The House on Zapote St. Analysis

The House on Zapote St. of Nick Joaquin was a tragic love story same as Romeo and Juliet. But the difference is their death. Romeo and Juliet died because of delusion. Their pretend suicide turned to reality. While Dr. Leonardo Quitangon and Lydia Cabading died in their house on Zapote St. because they were murdered by Pablo Cabading, an overprotective jealous father of Lydia Cabading.

The story was about the miserable life of two couple Dr. Leonardo Quitangon and Lydia in the hands of Pablo Cabading(which is the father of Lydia Cabading). As a married couple, they should live separated with their parents. But Pablo Cabading insisted that the couple should live in the house on Zapote St. with them. At first the couple agreed with Pablo Cabading. As time passed by Pablo Cabading became a hindrance to the couple relationship, because he always wanted to be the center of the household. He is very self-centered and an overprotective to Lydia Cabading. One day, Leonardo Quitangon went home late but the gate was already close. He decided to go home in Cavite where his parents live. His parent got shocked, because it is already late to go there and they knew that he should be home at Zapote St. Then he explained why he got into that situation. His parents did not believe at first, but when his brother testified that he is not joking, they believed him. When he went home in Zapote St., he made up his mind for them to live separately with Lydia’s parents. But Lydia’s parents disagreed with the idea. So the couple escaped and tried to live separately. But they returned to that house because Pablo Cabading requested to see her daughter again. In the end, Lydia and Leonardo were killed by Pablo Cabading. Then Pablo Cabading killed himself.

If you know the song “Too much love will kill you by Queens”, I can relate the story “The House on Zapote St”. Selfishness is a form of love. The selfishness of Pablo Cabading, results into tragic end. Because of his selfishness for his daughter he murdered them and got his wife wounded, and this beautiful house on Zapote St. became a murder site.