ENGLISH 7: MY FATHER GOES TO COURT by Carlos Bulosan (Full Story)

Summary

In 'My Father Goes to Court' by Carlos Bulosan, a family's joy and vitality contrast sharply with their rich neighbor's decline. The family, living in a small town on Luzon, enjoys simple pleasures and laughter, while the rich man's family becomes sickly and reclusive. Accused of stealing the 'spirit of their food' through the aroma wafting from his kitchen, the father humorously 'pays' the rich man with the sound of jingling coins, leading to a courtroom filled with laughter and the rich man's silent collapse.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The story begins in a small town on Luzon Island where the narrator lived with their family after their water farm was destroyed by floods.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 The narrator's family, despite being poor, enjoyed outdoor activities and had a rich, reclusive neighbor whose children rarely came out to play.
• 🍲 The aroma of the rich neighbor's food often wafted to the narrator's family, who would enjoy the scent even though they had little to eat.
• 🤗 The narrator's family was healthy and happy, often engaging in laughter and play, which was contagious to their neighbors.
• 😷 In contrast, the rich man and his family became sickly, with constant coughing, suggesting a lack of happiness and possibly poor health habits.
• 📜 The rich man filed a complaint against the narrator's family, accusing them of stealing the 'spirit' of his food and wealth.
• 👔 The father, in his old army uniform, went to court without a lawyer to defend his family against the rich man's accusations.
• 🤔 During the court proceedings, the father admitted to the accusations but questioned the logic behind the rich man's claims.
• 💰 In a surprising turn, the father offered to 'pay' the rich man by filling a hat with coins, symbolizing the 'spirit' of their wealth.
• 😹 The father's act of shaking the hat, making the coins tinkle, was interpreted as the 'spirit' of money, which led to the rich man's collapse.
• 😂 The story concludes with the entire courtroom, including the judge, joining in laughter, highlighting the power of joy and community spirit over material wealth.

Q & A

What is the setting of the story 'My Father Goes to Court' by Carlos Bulosan?

The story is set in a small town on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.

What happened to the water's farm in 1918?

The water's farm was destroyed by one of the southern Philippine floods in 1918.

How did the children of the rich man differ from the narrator's siblings in terms of their activities and lifestyle?

The rich man's children seldom came out of the house and kept the windows closed, while the narrator's siblings played and sang in the sun.

What was the impact of the aroma from the rich man's house on the narrator's family?

The aroma from the rich man's house, where delicious food was being cooked, wafted down to the narrator's family, and they took in the wonderful smells.

How did the rich man's family's health condition change over time?

The rich man's family became thin and anemic, and they all started coughing day and night.

What was the rich man's accusation against the narrator's family?

The rich man accused the narrator's family of stealing the spirit of his wealth and food by inhaling the aroma from his house.

What was the outcome of the court case initiated by the rich man?

The case was dismissed by the judge after the father demonstrated the 'spirit of the money' by shaking a hat filled with coins.

How did the father respond to the rich man's lawyer's accusations in court?

The father agreed with the accusations but then proceeded to 'pay' the rich man by filling a hat with coins, illustrating that the 'spirit' cannot be stolen.

What was the reaction of the spectators and the judge to the father's demonstration in court?

The spectators and the judge were amazed and amused, and they ended up laughing along with the father and his family.

What is the underlying message of the story regarding health and happiness?

The story suggests that happiness, robust health, and a strong community spirit are more valuable than material wealth and can't be stolen by others.

What was the significance of the father's old army uniform and borrowed shoes in the court scene?

The father's old army uniform and borrowed shoes symbolize the family's humble background and their lack of material wealth compared to the rich man.