My Brother, My Executioner

My Brother, My Executioner was set on a time when the Hukbalhap was still fighting their questionable fight, and in two places, namely Manila and of course in the little town of Rosales. The book is one of the Rosales series after all. The Rosales part of the setting shows us a world torn in half: one is seemingly blissfully prosperous part that is under the shadow of the great Don Vicente Asperri, and the other one being the epitome of blight who’s farming community decided to oppose the evil feudal system. The latter part of course is where the Huks set up shop. The Manila part of the story represents modern life far away from the hardships of the rural areas and far away from deadly troubles of the feudal system warring with armed revolutionaries. This is the set of city lights, university life and luxury cars upon which the main character unknowingly falls in love with in spit of his grand ambitions.
The two places in the story seem to reflect the two worlds the writer grew up in. He did grow up experiencing the affliction of the feudal system and the poverty it brought. He experience living with freedom fighters when the Japanese invaded this country. He also experienced city life when he came to study collage. It is also a great way for city folk to be introduced to the main character’s plight if they ever find him some one to relate to.
The characters have been said to be unrealistic by those of the internet who found time reviewing this classic. The main characters came from unusual backgrounds and have unusual character development. Added to that, the cruel circumstances they’ve endured should warrant their less than conventional personalities. Luis Asperri, the illegitimate son of Don Vicente. He aspires vengeance upon his father for what he has done to his mother, for the sad situation that has befallen his childhood neighborhood and for his birth. He was picked up by his father some time in his adolescence when the resemblance became apparent – both