Benedictine Institute of Learning
Abad Homes Subd., Medicion I – B, Imus City, Cavite
MacArthur by Bob Ong: A Literary Analysis
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the subject
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
Submitted by:
Alapa, Nesreen C.
Grade 11 B – Esther STEM
Submitted to:
Kim Joshua G. Daño
Instructor
September 5, 2016
I. Analysis
The book I've read is just so wonderful. This entitled book "MacAthur" is related to the book because of
General Douglas MacArthur's famous line, "I came through and I shall return". He said this when there was a II
World War between the Japanese and American. Also on the last part of the book, the character Noel, was first
got separated from his family. But then, when he realize that his family is so important to him, he came back
and his family welcomed him by his father along with the rest of the family. Like the famous line of MacArthur,
"I shall return", he also came back. The character are believable because it is really happening in real life
especially to those family who are poor and living in the squatters area. They are doing some crimes that is
breaking the law. They are doing these because they don't have money to buys some food. Like Noel, he is
snatching the thing of his sister, Lyla, so that he can sell them. When he received some money, he will buy
some drugs that is illegal to do. The protagonist makes him sympathetic because why would this kind of life
happen to them wherein there are other persons who has also has this kind of life but they are not doing
something illegal. Instead they are hardworking so that they can live. There are certain characters act the way
they act because of the environment that they have. Some people are violent and doing some crimes. It's like
they don't care of what they are doing as long as they enjoying it and loving it. The important to them is they
do what they wanted to do. They don't have peace in their mind. The plots and subplots are believable and
interesting because there are some scenes that are very much exciting to read to the point of you don't want to
put down your book because you want to know what would happened next. The author wants us to find out
why the title of the book is "MacArthur". Leaving us into questions. The book was structured based by the
multiple point of view. The author choose to write the book in this way because he want's us not to focus only
on the protagonist but also from the characters around him/her. If we only look at one person on his/her point
of view, there is a limited idea and it will only just go around that one topic. The arrangement of the book is so
important because it help us to concentrate to read. Also, so that we can’t get confused on what is the story
about. The symbolism I find in this novel is drugs. This symbolism represent us the wrongs of the character. The
drugs uses this to get high. Because they are using this everyday, they get addicted to it and because of this
they do some crimes, and disobeying their family. The themes recur to this book is about love and violence.
Love because like in the family of Noel. His mother love him so much to the point of she is blinded by the
actions of her son even though it is not good to see. It is also like the grandfather of Cyrus, Mang Justo. Mang
Justo know what is Cyrus doing even he is lying to his grandfather. Violence – because of the characters that
they are doing some crimes. The setting of the book is important to the theme because it helps us to
understood more of the topic of the book. Without this, we can't imagine what is topic all about.
II.Thinking Outside the Book
The author's worldview is reality of life. This book fit into a literary genre. Because of this, we can be
aware of what are the social issues in life of the person to his environment. This book does not only exemplify a
regional novel. It is commonly problem in the whole world. This book address broader social issues because he
explains what is the people doing in their social life,. The author take a stance on anarchy versus capitalism. The
particular culture is the reality of life around us. I think maybe the characters might stop doing illegal things or
not. Some of the main character, their future might continue their dreams in life, and because of that might
change their life. If we live like in the story, it is also hard, but I would not do illegal drugs just to have some
money. This book talks about reality of life. For me it will it will be a good movie and we share it to others.
III.Bibliography
Ong, Bob. Mac Arthur. Pasay City: Visual Print Enterprises, 2007.
Benedictine Institute of Learning
Abad Homes Subd., Medicion I – B, Imus City, Cavite
Peksman (Mamatay Ka Man), Nagsisinungaling Ako by Eros Atalia: A Literary Analysis
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the subject
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
Submitted by:
Alapa, Nesreen C.
Grade 11 B – Esther STEM
Submitted to:
Kim Joshua G. Daño
Instructor
September 5, 2016
I. Analysis
The title of the book is ironic to what is really the truth. Everything the author says in the story is true,
he is not lying. The characters are believable of what he says. Because it is truly happening in real life. The
protagonist makes him sympathetic because he has a low salary in his job that is not enough, but still his
parents are happy from him because he has a job that he can be proud of. The character in the story act the
way they act because it in reality of life. He must act in that way so that he can relate it to others. The character
has an ax to grind because he wants to change or give back in a good way all of the sacrifices of his parents
just to study him. The plots and subplots are believable and interesting because of reality in life. Actually I
didn't finish reading this story so I don't know what is the ending. But as far as I am sure, he wants to tell us
that we must be aware of our surroundings. The book was structured in just a first person point of view, he is
telling a different kinds of social life issues in our society. The author choose to write the book in this way so
that we can relate on what he wants us to tell. The arrangement of the book is important because it helps us to
be updated specially to those who can't relate in our society. The symbolism I find in this novel is the resume or
bio-data. This resume represent that this paper is a thing the main character give to when he wants to get
hired on the job. He reacted to this because he want a job so he can help his family to pay their needs. The
theme recur throughout the book is about reality of life, social problems and environmental problems. The
setting is important to the theme because they are connected to each other. Without these, we can't
understand the story.
II.Thinking Outside the Book
The author's worldview is about reality of life. This book fit into a literary genre. Because he wants us to
be aware of what is going around to our society. This book exemplify in a southern region only.nYes, the book
address broader social issue. The author takes a stance on anarchy versus capitalism. The particular culture
portrayed is reality of life, they are doing this everyday. The story might end wherein the main character might
have a better job and get a higher salary. The future might be after getting a higher salary, his family, might be
rich, they will have their own house and lot and won't feel any sacrifices again. Our lives might be like also the
main character wherein we are also hardworking and would never give up facing the problems. For me I found
this book interesting and fictional. I would recommend this as a movie. It would be a great movie to watch.
III.Bibliography
Atalia, Eros S. PEKSMAN (mamatay ka man) Nagsisinungaling Ako (at iba pang kuwentong kasinungalingan
na di pa dapat paniwalaan). Pasay City: Visual Print Enterprises, 2007
