Reflections of Socio-Political Bureaucratic Malpractices in Five Filipino Novels in English

Abstract

The study analyzed the reflections of socio-political bureaucratic malpractices in five Filipino novels in English. It utilized the descriptive-qualitative research designs and content analysis. It used the following approaches to criticism namely: the New Historicism approach; Marxism, the speech act theory and illocutionary act, and psychological approach. The results of the study revealed that characters in the novels understudied committed varied forms of bureaucratic malpractices. In the novel, A Passing Season by Azuena Grajo Uranza (American Period) the bureaucratic malpractices were extortion, padrino system, and political turncoatism; To Be Free by Edilberto K. Tiempo (Post-American Period) political dynasty, vote buying, and defamation; The Survivors by Antonio Enriquez (Japanese Period) political collaboration, and dereliction of duty; At War’s End by Rony V. Diaz (Post-Colonial Period) political assassination, excessive political autonomy, and tax fraud; and Empire of Memory by Eric Gamalinda (Martial Law Period) historical revisionism, graft and corruption, cronyism, and fascism. In the social roles of the characters, there were shifts from a position to another career and obligation. Whereas, characters’ illocutionary acts were assertive before a bureaucratic malpractice and directive after accomplishing or committing a bureaucratic malpractice. The characters’ personality, ethics and morality were also affected. Cultural, feminism, psychoanalysis, and mythological or archetypal were the other literary approaches to criticism that can be
used to increase understanding of the various perspectives of the novels analyzed.