Literary Criticism

“A Complex Reality”

(A Traditional Literary Critic Paper on the Short Story

“Who was to Blame? By Anton Chekhov”)

Man by nature is an affectionate being. He is always inclined by the experiences and events that happened to him or that is happening to him. Many times, man could not let go of these happenings and eventually lead up to be the principal source of his neither strengths nor weaknesses. In the story, the author, Anton Chekhov, related the attitude of his Uncle’s cat to his own frightful characteristic. In such case, the experience of the author on his fears in learning Latin made him a person of retreat. Just like his uncle’s cat, the author was also limited to do things because of the experience that happened to him during his early age. This trend of event in a story describes the traditional literary way of criticism.

In the world of literary criticism, the traditional way “takes the humanist view, and looks for both technical skills and significant content, for a re-representation of themes that belong to the great commonplaces of human existence” (www. School of Criticisms\art-as-not-autonomous.html.htm. com.). The traditional way of criticism is concern in the background of the author in his culture. Thus, Anton Chekhov’s story explains the reason for his being fearful in taking or doing things. Evidently, his story can be criticized using the traditional way.

Man is a Complex Reality…

Man is a rational being capable of making decisions for his life. Despite of his being limited and being frail, man has many possibilities and chances in improving his life. “Man is a complex reality” (Feztin, n.d). On the part of the author, I believe that he cannot be determined by his past experience. His early age was covered up by fear and hesitations because of his unwanted experience in learning the Latin language. It created an impact that he carried on until his adult age. However, in a humanistic point of view, I believe that the author as a man is not limited on his limited conception about himself. I believe that he is just too emotional and being pre-occupied by his unjust view of taking or doing things. I believe that there is something more about him in which he can overcome his fearful attitude. I believe that he can change his character of being fearful and limited in doing things. Anton Chekhov is a complex reality that is subject to many possibilities. He has a wide horizon that serves as an avenue for his improvement. In contrast with the cat in the story, the author is definitely not an animal who only uses its instincts. “Animal activities include perceptive activities, sensation, movement, etc.” (Feztin, n.d). Man is ordained with reason that makes him the highest creature ever created. He can process things using his intellect and justify things with his reason. Therefore, as a rational being, man has the capacity to change his life.

In the end, I believe that Anton Chekhov’s story serves as an eye-opener to those people who are afraid to do things because of their background and culture. As we experience things in our daily existence, it is always a challenge for all of us to be flexible and dynamic. Just like the message of the story, we are also being called to be complex. We must not be limited because of the experiences that happened to us. We are great possible beings gifted with our reason.  

Her Message for Me...

I love you...

Toy Car

“A TOY CAR”

(A Collaborative Writing Activity about a “Toy Car”)

The Most Expensive Toy Car

Danilo C. Siquig Jr.

Man by nature is a passionate being. He tends to be passionate with things that give him pleasure or which somehow satisfies him. He will give anything and will spend large amount of money for his passion. Thus, one of the world’s favorite collection item is a “toy car”. In this essay, we shall know the most expensive toy car that was built for the satisfaction of man’s passion.

Characteristics;

Ingolstadt, 2007-08-03

Auto Union Type C pedal car

Paying homage to the bygone era of motor racing

---Audi brings out the Type C again as a pedal car

---Limited-edition collector's item with only 999 cars built

---Spearheads quattro GmbH's line of lifestyle articles

Information gathered by the author from;

(http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/03/pedal-to-the-metal-audi-offering-auto-union-type-c-pedal-car/)

A body made from aluminium, handcrafted leather trim and an extraordinary design – the vehicle sends Hubert Waltl, Head of Audi Toolmaking, into a rapture the instant he lays eyes on it: "This car is something really special." And, indeed, the car in front of him is no ordinary car – it's the Auto Union Type C pedal car which AUDI AG has brought onto the market as an absolute first. No other car manufacturer offers a pedal car built so elaborately and to such a high standard.

How did Audi stumble upon this idea? "We needed a highlight for our collection which conveys the brand message and, at the same time, is spectacular enough to find buyers," says Katharina Wicker, Head of Audi design – Lifestyle Articles. And this was how the idea came about to design a pedal car that mirrors the company's heritage at first sight. The Type C Grand Prix racing car provided the ideal blueprint for doing this. The Auto Union Silver Arrow dominated the world of motor racing in 1936, racking up a total of ten Grand Prix victories. Furthermore, the Type C is one of the best-selling heritage models in the range of Audi miniatures. The pedal car will therefore be an exhibition piece for "grown-up" fans too.

The car's execution called for a great deal of technical know-how and creativity. For a start, how large should the pedal car be made? How close should it keep to the original in order to nevertheless demonstrate the quality and workmanship of a true Audi? Which materials are best suited to underlining the Audi brand values of sophistication, progressiveness and sportiness? "The greatest challenge of all was transposing a historical model to a pedal car for children whilst remaining as faithful as possible to the original," reveals Achim Badstübner, director of the Munich design studio that created the first draft designs. Those responsible for the project eventually decided to build the pedal car on a scale of 1:2 to make it large enough to accommodate budding racing drivers up to 1.35 metres tall.

The technical drawings originated in Audi's own tool shop. And in true keeping with the premise "designed by Audi, produced by Audi", special tools and jigs were purpose-designed for the pedal car's manufacture in the Audi tool shop too. The pedal car is made up of over 900 individual parts. It features a hydraulic dual-disc brake and its speed is controlled via the seven-speed hub gear with back-pedalling brake function. Further technical highlights include the aluminium space frame and the body made from aluminium panelling which, just like on the full-size Audi models, symbolise the brand's expertise in the field of lightweight design. The seats, framing and steering wheel have been upholstered in leather by a bag-maker, as in the Audi TT, while the elegant spoke wheels have been custom-made. And because this pedal car seeks to replicate many different aspects of the racing car on which it is modelled, the steering wheel can be removed to make getting in and out easier, just as on the original.The prototype of the pedal car was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in autumn 2006. Visitors to the show were instantly enthralled. "Lots of people even wanted to buy the exhibition model there and then!" recalls Katharina Wicker. This pedal car, which is limited to a run of 999 models and is far more than just an exclusive collector's item, was an absolute joy to work on for all involved in the project. "It took me straight back to my childhood days. And I wasn't the only one to be seized by that play instinct again," says a delighted Hubert Waltl, Head of Audi Toolmaking. And Achim Badstübner is equally thrilled about the project's success: "Everyone put their heart and soul into this pedal car. And that is something we are all very proud of."

The pedal car can be ordered from the Audi importer for the specific country, who will also be able to provide details regarding the respective price.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis; A Position Paper

By; Danilo C. Siquig Jr., AB English III

First Semester, S.Y. 2010-2011

            “Language is so powerful that it may serve as a weapon for construction and destruction of one’s self (Aquino, 1997).”  In any field of study and in any facets of human’s life, language is inevitably a basic element that is always present. Man as he is identified in all walks of life, is bounded by his ability to communicate and use different languages as one of the means in his conversing processes. Most likely, I believe that language was given to man as one of his tool in exercising his rationality---to put in words whatever ideas or thoughts that is present in his mind. For this matter, we may say that, “language plays an important role in the life of man, whether it is in the aspect of his day to day living or in the manner of his transformation, language is always there.” Perhaps, these are also some of the ideas of Edward Sapir and his student, Benjamin Lee Whorf when they formulated the “Principle of Linguistic Relativity” or the what we called “Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis.” Perhaps, they were somehow very fascinated in the power of language in transforming or influencing the existence of man not only in his own self but most especially his existence within the society.

            The linguistic relativity principle or also known as the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis is the idea that the “varying cultural concepts and categories inherent in different languages affect the cognitive classification of the experienced world in such a way that speakers of different languages think and behave differently because of it (www.wikepedia.com).” In others words linguistic relativity is all about the idea that, language merely influences our thoughts about the real world. It affects the way we think and on how we see and give our ideas about the world in which we are situated. The idea originated in the German national romantic thought of the early 19^th Century where language was seen as the expression of the spirit of a nation. In explaining such theory, I say that, human beings do not live in the objective world alone, nor alone in the world of social activity as ordinarily understood, but are very much at the mercy of the particular language which has become the medium of expression for their society. It is quite an illusion to imagine that one adjusts to reality essentially without the use of language and that language is merely an incidental means of solving specific problems of communication or reflection. The fact of the matter is that the real world is to a large extent unconsciously built upon the language habits of the group. “We see and hear and otherwise experience very largely as we do because the language habits of our community predispose certain choices of interpretation (Sapir, 1958).”

            Personally, I agree to this particular concept of Sapir and Whorf. I believe that language affects our act of classifying things in the real world or on how we give our thoughts and ideas about the environment. I believe so because first and foremost, despite of man’s diverse interpretation of things man can always come into what we call agreement and that agreement will only come into reality if man will set a parameter, such as language, that is to be used in classifying things in the experienced world. “We cut nature up, organize it into concepts, and ascribe significances as we do, largely because we are parties to an agreement to organize it in this way—an agreement that holds throughout our speech community and is codified in the patterns of our language (Whorf, 1940).” In explaining my first reason in believing such concept, I will say that, Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis pertains to the relationship of culture, thought and language. For example, during the middle ages, priests and clerics invented the word “heretics” as pertain to those people who disregard their beliefs in the church. Thus, as the coined word exists in the passing of time, people, especially those who are religious ones, will classify or identify devotees from heretics and later on branded the second one as a deviant of the church. In this manner, we already have classification by the use of our languages. Another common example is the various or different dialects (under the parameter of language) that exists in different topography. For example the Ilokanos who have different terms in naming things such as “awan” for “nothing,” “papanam” for “where are you going?” and many more. In this manner, the Ilokanos have their own way of classifying things according to their distinct language or dialect and it also help them to describe their environment or the world they are living in such a way that they use their native language in expressing their ideas and thoughts.     Secondly, I believe that Sapir and Whorf Hypothesis speaks about the “expression of the spirit of a nation” wherein as human beings we can identify our identity or the kind of nation or person that we are. As an example, Filipinos are always known through the concept of democracy. We always voice out our rights and freedom as citizens of our country that is why we had two EDSA revolutions because people express their sympathy with each other through the use of language. If freedom and rights are concerned, Filipinos are always in the manner of being nationalistic and that serves as our identity as Filipinos. Lastly, I believe in such concept of linguistic relativity because it is always a two-way process in which “the kind of language we use is also influenced by the way we see the world.” It means that as we experienced the world we are also forming our own interpretations out of it and interpretations always come with language. There can be no clear and precise interpretations without the use of language.

            In the end, we can always trace back the importance of language in our life as existing human beings. We can always recognize its relevance in our way of viewing the world, especially by the concept of Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. Indeed, language is given as a gift for man to comply with his existence in the natural world.

  

Narrative Essay

…Just because I am only a Human…

(A Narrative Essay about my Life)

          Personally, to narrate your own life is one of the most interesting yet very challenging tasks to do. It is interesting because you are the superstar of your own craft. However, it is also challenging in such a way that you will reveal the accounts of your life as other people will read it and eventually make impressions on you. So, in making this essay or paragraph, my question is, where should I start?

          Yesterday, I was reading a book and I happened to read this quote from Elizabeth Kubler-Ross;

“It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it is the only one we had.”

It is a very meaningful quotation that really touched my heart. As I go back to the events that happened into my life, I realized that I became weak. I was engrave to my human nature of being fragile, of being too proud, of being too idealistic and others. I wasted my time of setting my priorities in life. I failed to live my life to the fullest. I was preoccupied by the pride that I had before. However, as I look back to my failures and shortcomings, I see myself as an imperfect being and that is just because I am only a human.

          Going back to my high school days, I remember myself dreaming to become a pilot of the Philippine Airforce. I want to serve my country as one of the persons who will guard its territories and jurisdictions behind the clouds and together with the birds in the sky. But, it was really a dream that never came into reality because when I was engage into some kind of church ministry, such as being an altar server in our church, I was touch by God’s hand. I was inspired by the example of our priests who wear their cossacks and stoles and perform extraordinary works that evidently save the souls of the people. I was attracted to what we called “priestly vocation.” I fell in love in praying and living a life that is worth meaningful and would make such difference. Thus, after graduating from high school and after constant praying and seeking advices and at a very tender age, I entered a diocesan seminary in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. I lived my life far away from my families and friends and from the world where I used to live with. Inside the seminary, I was really trained to become independent, to study hard until my brain will not burst, to pray seriously, to practice a celibate life, and to live with other people from different culture with different personalities. It was a very different world. At first, I had a difficult time adjusting but as time went by, I found myself enjoying a life away from the world. As a seminarian, I also experienced the pleasure of having such title. As if I was really a priest that when people see me they approach me and give their sign of respect. I will never forget those times when I perform the sacramentals or the rituals of devotion such as giving communion during mass, doing the blessing for the dead, the sacrament of baptism, giving recollections and other extraordinary acts. Also, I will never forget those times whenever I give my sermon in-front of many people in all walks of life. I still remember those times when lawyers, teachers, principals, and other professionals listen to me as I deliver the Words of God into their hearts and mind. However, in the other side of the coin, as I experienced the pleasure of having the title, I also tasted the bitterness of being a servant of God. I will not also forget those times that I had been misjudged by those people around me. It is still fresh in my mind, those insults and ridicules that I heard from them. The way they underestimated me and questioned my ability as a seminarian. I will never forget those days when they looked at me from head to foot and as they were saying to me, “Anong alam mo? Eh isa ka lang dating sakristan na ngayo’y ay seminarita na.”  I will never forget this kind of insult to me until such time that I saw myself proving and having too proud to them in such a way that I am acting like Jesus who knows everything. Because of my wounded pride I found myself not accepting comments or suggestions anymore. I was confined to my mentality of having vengeance to those people who insulted me, to show them that I am someone. But I was wrong because to be real enough, I have nothing to prove to them. That was my life for five years until God shifted again the wheel of my life. An incident happened inside the seminary in which I and my two classmates where torned between doing what is good or continuing our life in a place where scandals and immorality is rampant. Thus, after such discussions and agreements with one another, we went out from the seminary leaving a mark of doing an extraordinary thing of making our stand to what is good and moral. I was really hurt upon going out the gate of the seminary where I nurtured my life with principles and values. I was crying then and I realized that I am not God who can absorb and do anything, I am suffering this kind of situation just because I am only a human being. After going out from the seminary, I decided to continue my life. I realized that I must not be in a corner crying until my tears will last. I realized that life must go on. Hence, I entered into a university where I again started my journey.

          Now, as I live in my new world, I realized that those things that happen to me in the past have its purpose. God is really a God of justice. He is really a teacher who works in a very mysterious way of teaching and guiding me towards my betterment as a person. If you are going to ask me what did I learn from all of my experience? There are many things that I learned but one thing is for sure, I AM NOT GOD I AM ONLY A HUMAN BEING. I am bound to what we call error, pain, suffering, trials, difficulties, happiness, success and other human qualities of life. As I am living my life here outside one thing I will not surely miss and that is, to always live my life to the fullest. Allow me to end this essay by putting the words of one of our priests in our Diocese, he said; “…bilang mga tao kailangan nating maranasan ang mga bagay-bagay na mas makakapagpakilala sa ating mga sarili sapagkat sa mga bagay na iyon mas lalo nating mauunawaan ang halaga ng ating buhay.”