not drink wine or play cards.  He reads and helps Magno write letters to Clarabella. While he knows that there is little hope that the woman would accept Magno, considering that she does not even know about his ethnic origin, he understands that having dreams is important in people’s lives. He sees that Magno works hard and stays motivated to save up for the ring and the wedding. He understands this motivation, as he does the same to go to college.  He has dreams that others on the farm do not understand. They understand short term goals, like having a good time or earning money, but do not plan long term. Having long term goals and planning also makes him an authority figure and superior to the rest of the group.

Nick is an authority figure in the group. While his aspirations are mocked by the other members, everyone respects him. Magno Rubio (Carter, 10) asks his opinion when he is teased about the size of his chosen woman. Nick answers: “No, Magno, I don’t think size has anything to do with love”. And Magno accepts this statement as true. He  is considered to be an expert at finances, love affairs, as he reads a lot. He gives people advice about honesty, sin, and virtue, and analyzes human behavior, telling Magno: “They say honesty is the best policy” (Carter, 12).

Motivations

Nick has the most unique motivation in the bunkhouse, making him both an outsider and superior. Carlo wants to find gold, Magno Rubio is looking for love, but Nick wants to be an educated American. He thinks that his goals are taking him further than those of Carlo and Magno. He states in the play: “Some men would do anything bad, Magno” (Carter 15). Some men would crawl on their bellies on human filth to earn a dollar”. Further, he states that he has everything he needs. Carter contrasts the views of the two characters by making Magno reply: “How can you? You don’t drink a drop of wine”. Nick – unlike Magno and Carlo – focuses on long term achievements, instead of immediate pleasure and satisfaction.

The values, motivations and visions of Nick are different from the rest of the characters. He is ready to change and transform into an American through learning. Instead of looking for immediate satisfaction, he is looking to build a future for himself in the new country. Carlos Bulosan, the author of the book experienced the same struggles as Nick to become American, and the rejection of America. The residents of the bunkhouse are aliens in the United States. As Juan confirms, the Filipino immigrants were marginalized by the society and the state: “Magno and his worker-friends were de?nitely not “guests of the State,”nor were they immigrants; they were, as many have noticed, colonial wards subject to all the disciplinary rigor of anti-miscegenation laws, prohibitions, and exclusions of all kinds” (Juan, 109). Magno is rejected by the blonde American woman, and – looking at the history – Filipinos were also excluded from the American society for decades. They were – according to Juan (110) considered as barbaric. The character of Nick is in the short story (Bulosan) contradicting this conception of the U.S. society.

Conclusion

The character of Nick in the short story and the play of “The Romance of Magno Rubio” represents the dream and inspiration of Filipino immigrants arriving at America in the first half of the 20^th Century. Looking different, having a distinctive culture, they have a choice: either keep on working low paying jobs, like the residents of the “bunkhouse”, or become educated Americans, like Nick. Immigrants faced discrimination and started from a disadvantaged, marginalized position, just like Nick, but some of them overcome difficulties and managed to assimilate in the new society.

Works Cited

Bulosan, Carlos “The Romance of Magno Rubio” In: The Laughter of my father. 1944. Print.

Carter, L. “The Romance of Magno Rubio”. Play. 2002. Victory Theatre Company. 2002. Print.

Juan, E. “Carlos Bulosan, Filipino Writer-Activist” The New Centennial Review. Vol.8. No. 1. 2008. Print