SOCIETAL IRONIES IN
CARLOS BULOSAN’S SHORT STORIES
A Research Paper
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirement for the Subject
Investigation in Philippine Fiction
by
ELOISE AIMEE C. AVENTAJADO
October 2016
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE
Rationale
The researcher desires to investigate the societal ironies of Carlos
Bulosan’s select stories, My Father’s Tragedy and The Faith of My Mother.
Findings of this study will fascinate readers to read other humorous stories and
appreciate the overall significance of these kinds of writings. In addition, they
would even understand the Philippine culture more.
Filipinos always laugh. They are easily pleased with the little jokes thrown
at them. Even if they are bombarded with many dilemmas in life, be it a
catastrophe or everyday struggles, they still laugh. Humor is their way of coping.
It is in this manner that the Filipinos are known for their optimism in life shown
through their smiles.
As humor is common in the country, several variety shows can be seen in
televisions. Some of the popular shows are Pepito Manaloto, Bubble Gang of
GMA 7 and Gandang Gabi Vice and Goin’ Bulilit of ABS-CBN. The source of
Filipinos’ laughter does not just end with these television shows because there
are also live performances in comedy bars wherein most of the hosts are gays.
Some are performed during special occasions like fiestas in barangays and in
gay beauty contests. Filipinos are attracted to watch these and would really have
their big laughs.
Humor is also present in tabloids like in Superbalita and Banat News.
These are found in a little section of the newspaper. Some are in forms of a
dialogue and others are in caricatures. The popular characters are Tikyo and
Tikya, and Teban and Goliat. Moreover, in today’s generation, memes and
videos also have humor particularly during the Philippine 2016 presidential
elections.
Humor in Philippine setting exposes the faults and misbehavior of people
mostly in high office and priests. These are done through political jokes. It also
criticizes its major religion, Roman Catholic and culture especially the country’s
conservative style. In this sense, humor becomes the tool for a change or
improvement of one’s behavior. Physical deformities and some distinguishing
features of an individual like being blind, bald, big-eyed or flat nosed are which
some of the jokes are about. These are mean sometimes which belittle a person,
but these are indirectly thrown at them. Sometimes, people who are bullied do
not care as they are accustomed of hearing it.
Humor in literary genres such as in short stories are also present but
these are just few. These are evident in the works of the celebrated writers,
Alejandro Roces and Carlos Bulosan. Taken for example is Alejandro Roces,
Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers. The American soldier got drunk and passed out after
drinking the lambanog while the farmer who said that he is a mild drinker,
remained sober even he did not only drink lambanog but also the soldier’s
whiskey.
Humor in short stories is not literal and these make them even different
from the common short stories which dwell on romance and typical everyday life
problems. Moreover, these stories are of unusual themes and taste. These are
comical yet ironical. These stories are often not read unlike love stories. These
stories reveal the realities of the society in a satirical manner which is reflected
through its plot structure, characterization and symbolism. This should be taken
seriously as writers do not just intend to entertain readers but also let them think
deeper about the issues being raised in their writings.
Moreover, it is essential that in the aim of finding the societal ironies in the
stories, theories of formalism and mimesis are used in this investigation. In
connection with this objective, a comprehensive discourse analysis is also done
on the selected short stories of Carlos Bulosan.
.
Theoretical Background of the Study
This study assumes that the select short stories of Carlos
Bulosan,
reveal societal ironies.
This research argument is supported by the literary critical theories of
formalism and mimesis. Formalism is applied in analyzing the plot structure,
characterization and symbolism.
The first literary critical theory on formalism which is also known as New
Criticism is supported by John Crowe Ransom. This theory focuses on
understanding the literary text through the text itself which is done through a
close reading. In this manner, the text itself is analyzed regardless of the authors’
intention, historical and cultural contexts. Moreover, form and meaning are
connected and are analyzed together (“Formalism and New Criticism”).
New Criticisms’ motto is, “If the poem is good, if the book is well written,
it’ll say everything.” Through a close reading of every word, the critics analyze
the form, the literary devices and techniques used in the text. They are studying
poem as a poem, play as a play and novel as a novel. They made literary
analysis more democratic. They ask questions that make a poem good, if it is the
paradoxes, the ideas between the lines, the sound or the rhyme. With this close
analysis of the writing’s form, literary devices and techniques, the New Critics
could prove if the work worth a praise (“New Criticism”).
Ransom argued on a new direction for literary criticism which is the study
of technique and form and this should be more scientific, or precise and
systematic. Thus, it is a serious business. In poetry, this technique focuses on
the meter, syntax or figures of speech. Moreover, it is about anything that
separates poetic language from plain prose. He simply wanted to know the
differences between poetry and prose. In this manner, one can understand the
power of a poem. He proposed that poems have two main elements: content and
form. This form is also called, poetic texture which is free, unrestricted, and large.
Furthermore, critics are more scientific in a literary way which helps people
understand it (“New Criticism”).
Ransom’s concept is that the critic must study literature, not about
literature. Criticism must not include personal impressions as it must be
concerned about nature of the studied subject and not on the effect of it to the
subject; synopsis and paraphrase as this is an abstraction from the real content
of the text; historical studies which might include literary backgrounds, biography,
literary sources, and analogues; linguistic studies which include identifying
allusions and meanings of words; moral content and any other special studies
(Habib 27-28).
The second theory to support this study is mimesis. This term is derived
from the Greek word, mimesis which means to imitate. The concepts, imitation
and mimesis in Western traditions of aesthetic thought attempted to theorize the
essence of artistic expression, the characteristics that distinguish works of art
from other phenomena, and the myriad of ways in which people experience and
respond to works of art (Puetz).
This theory is supported by Samuel Johnson. For him, imitation is closer
to truth, reality and to the right. It must be of general nature rather than particular
experience wherein the poets’ job is to examine the species and not the
individual. In describing them, it must be on the generalities on which are
prominent and striking features and not on strangeness and personal desires. In
this sense, the poet does not only have a wide knowledge and must be
perceptive, not prejudiced and rational. The poet becomes the interpreter of
nature, legislator of mankind and presides over the thoughts and manners of
future generations. Moreover, particulars means to a given age or place while
universal refers to what is common to all ages and countries. Lastly, for Johnson,
poetry should depend on the importance and not on the details (“Samuel
Johnson”).
Johnson is Aristotelian by nature believed that literature can only be
successful and universally understood if it mirrored life. He also agreed on
Aristotle’s description of a play’s ability to imitate life as literature reflects reality
not fantasy. In his Preface to Shakespeare, he argued that Shakespeare’s
characters and their actions mirror the life of men and the readers could identify
the characters’ humanity. He commended on Shakespeare’s way of creating
characters and their interactions reflecting the universal human experience
(Holliday).
Within the paradigm of the theories mentioned, the critical analysis of the
select stories of Carlos Bulosan will be conducted. Basically, it deals with mimetic
and formalistic analysis in the plot structure, characterization and symbolism
which will reveal societal ironies.
The select short stories of Carlos Bulosan reveal
societal ironies.
Formalism
Mimesis
Plot Structure
Characterization
 My Father’s
Tragedy
 The Faith of My
Mother
Fig. 1 Schematic Diagram of the Study
Symbolism
Problem Statement
This study analyzes the societal ironies in the select works of Carlos
Bulosan, My Father’sTragedy, and The Faith of My Mother.
Specifically, it undertakes the following:
1. plot structure;
2. characterization, and
3. symbolism
Significance of the Study
The study would be significant to literature students who are analyzing
literary pieces in their respective classes. They will get acquainted to a few of
Philippine humorous short stories as they are usually fond of reading romance
fiction and science fiction or adventure.
Literature teachers are also beneficiaries of this study. It is because they
recommend readings to their students and they might suggest these featured
works or other related works which are humorous and integrate it to their classes.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
This study analyzes three select short stories of Carlos Bulosan namely,
My Father’s Tragedy and The Faith of My Mother.
The
analyses
will
be
focused on the workings of the stories’ elements, namely: plot, characterization
and symbolism which would be the basis for the societal ironies in the story.
Definition of Terms
In order to establish a common frame of reference, the terms are used in
the problem and sub-problems are hereunder defined operationally.
Societal Ironies are the ironies found in the short stories being examined
which are reflected in the society.
Chapter 2
REVIEW OF RELATED READINGS
This chapter reviews some readings that relate to and support the main
research problem and its sub-problems.
Related Literature Reviewed
During 1920s in England, the works of Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot bore
features of New Criticism and other professional critics. One critic was I.A.
Richards. He published books, Principles of Literary Criticism and Science and
Poetry. The first book, he attempted to establish a systematic basis for the study
of literature and this included advancement in literary ideas like irony, tension,
balance and differences between poetic and uses of language. In his Practical
Criticism, he emphasized the importance of objective and balance close reading.
The practice of close reading was very important that it was used when the critics
facilitated their academic institutionalization.
In America, critics known as the Fugitives and the Southern Agrarians
headed by John Crowe Ransom and Allen Tate developed the ideas of Eliot and
Richards. The New Criticism was used as a mainstream approach in schools.
There were some books published which included, E.D. Hirsch’s Validity in
Interpretation, Austen Warren’s The Theory of Literature, W.K. Wimsatt’s The
Verbal Icon and Murray Krieger’s The New Apologists for Poetry (Habib 26).
New Criticism begins by assuming that the study of imaginative literature
is valuable; to study poetry or any literary work is to engage oneself in an
aesthetic experience that can lead to truth. In addition, New Criticism’s theory
begins by defining its object of concern like a poem. They assert that a poem
has ontological status that it possesses its own being and exists like any other
object. It becomes an artifact which is an objective, self-contained, autonomous
entity with its own structure. Through the interrelationships of sound, texture,
structure, rhetoric, and a host of other literary devices is where the literary piece
achieves its meaning (Bressler 52).
New Criticism emerged from Formalism. This focuses on analyzing or
criticizing a piece of work regardless of its writer, background and time. Critics
thought that to understand a piece, it must be taken from the text itself and not
based with other things. Common things for literary analysis include the use of
imagery in developing its symbols; quality of the work’s organic unity; the
connections of the different parts of the work; the paradox, irony, ambiguity in the
text; resolution in the contradictions within the work; form in relation to its content;
central or focal passage; and the contribution of rhythms and rhyme schemes to
the meaning of the literary piece (Bressler 52).
Before Plato, theorists wanted to emphasize the representational aspects
of mimesis and its denotation of imitation, representation, portrayal, and/ or the
person who imitates or represents. Mimetic behavior was the representation of
something animate and concrete with characteristics that are similar to the
characteristics to other phenomena. However, Plato believed that mimesis was
manifested in 'particulars' which resemble or imitate the forms from which they
were taken from; thus, the mimetic world (the world of representation and the
phenomenological world) is inherently inferior in that it consists of imitations
which will always be subordinate or subsidiary to their original. In addition to
imitation, representation, and expression, mimetic activity produces appearances
and illusions that affect the perception and behavior of people (Puetz).
Aristotle, on the other hand, believed that mimesis is something that the
nature and humans shared. It is inherent in humans to copy what they perceive
in nature that which makes them the superior beings compared to other animals.
Arts and media are their natural expressions as means of learning about nature
which would enable them to experience the realities of the world. Moreover, they
would distinguish features from their own experience of the world within the work
of art that cause the representation to seem valid and acceptable (Puetz).
Mimetic thinkers can be grouped as ‘idealists’ (Platonic) and ‘mimetic’
(Aristotelian).Platonic idealist mimetic mode locates reality in ‘ideas’ or ‘forms’
and not in the world of appearances. Poetic creation is considered by Plato a
copy of a copy twice removed from reality because it imitates the external objects
of nature. Boethius, Mazzoni, Hobbes and Sir Joshua Reynolds follow Platonic
idealistic mode. Aristotelian mimetic thinkers feel that a poet takes form from
nature and reshapes in ordered principles; he is an imitator and a creator, and
his work – art- is an improvement on nature. Among of them are Plotinus,
Castelvetro, and Tasso.
Boethius states that poetry is dangerous since it feeds on passion and
caters to sensuous and earthly interests. For him theological pursuits are more
important than sensuous artistic pursuits. Mazzoni differentiates objects as to be
beyond imitation and merely for imitation and opines that poets imitate and make
an ‘idol’. The ‘idol can be particular, credible and verisimilar, but not necessarily
true. Hobbes as a rationalist and materialist reversely limits poet’s activity for
realism and states that a poet cannot exceed the possibility of nature in his
invention and therefore, he must rely on experience and knowledge of nature.
Hobbes is concerned with consistency and decorum in all aspects of the work of
art. Sir Joshua Reynolds in ‘Discourses on Art’ argues that art seeks to represent
‘central forms’ of the objects not the singular forms, local customs, particularities
and details, and that it receives perfection from its approximation of ideal beauty.
Artists acquire perfect skills by observing selecting, digesting, methodizing and
comparing observations.
Plotinus emphasized on intellectual beauty, advocated for imitation and
expressiveness. He considered that the artist imposes on his material and is the
creator of vehicles of valuable spiritual insights. He believed that art comes from
God and imitations are close to its original.
Castelvetro argued that poetry should make people happy. He is an
advocate of utilitarianism. Reader response occupies a place in his utilitarian
outlook. Tasso’s work also does have pragmatic importance like Castelvetro. He
assumes that poetry’s purpose is to help see by the examples of human deeds
and to provide pleasure directed towards usefulness. He places epic under
poetic imitation in the broader sense (“Mimetic Theory: Introduction).
Related Studies Reviewed
The following are similar studies that deal with ironies, humor and satire in
short stories.
Holoch's dissertation examined the role of humor in contemporary South
Asian and African post- colonial literature. She argued that humor opens spaces
for historically marginalized individuals to be heard. Moreover, she also argued
that humor question and rebel against colonial authority and helps resist
victimhood, enact psychological rebellion and facilitates a sense of community
through laughter among the writer and the readers. The stories included,
Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, Thiong's Wizard of the Crow, Bapsi
Sidhwa's Cracking India, Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger, Indra Sinha's Animal's
People and Ousmane Sembene's Xala. She paid close attention to the
differences like geographical locations, political situations, cultural codes and
unique incorporations of particular humorous modes. She concluded that humor
has an important role in postcolonial literature that it opens many issues that
other literary pieces do not have (Holoch 1).
Tomasi’s (29) Flannery O’Connor: Revelations of Displaced Souls, she
analyzed the characters of Flannery O’Connor’s stories which bear irony and
black comedies. She examined the character’s misconceptions about life and
investigated the protagonist’s journey from selfishness to self-awareness that
would show their weaknesses and flaws. The characters in Flannery O’Connor’s
short stories, “Good Country People,” “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” “The
Displaced Person,” and “Everything That Rises Must Converge” undergo
possible spiritual and moral revelations of their displaced souls through the
narrative form of black comedy. She further explained that O’ Connor challenges
the readers if the protagonist’s experience is humorous or morally justified which
is portrayed through a black humor. Moreover, the lacking qualities and faults of
the characters in O’ Connor’s stories challenges the readers to question also
their own faults.
The Ambivalence of Race’ Based Humor of Atluri (1) examined the
psychic and performative life of race based comedy. She used Sacha Baron
Cohen’s Da Ali G Show and argued that “race” based
comedy is a site of
ambivalence. It haunts many acts of race based humor, art and performance.
Laughing about race may gesture to instability and anxiety hurting racial
stereotype. Performance might also give way to mock racism that might lead to
ridicule and violence.
In a study conducted by Toron, she examined the literary feminist humor
in Canada using the novels of Margaret Atwood, Suette Mayr and Mirriam Toews
as case studies. She argued that feminist humor is a textual and discursive
strategy designed to redistribute allocations of power. Moreover, she argued that
the said writers understudy used humor not only to create enjoyment for their
readers, but also to deconstruct received assumptions about gender and to
position women as symbolically and socially powerful. They employ feminist
humor to reveal social inequities in a way that provokes laughter, demonstrating
that humor can be both serious and funny.
In an analysis of Carlos Bulosan’s In The Laughter of my Father, Tolentino
said that wit or humor plays most prominent role and this is noticeable. Bulosan
used satire to reflect reality without making it obscure. He showed reality with
some contradictions and these would be analyzed through digging deeper into
the societies. He satirizes culture to an extent that it shows negativity about
people and shows their qualities on how they fight for their daily lives.
With the studies mentioned above, the present is different from the studies
already conducted by Atlori, Toron and Tomasi as the present study focuses on
the ironies in the society portrayed in the text. Moreover, this study has a bearing
to the studies of Holoch and Tolentino in a way that these focus on ironies found
on literary works.
Chapter 3
LITERARY RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter discusses the method and procedure undertaken in order to
solve the problem and sub-problems understudy through literary investigation.
Method of Literary Research Used
The method of research used in this investigation is discourse analysis.
This method uses analysis and interpretation of discourse text of the literary
works investigated. Hence, this study is a qualitative research that generates
verbal data in order to answer the sub-problems to satisfy the main problem and
prove the literary research theoretical argument.
Sources of Data
The main source of data is the internet. The two stories, My Father’s
Tragedy and The Faith of my Mother are accessible in the internet.
Data-gathering Procedure
The generation of verbal data in response to the sub-problems raised
follows three phases: phase 1- societal ironies in plot structure analyzed, phase
2- societal ironies in characterization analyzed, phase 3- societal ironies in the
symbolisms analyzed.
Phase 1- Societal Ironies in Plot Structure Analyzed. The stories’ plot
structure is analyzed. The data are shown in the following matrix.
Title of the Stories
Plot Structure
Societal Ironies
Phase 2- Societal Ironies in Characterization Analyzed. This phase will
look into the characterization of the major characters in the short stories. The
data are shown in the following matrix.
Title of the Stories
Characterization
Societal Ironies
Phase 3- Societal Ironies in the Symbolisms Analyzed. This phase
provides information on the societal ironies in the symbolisms from the short
stories. The data are shown in the following matrix.
Title of the Stories
Symbolisms
Societal Ironies
Generally, this presentation of research methodology guides the readers
toward the process involved in the analysis and investigation of these literary
works.
Chapter 4
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
This chapter presents the data in order to answer the three sub-problems
raised in the study generated through literary discourse analysis.
This literary discourse analysis of verbal data interprets the two short
stories , My Father’s Tragedy and The Faith of My Mother mimetically and
objectively in order to reveal the societal ironies.
Societal Ironies in Plot Structure
Title of Stories
My Father’s
Plot Structure

Tragedy

The family ate “grass” most of the
Societal Ironies

time while Burick, the cock, ate the
to fancy things than
choicest rice.
one’s health
The carabao was thin while the cock

was very healthy.

There was famine in town, but there
The gamblers counted the money in
Useful things are not
given much worth

was gambling for cockfights.

Giving more importance
In a poor situation but
still have vices

being distrustful to other
their pockets without showing it to
people especially in
their neighbors as they felt the
terms of money
edges of the coins with amazing
swiftness and accuracy.
The Faith of My

The mother was anxiously looking

for santo to an extent that she let
Mother
religious but does not
have a patron saint
her son get the santo from his uncle
after her daughter suddenly
recovered from a mysterious
disease.

Mother washed the santo while her

has more value to
husband complained that she did
religious stuffs than
not care him even he smelt like a
one’s body
stinking pig.

Women were bargaining with the

buying religious stuff
santo peddler over the prices of the
when do not have much
wooden figures as they still have to
money for food
buy food especially rice

The act of buying wooden santos

were based on the prices and not on
religion vs. religious
stuff prices
their patron saints.

The santo peddler wanted to know
about the gambling racket.

religious people having
vices or illegal work
Table 1 reveals the societal ironies in the plot structure. Basically, My
Father’s Tragedy was about a family who suffered from famine. They
experienced hunger and so with their neighbors. However, the father had a
gamecock called Burick who was healthy compared to them and to the carabao.
Even if there was famine, there was still gambling and these gamblers were
distrustful to other people that they did not want others see how much money
they had.
The societal ironies presented in the table show that about Filipino
realities. First is giving importance to fancy things than one’s health. This is
revealed from the story when the gamecock ate good food while the family did
not. In reality, some Filipinos buy things that are not very important such as
fashionable clothes, jewelries, accessories, perfumes and other stuffs just to be
good looking in front of everyone.
Second, useful things are not given much worth. This is presented in the
story when the carabao became thin. The carabao is an animal used for plowing
in the field. It is very helpful for farmers. In reality, some people neglect those
people whom at first were their source of something and would go to someone
whom they can use for a short time.
Third, people are in a poor situation but still have vices. This is shown
when the town was in famine but gambling was still present. In reality, poor
people still would like to have luck in gambling. They bet their money thinking
that their money doubled or even multiplied many times. Some people buy lottery
even if they do not have enough money for food.
Betting in lottery is one of the popular and favorite past time of Filipinos.
There are thousands of lotto outlets in the Philippines which are found
everywhere Filipinos believe that lotto can change their lives instantly. They fall in
line throughout the day. Even if they do not buy tickets, they still dream that they
would win someday (Guia).
Fourth is being distrustful to other people in terms of money. This is shown
when gamblers were counting their money inside their pockets. People do not
want to know other people how much they earn, how much they have even they
if they are very close friends or a family. Salary is even confidential and they do
not want other people to know about it.
The second story, The Faith of My Mother is focused about a mother who
was a bit religious. When her daughter was miraculously healed one day from a
mysterious disease, she was too excited to pray that she was looked for a
wooden santo. Finding out that there was none in her house, she commanded
her son to borrow from his uncle’s house even though he was not in his home.
Later on, she put the santo in the niche and lighted the candle to pray. Her
husband came and complained that she cleaned the santo while he himself was
not taken care of by his wife. Soon, it was near December and peddlers came to
their town. There was one santo peddler. He made some wooden santos and
sold to them. Women were the ones who bought. They were haggling to him.
The son, the narrator, told him that he had a holy voice and he must be into
politics or preaching. Later on, the peddler was interested to know about
gambling.
The societal ironies present in the second story are: religious but does not
have a patron saint, has more value to religious stuffs than one’s body, buying
religious stuff when do not have much money for food, religion versus religious
stuff prices and religious people having vices or illegal work.
First, it is shown that the mother was religious but has no patron saint.
She just looked for any santo. It is also same in the Philippine society that most
of the Roman Catholics have different saints. They are religious but are not loyal
to only one saint. Some have many santos in their houses. Second, some also
put more care about their religion neglecting their physical looks. Third, some
people buy santo or other religious stuffs even though they do not have much
money thinking that the santo will give them blessings when they would pray for
them. Fourth, Filipinos like to haggle to make the price decrease. Even though it
is a statue, something for their religion, which has a fixed price, they still haggle.
It is a bit ironic that the religion is being bargained. Lastly, there are people whom
are considered religious or into religious affairs or are already blessed with
money but are still looking for another source of income. In the case of religious
people, there are also like them who are into religious stuff but still have bad
secret deeds like priests having affairs and even having kids to these women.
The societal ironies in the plot structure reveal the negative characteristics
of Filipinos. These include: giving more importance to fancy things, having vices
even if poor, putting high regards to faith and not being contented.
Societal Ironies in Characterization
Title of Stories
My Father’s
Tragedy
Characterization


Father – lazy, do not have work,
Societal Ironies

gender roles
and looks after his gamecock
(mothers/wives being the
Mother- hardworking and finds
breadwinners)
something to work on to have
money for their daily needs
The Faith of My

Mother- religious, thrifty but

faith vs. tight money

religious work vs.
haggles the santo’s price saying,
Mother
she only has a little faith

Peddler- santo maker, good in
persuading people, but easily
desire/illegal activities
persuaded, eager to know about
and wanting for more
gambling and having more money
money

price of things decreased
because of too much
haggling
Table 2 shows the societal ironies in characterization. In the first story, My
Father’s Tragedy, there were three major characters, the mother, the father and
the son/narrator. However, only the mother and the father had features of irony.
The father did not have a work while the mother was the one working. The father
just sat on the bench, slept and took care of the gamecock. He even took the
boiled egg from her sick daughter’s plate to give it to his cock. The mother on the
other hand was the one who went to her neighbors to pound rice and haul
drinking water. This scenario happens in reality. Men are supposed to be the
breadwinners in the family. They are the ones who look for jobs to feed their
families not the other way around. There is societal irony regarding on gender
roles. These days, there are men who are left in the house while their wives are
working. They look after their house and their kids. However, there are few who
are not responsible as they spend their wives’ money for gambling, alcohol and
for other vices. This is common to those whose wives are working abroad.
In the second story, The Faith of My Mother, the major characters were:
the mother, the father, the peddler and the son/narrator. However, only the
mother and the peddler show irony in the story. The mother is considered as
religious. She prayed when her daughter recovered from the disease, and she
bought a santo from the peddler. The irony is when she haggled to the peddler
for the santo as she has to buy food from the remaining amount. She bought the
santo for a lower price. In connection to the society, this mother represents those
people who would still buy something for their religion like santo even if they do
not have enough money for food. They save something to buy santo or wooden
statues thinking that when they pray, these santo would give them blessings.
Second is the peddler. The peddler was the santo maker and he sold
those to the people. The funny thing is he made a santo representing his
neighbor who was lazy and sold for a very cheap price. He is good in persuading
people, but is easily persuaded by a boy saying that he has a good voice and
must be into politics. When he was persuaded by the father that the saint Mary
statue would like be to be sold to a lesser price, he just agreed to it. Lastly, he
was interested to know more about gambling. These characteristics of the
peddler are present in the society. There are people who are good in persuading
but are easily persuaded when they get something from it. These are usually
common to some people in the business especially in buy and sell trading. When
a customer haggles, and if they think they get a little profit from it or even if not,
they would go for it just to make that thing sold. The expected price becomes
lessens and that is why some people lose in business. There are also some
people who are into religious affairs but still have the desire to have illegal
activities or worldly pleasures. The religion says that they must not be into
worldly pleasures however, they are not following it. They do things that would
satisfy their wants and the saying goes, “We are just humans, we commit
mistakes.”
The societal ironies in the characterization reveal the gender roles of the
modern society, giving regards to one’s faith, discontentedness in one’s work and
the negative sides of haggling.
Societal Ironies in Symbolisms
Title of Stories
My Father’s Tragedy
Symbolisms

the cock vs. the
Societal Ironies

carabao
fancy things given more
importance

lesser communication due to
technology
The Faith of My Mother

the santo

haggled faith

the gamecock

poor but still gambles
Table 3 shows the societal ironies in symbols from the stories. From the
first story, My Father’s Tragedy, the symbol is the cock. In the second story, The
Faith of My Mother, the symbols are the santo and the gamecock.
The cock in the first story which was taken cared well by the father and the
narrator, represents the fancy things in real life which are given more importance.
The cock did not give them income yet from gambling. In the society, people give
more attention to some fancy things like fashion, gadgets and the like compared
to their families and friends. Today’s generation are into technology. The gadgets
like cellphones were created to communicate. However, these create a problem
wherein people lose communication as they become busy with social networking,
online games, chatting and the like. Their face to face communication gets less
and less. For example, a family or a group of friends are eating together;
however, they do not talk too much to each other as they are holding their
phones, posting pictures or status updates or commenting in their social media
accounts.
People have access to social media anytime and anywhere via their
smartphones. It made people interact online rather than in person which has
caused people to become anti-social. There is decreasing amount of
relationships and face to face communication. Families tend to text rather than
have conversations (“Final Inquiry Project”).
From the second story, the santos signify the faith of the people. The
santos were being haggled by the women in the story. It becomes ironic when
they haggled. It is like they are haggling their faith. The mother said that her faith
was little, so she would just buy the cheaper santo. In reality, this also happens.
Santo sellers would often encounter buyers who usually bargain and sometimes
they agree and some do not.
Another is, the gamecock. The gamecock represents the vices of the
people even though they are out of money. Poor people in provinces usually
have gamecocks. They care them because when there is a fiesta in their town or
in a nearby town; they would participate and gamble their money. They are poor
but still they would like to gamble. Some people hope that their luck is from
gambling because money is easy to get when they win, but the sad thing is,
when they lose, they have more debts.
Sabong attracts people and find it irrestible. It may in the form of the thrill
that they experienced once the fight has started or in betting as they could huge
amount if the cock won (“Philippine Cockfighting”).
The societal ironies in the symbolisms reveal the giving of importance to
fancy things which can lead to lesser communication, haggled faith and gambling
even if poor.
Chapter 5
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
This chapter presents the summary of findings in answer to the subproblems raised and arrives at a conclusion based on these findings.
Considering the findings and conclusion, basic recommendation to beneficiaries
of the study are offered.
Summary of Findings
Societal Ironies in Plot Structure. The societal ironies in the plot
structure reveal the negative characteristics of Filipinos. These include: giving
more importance to fancy things, having vices even if poor, putting high regards
to faith and not being contented.
Societal Ironies in Characterization. The societal ironies in the
characterization reveal the gender roles of the modern society, giving regards to
one’s faith, discontentedness in one’s work and the negative sides of haggling.
Societal Ironies in Symbolisms. The societal ironies in the symbolisms
reveal the giving of importance to fancy things which can lead to lesser
communication, haggled faith and gambling even if poor.
Conclusion
Based on the findings the conclusion is arrived at, confirming the thesis
theory assumed: societal ironies are found evidently in plot structure,
characterization, and symbolisms.
Recommendations
The following recommendations are hereby offered based on the findings
and the conclusion.
1. that the other works of Carlos Bulosan be analyzed in order to see if all
of his short stories have societal ironies
2. that the author’s biography be analyzed in order to relate why his works
deal on ironies
Further Recommendations
The following are suggested for future research:
1. Comparative Analysis on the Societal Ironies of Short Stories of Carlos
Bulosan and Alejandro Roces
2. Intertextualities in the Satirical Works of Carlos Bulosan and Flannery
O’ Connor
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