Reader Response Criticism
ZITA
Author: Arturo B. Rotor
The short story entitled “Zita” written by Arturo B. Rotor, depicts the reality of how love
can sometimes be wrong or perhaps, some people just tend to fall in love with the wrong person
in the most unexpected time. In the story, a provinciana girl from Anayat named “Zita”, had
unexpectedly fallen in love with her teacher named Mr. Reteche; a young man of dubious character
with a mysterious past.
a. What does the text have to do with you, personally and with your life (past, present or
future)?
The story “Zita” conveys the theme of an unrequited love/forbidden love; a student named Zita
who ends up falling in love with her teacher Mr. Reteche; who taught her how to become a lady.
Little did she know that there are possible consequences that she might face for developing such
feelings for Mr. Reteche. The kind of dilemma that Zita has faced in the story is an indication that
one cannot control the intensity of how a romantic feeling can be felt for someone that you would
not even expect to have feelings for. In addition, the said scenario had delved me into an
understanding that there will always be instances where we could not even imagine that we are
gradually developing such romantic feelings for someone. We also tend to have a feeling of fear
for falling in love with someone whom we think is impossible to love us back.
b. How much does the text agree or clash with your view of the world and what you
consider right and wrong?
Love moves in mysterious ways. We are only humans, and we can never tell whom we should love
for it just comes along our way. Just like a young girl named Zita, who eventually fell in love with
her young teacher, depicts a reality that a student unexpectedly finding herself falling in love with
her teacher can also be experienced in a real-life scenario by any female student who finds her
teacher attractive or is charismatic. Most of us would think with our moral judgment that there is
nothing wrong when a student admires his/her teacher, however, when a student is falling in love
and developing such romantic feelings towards his/her teacher, it is something that should be
avoided considering the fact that if a student will have a romantic relationship with a teacher, it
will be considered as an immoral act or a taboo behavior, and is against the school policy and rules.
c. How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed
by this text, if at all?
I have come into an understanding that in the stage of young adulthood or adolescence, it is normal
for anyone to experience infatuation or love for someone whom they adore. To love and be loved
by someone are some of the best feelings in this world. However, for young adults or adolescents,
love should not be the top priority for it would just result in undesirable heartaches which they
might not be able to cope with or will eventually cause their emotions to be out of control.
d. How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider
important to the world?
As a reader, it is essential to investigate the significant highlights of the story that addresses
important social issues relating to the real world. Zita brings us to an assimilation that love is
something that keeps us alive but young love should be viewed differently to a love which adults
possess. Youths nowadays may feel that once they are in love, their world only revolves to that
person they have a strong admiration and love for, but little did they know it is not the mature kind
of love that they expect.
e. Critique the text.
The short story “Zita” is a masterpiece written by Arturo B. Rotor imparts a lifelike scenario which
adheres to a juvenile’s love experience. Not only he was able to impart a young love experience,
but he also gave the readers a broad understanding of how women in the society should behave
and dress accordingly with regards to the modern society’s norms. Throughout the story, Zita’s
transition was evident from being an innocent province girl who transformed into a refined and
matured woman. Moreover, the author’s skillful writing gave a bigger picture of how young adults
get into the phase of young love, although the author wrote the story with some ambiguity of
details and slightly confusing plot transitions but nevertheless, the author was able to successfully
deliver the paramount message of the story to the readers.
f. How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
The short story can be both characterized as an entertainment and as a work of art for it expresses
significant human experiences to which readers can relate to and reflect a deeper realization of
such a scenario. The author’s style in writing the story is timely and it mirrors a phase of young
adulthood which highlights the stage wherein young adults are at the peak of developing strong
romantic feelings for someone. Moreover, the author utilized figurative languages making the
piece a work of art such as the lines …In the middle of the Anayat Sea, like an inverted wine glass,
a glass whose wine had been spilled and …Already she had counted three stars that had fallen to
earth, one almost directly into that bush of dama de noche at their garden gate, where it had
lighted the lamps of a thousand fireflies. Additionally, loan words were also present in the short
story and some of these are provinciana, azotea, and don. These words introduced in the story
clearly manifests that the author’s choice of words was greatly influenced by the Spaniards. It
enables the Filipino readers to reminisce about one of the remarkable periods in our history when
the Philippines was once colonized by Spain.
g. What is your overall reaction to the text?
Zita is one of the well-written masterpieces of Philippine short stories expressing the truth
concerning the common love experiences of young adults. The story presented various
implications and realizations towards a juvenile’s romantic feelings for someone whom she should
not have feelings for; although love is an ardent feeling that no one can control. The short story is
highly recommended to be read by youths for it encompasses a significant storyline that beholds
the real-life encounters of people in the stage of young adulthood which will allow them to
contemplate on the scenario of how a young romantic love can affect an individual. Moreover,
reading the story will also enlighten the reader’s moral perception most especially to young girls
with regards to the matter of understanding that love is not an easy game to play.
