Amalia Garcia Rendic was born in Antofagasta, Chile on April 28, 1928; she died on August 14, 1988‘ She graduated at Santiago with a degree of Spanish Language and Literature and further studied in France and Panama. She was a renowned author of literature for children and young people Moreover, she was a teacher of Castilian Spanish—a language in Spain—and also taught literature at the University of Santiago In addition, Rendic was a contributor of two Latin American newspapers namely El Mercurio of Santiago, Chile and La Nacion of Costa Rica. The story entails mainly of Little Juan and Black. Little Juan is a son of a miner named Juan Labrai Juan Labra works as a machinist in a mining company owned by Mri Davies. One night, ML Davies left his dog named Black to the Labrasi Little Juan became close to Black, Later on, they became best friends. On the day that Mr. Davies came back, Little Juan and Black became sad of their separation.
The dog and the child, acted strangely from that time; until one night, Juan Labra decided to win back the dog Then, Black and Little Juan’s friendship came to its flame again The A Child, a Dog, the Night by Amalia Rendic is a short about the miner Juan Labra, Little Juan—his son, Black—a dog, and Mr. Daviesi. The author used the omniscient point of view, Meaning, the narrator who is all-knowing is knowledgeable of the thoughts and feelings of all the characters. The story took place in the rugged landscape of Northern Chile and around the town of Chuquicamata—a site of the world’s largest open-pit copper mines, Labra works as a machinist in the said mining industry. Therefore it can be inferred that his family belongs to the lower class. For instance, it is mentioned in the text that the wrinkles on his face is becoming deeper “like veins of ore” because he is exerting much effort and working hard to sustain the needs of his family.
In the second paragraph, Little Juan was introduced. He is a nine-year—old; waiting for his father. Moreover, he was portrayed as an innocent and naive child based on his actions throughout the story. In addition, Mr. Davies and his dog were also introduced Mr. Davies left his dog to the Labras for he is leaving for Antofagasta, But when the time came that he has to get the dog, the dog suffered in grief as well as Little Juan because the ties of their friendship has become stronger. Until one “miraculous” night, Juan Labra won back Black. The story does not only narrate the happy ending between Little Juan and Black, It can also be further interpreted with the Marxist criticism. Marxian analysis begins with an analysis of material conditions and the economic activities required to satisfy society’s material needs, It is all about power struggle and how it plays out in every literary piece. Applying the said theory, the story depicts the reality in terms of material and socioeconomic reality.
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The Labras represent the proletariats. Proletariats are urban laborers— especially the down-to-earth, overworked but underpaid and long-suffering workers. They are often exploited by the elites. Meanwhile, Mr. Davies is a representation of bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie belong to the middle class or the upper middle class—they are the people who own the stores and factories and who make lots of money by exploiting labourers. Additionally, the dog represents something that the proletariats and bourgeoisie are longing for. It may be something like money, property, or power in society. But only those in the higher class are able to afford. It is also mentioned that Little Juan l’pondered the fact that he could never have an elegant dog.” Hence, either money, property, or power can not be in the hands of the Labrasithe representation of proletariats or workers. Moreover, the bourgeoisie already had money, property, and power.
First, he already had money and capital because he is the owner of the mining company Capital refers to the things that you can turn a profit from. Second, he already had the properties as well since he has the money to acquire such. Lastly, he has the power to rule over his workers; to exact their labor and pay them with lower amount. A common scenario of workers was also shown in the story. Workers are being alienated from the products they produced Miners do not benefit directly from the copper and other products they extract from the pits. in addition, it can also be inferred that the class struggle can be resolved if and only if there is equality between the bourgeoisie and proletariatsr It was shown when Juan Labra went to the house of Mr. Davies to reclaim the dog and the latter did not hesitate to do so.
The characters acted in that way because it is the ideology or the most natural, sensible, and good way of behaving to settle the interest of both Black and Little Juan. Therefore, when Marxist Criticism is applied, the hidden meanings of the text may can be extracted. The very simple storyline contains deeper interpretation that readers should consider. The setting and characters of the story were introduced. The story happened in Chuquicamata with no definite time. The characters were juan Labra, Little Juan, Mr. Davies, and Black, These are the series of events that helped the conflict develop with complications and twists. The story started when the miners are going home at dusk. Little Juan is anticipating for his father when he (Little Juan) saw Mr, Davies with Black, Mrt Davies asked the Labras to take care of Black while he is out of toer Little Juan became close with Black and as times passes by, the time of their friendship became stronger.
They went everywhere playing together and diving into the copper mine pitt Until the thought that their friendship will end clouded his short—lived happiness, The little boy asked his father to buy Black but the latter replied, “tithe will never be oursnt” yet he said, ”MI will buy himm” Until the day has come; Mr. Davies had returned. From that moment, loneliness struck both Little Juan and Black The dog begun to howl in the camp and “barked furiouslyt” While Little Juan “cried the whole night in a beseeching moans” Mr, Davies was bewildered by Black‘s behavior and so Juan Labra could not comfort his tearful little boy. It is the struggle between opposing forces. Juan Labra have had a dilemma wether to win back Black or sacrifice his son’s happiness.
It is the emotional peak of the story. Juan Labra, wanted to see his son’s quick and confident smile, courageously decided to ask for Black from his boss. At that very night, a miracle happened; something touched the heart of Juan and Davies. ”He doesn’t belong to me anymore,” the boss stammered. It shows what happened to the characters after the climax, Labra took the animal and a melancholy happiness warmed his smile. Then Black forced him to continue his tracks toward Little Juan’s neighborhood. It shows how the conflict/problem was resolved From that very miraculous moment, a new warmth tempered the night of Chuqui, Literary pieces must not only be read and understood from their surface meaning. Readers must dig deeper to fully grasp the possible interpretations from the text.
In doing so, readers should be knowledgeable of the different approaches of criticism and their parameters, In addition, each approach gives varying interpretations. in the story of A Child, a Dog, the Night, every element played a vital role to give hints for the interpretation (though interpretations vary depending on the interpreter and theory used). For example, the type of work Juan Labra has means that they belong to the lower class and it is in contrast to Mr. Davies. The story is worth it to read. It gives the readers the idea of what really happens in society. The oppression of the poor, the alienation of the workers from their products, the low salary, and the inequality of the different social classes.
