SCENT OF APPLES by Bienvenido Santos | Short Story Explained | English 7 MATATAG Curriculum

Summary

In 'Scent of Apples,' the narrator reflects on the emotional landscape of exile and nostalgia while recounting a journey to Kalamazoo. Amidst a war-torn backdrop, he meets Fabia, a Filipino farmer, and his family, who introduce him to the quiet beauty of their apple orchard. The story explores themes of loss, longing, and the complexity of cultural identity, as the narrator contemplates the differences between past and present, home and exile. Through poignant moments, like a heartfelt encounter with Fabia’s family, the narrative captures the deep connections that transcend time and distance.

Takeaways

• 🍎 The story 'Scent of Apples' by Bienvenido N. Santos centers on the narrator’s encounter with a fellow Filipino immigrant, Celestino Fabia, during wartime America, highlighting nostalgia and displacement.
• 🌆 Set in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the tale opens with a vivid description of autumn — golden leaves, cold winds, and the haunting signs of wartime absence.
• 👨‍🌾 Celestino Fabia, a Filipino farmer who left the Philippines over 20 years ago, approaches the narrator after a lecture, longing for a connection with his homeland and people.
• 💬 During the lecture, the narrator discusses Filipino women and national identity, reflecting the deep emotional ties that exiles maintain to their native culture.
• 🏠 Fabia invites the narrator to his humble farm, where the simplicity and poverty of his life in America contrast sharply with his memories of home.
• 👩‍❤️‍👨 Fabia’s American wife, Ruth, is portrayed as hardworking, kind, and selfless—her love and devotion to her husband mirror the virtues of traditional Filipino women.
• 👦 Their son Roger symbolizes hope and continuity, bridging two worlds — the Filipino heritage of his father and the American life of his mother.
• 🍏 The recurring scent of apples serves as a powerful symbol of homesickness, memory, and the bittersweet experiences of immigrants living far from home.
• 💭 Through Fabia’s reflections, the story reveals the pain of exile — lost youth, family estrangement, and the yearning for a homeland that may no longer remember him.
• 🌙 The story ends with a poignant farewell, as Fabia drives away into the darkness, leaving the narrator with a profound sense of melancholy and understanding about the loneliness of immigrants.

Q & A

Where and when does the story begin?

The story opens in Kalamazoo in October during wartime; the narrator arrives amid autumn weather and the shadow of a war that has taken many young men away.

Who is Fabia (also called Chelstino) and what is his background?

Fabia is a Filipino farmer who has lived in the United States for many years; he farms about thirty miles east of Kalamazoo and describes himself modestly as 'just a Filipino farmer.' He left the Philippines over twenty years earlier and has not returned.

Why does Fabia come to hear the narrator speak at the college?

Fabia says he had not seen another Filipino for many years and, upon learning the narrator was from the islands and would speak about his country, came to hear him out of longing and curiosity.

What question does the Filipino farmer in the audience ask, and why is it important?

He asks whether Filipino women are the same as they were twenty years ago. This question matters because it reveals the exile's concern about change at home and his need to hold onto comforting ideals about his culture and loved ones.

How does the narrator respond to the exile's question about Filipino women?

The narrator answers carefully: outwardly Filipino women have changed over the years, but inwardly — in heart and spirit — they remain the same: God-fearing, faithful, modest, and good.

What invitation does Fabia extend to the narrator, and what does the visit to Fabia's home reveal?

Fabia invites the narrator to dinner with his family at the farm. The visit reveals a humble, hardworking household with an apple orchard, a devoted wife (Ruth), and a polite son (Roger); it also brings out Fabia's nostalgia and the scent of apples as a powerful sensory link to home.

What role does the apple orchard and the 'scent of apples' play in the story?

The apple orchard and its scent function as a sensory symbol of home, memory, and seasonal cycles. The smell fills the farm and the narrator's impressions, anchoring scenes of family life and the bittersweet mood of exile and longing.

How are Ruth and Roger characterized during the narrator's visit?

Ruth is shown as a plain, hardworking, kind woman — worn by labor but sincere and devoted. Roger is an innocent, well-mannered boy who admires his father and makes a favorable impression on the narrator.

What personal history does Fabia share during the drive and how does it affect the narrator?

Fabia recounts memories of his childhood home in the Philippines, his family, and being driven out by his father's anger. These recollections reveal pain, loss, and longing; they move the narrator and deepen his understanding of exile's emotional weight.

What incident earlier in Fabia's life is described to show Ruth's devotion?

Fabia describes an episode when he had acute appendicitis in winter; Ruth, pregnant and ill herself, bundled him, dragged him through the snow to catch the mail car, and stayed at the hospital helping — demonstrating her courage and devotion.

How does the narrator feel when saying goodbye, and what tone closes the story?

The narrator feels a mixture of affection and sadness; when Fabia waves goodbye from the car and drives away, the narrator notices the coldness of the night and hurries inside. The closing tone is melancholic and reflective, emphasizing exile and separation.

What major themes are present in the story based on the transcript?

Key themes include exile and nostalgia, cultural identity and continuity, the contrast between outward change and inner constancy, family and domestic devotion, and the power of sensory memory (especially the scent of apples) to evoke home and longing.