Chapter Critique in World Literature

Critique Paper on World Literature                                            Date: December 27, 2014

Sumbitted by: Jermaine L. Dela Cruz                          Submitted to: Prof. Regie Amamio

The Usurper and the Redeemer: a Critique on Exodus

“One leader will be saved, and his savior will one day lead.”

-Egyptian Nun, Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

There was no biblical reference to prove this prophesy, nor an Egyptian “Nun” mentioned in the Bible. However, this line is very relevant to describe the Moses as the main intermediary between God and the Hebrew people while the pharaoh (Ramses) as the ultimate power of Egypt and the persecutor of the Hebrew.

The Bible is also considered as a literary piece describing Christian faith, so is a movie. Thus, in discussing about sensitive issues in the Bible, one must disregard the fact that it is a sacred scripture, rather, look at it as a piece of literature disregarding a Christian’s own view of his or her religion.

"And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance…" Genesis 15: 13-14

For 400 years, Hebrew people have been oppressed by the Egyptians. People of God, the chosen ones living in the sacred land of Israel were tuned into slaves, treated inhumanly, even lesser than animals. Despite that, the Hebrew people has not forgotten their God, nor God has not forgotten them. Thus he has chosen Moses or מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh) to deliver His people outside Egypt. From the beginning of his life, Moses has been fated to save the Israelites from the hands of Egypt. Thus God, in the movie, has shown His power to Moses through the accident he has experienced which led to the vision of the burning bush and God dressed as a little boy.  Joshua has often seen, behind the rocks, Moses talking to someone Joshua could not see. Although the movie focused more into combat, transforming Moses into a warrior  who served to be a General, it was still evident that he has indeed served to be the main intermediary between God and the Hebrew people. After starting the fire of rebellion against Rameses, God has done the rest of the job to convince and later force Ramses to free his people by sending plagues, and the last one, bringing death to all first-born children of Egyptians.

Despite the fire ignited by Moses, the pharaoh remained still and hard as rock. He refused to give up the  Israelites no matter how impoverished the empire would turn out because of the plague. The more Moses did something to save the people, the more he brought them pain. One family would be hanged everyday, unless Moses would show himself up to the pharaoh. Why did Ramses refused to free the Israelites anyway? Was he just stubborn? No. It is because of culture. Every Egyptian is Egypt and Egypt is every Egyptian. Thus, giving up as a pharaoh means giving up the whole empire.

Chapter Critique in Afro-Asian Literature

Critique Paper on Afro-Asian Literature
Date: December 27, 2014
Submitted by: Jermaine L. Dela Cruz  
Submitted to: Prof. Regie Amamio 

The Voice Within: The Importance of Recognizing One’s Individuality

“Got to find yourself alone in this world
You’ve got to find yourself alone in this world.”
-“Oceans”, written by Chris Martin (Coldplay)

             How important is one’s recognition of his or her individuality?

           Individuality is a word seldom heard but more often sought. Many people experience a struggle to find their individuality without them realizing it is all in their perspective to recognize and exercise what they already have since the beginning of their life.

          The song “Oceans” by Chris Martin has different interpretations but one interpretation relevant to the importance of individuality being talked about in “A Day Off” written by Anthony M. Hokororo is self-determination, or the power or ability to make a decision for oneself without influence from outside. If there is song which has the similar message with Martin’s lyrics is Christina Aguillera’s “The Voice Within” particularly the lyrics,

“When there’s no one else,

Look inside yourself…

Then you’ll find your strength

That will guide yourself

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within.”

       Coldplay’s song and the latter expresses similar idea about individuality: It is a matter of self-determination.

           What is individuality in the first place?

       Individuality, based on the description above, refers to thee total character peculiar to and distinguishing an individual from others. No one is born the same. Each has been “engineered” by the Creator with a unique set of DNA which makes every living creature special. In other words, individuality makes us alive, human. People who used to recognize their individuality but were caught in a situation which led them to lose it are often those who were treated poorly that they have lost trust upon themselves. They have seen themselves as inferior to others. They have grown to become dependent, submissive upon the strong, the superior.

                 

     People such as Africans of long time ago and even housewives, as Hokororo’s “A Day Off” exhibits, were caught up in a situation where turning back or running away was too difficult. African people were caught and used as slaves and even sold out as commodity by Western people have lost their own identity as human being. They have lost their right for self-determination. Someone was transformed into Something as a slave was sold and bought, transferred from one owner to another, treated worse than animals. Without those who recognized their individuality and fought for their rights, slavery wouldn't have ended.

    A housewife, once tied into a bondage with her husband, is opt to submit herself unto him, showing man’s superiority over her. In a patriarchal society, a woman such as Zale has been facing her obligations to her husband from morning to night which is bound to last for years. Of course she loves her husband, but marriage does not stand with love alone. Each of the couple must be emotionally stable and maintain that stability for many years. For three years of their marriage, Zale’s interest has been purely domestic and Abdu has been accepting unthinkingly what was done for him thus she has decided, with the magazine’s help, to take a day off to do what she wanted to do and see what she wanted to see although at first she was not sure what she wanted to do or see.

“Behind the walls…

I’m trying to change…

I’m ready for a change

Meet under the blue sky

Meet me again.”

-“Oceans”, written by Chris Martin (Coldplay)

     

     “She [Zale] smiled to herself, feeling suddenly older and wiser than he [Abdu], for she had done what she had always wanted to do and what she had not had the courage to do before, and now, he had confirmed a fundamental truth about husbands.”             

    Upon Zale’s return, it seems that her absence made Abdu’s heart grow fonder which was a good sign that their relationship would grow become better. This proves that for a relationship to become better, it is a “two-become-one-becomes-two” for recognizing one’s individuality to grow and share that growth to other people around him or her. To become happy with someone is to learn to become happy alone. That way, the company will be matter of choice and not necessity.

   Individuality is a matter of self-determination. To recognize that individuality all that one needs to do is to listen and trust the voice within.