Finished the book "The Awakening"

EDNA: “Anong dahilan at ako’y iyong iniiwasan, Roberto?”

ROBERTO: “Bakit ka ba masyadong nagdadalamhati, Ginang. Pontellier? Bakit para bagang pinipilit mo akong maniwala sa isang kahangalan? Palagay ko ay wala rin namang silbi kung sasabihin ko sa’yo na ako ay naging abala sa maraming bagay, o kaya’y ako ay nagkasakit, o sinadya talaga kitang dalawin ngunit hindi kita naabutan sa inyong tahahan. Pabayaan mo na ako sa mga katwiran na iyon.”

EDNA: “Makasarili ka Roberto. May inilalabi ka sa iyong sarili – hindi ko alam kung ano iyon – pero makasarili ka. Sa pagliligtas mo ng iyong sarili ay hindi mo na binigyan ng pagpapahalaga kung ano man ang iniiisip ko, o ang nararamdaman ko sa pagiging manhid mo at sa kalamigan mo. Palagay ko ay hindi na ako umaasta bilang isang babae; pero nakanasayan ko nang isiwalat ang anumang nararamdaman ko. Maaari mo ring isipin na hindi na nga talaga ako umaasta bilang babae ngunit wala na akong pakialam dito.”

ROBERTO: “Hindi... iniisip ko lang na ikaw ay walang awa. Siguro ay hindi mo sinasadya na maging malupit, pero pinupwersa mo ako sa isang pagsisiwalat na walang patutunguhan; parang gusto mong itiwangwang ang aking sugat para sa iyong kasiyahan, maiibsan mo man ang sakit na nararamdaman ko, ngunit wala ka namang intensiyong gamutin ito.”

___________________

“Why have you kept away from me, ‘Robert?” “Why are you so personal, Mrs Pontellier? Why do you force me to idiotic subterfuges? I suppose there’s no use telling you I’ve been very busy, or that I’ve been sick, or that I’ve been to see you and not found you at home. Please let me off with any one of these excuses.” “You are an embodiment of selfishness. You save yourself something – I don’t know what – but there is some selfish motive, and in sparing yourself you never consider for a moment what I think, or how I feel about your neglect and indifference. I suppose this is what you would call unwomanly; but I have got into a habit of expressing myself. It doesn’t matter to me, and you may think me unwomanly if you like.” “No, I only think you are cruel. Maybe not intentionally cruel, but you seem to be forcing me into disclosures which can result in nothing; as if you would have me bare a wound for the pleasure of looking at it, without the intention of power of healing it.”

________________

These are just some of the lines that made me cry over the book “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin. I just finished reading it and believe me there are still countless excerpts that jerked my tears, but these I believe are the best lines (for me) that are worth translating in tagalog.

You see… everyone falls in love… And just like the theory of Lucas (from the character of Ricky Lee’s Para Kay B)... 4 out of 5 from us will be devastated by love. With this, reality check is always a necessity.

In love… yes we do get ecstatic, blissful... and of course at some point... devastated… but we do move on, anyway. And it’s foolishness to believe that forever actually exists… This too shall pass. And yet, everyone still rummages around for it.

The Awakening by Kate Chopin: Recommends this to women who are loyal, obedient, focused, responsible, caring and loving. Warning… you’ll be the opposite after reading the book.

Para kay B by Ricky Lee: Recommended for all genders… And I mean ALL GENDERS… But you have to be crazy-matured enough to understand and appreciate the story.

*Tagalog translation is with the help of Ms Rhea Stone. Thank you.