Truth and Fair

An Analysis of a 21st Century Philippine Literature entitled

Justice

by Ralph Semino Galan

“Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.”

                                              -Eleanor Roosevelt

BACKGROUND

• Authorial information:

Author Background: 

Name of Author: Ralph Semino Galan

 He is a poet , literary critic, and translator.

 He is the Assistant Director of the UST Center for Creating Writing and Literary Studies.

Region/Province: 

 Ilagan, Mindanao (Region X)

Educational Background: 

 He graduate magma cum laude with an AB English (major in Literature) degree from the Mindanao State University – Ilagan Institute of Technology. 

 An M.A. in English Studies (Major in Creative Writing) from UP Dili man, where he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. In Comparative Literature.

 He is an Associate Professor of Literature, the Humanities, and Creative Writing at the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters and the UST Graduate School.

Lists of Awards:

 He was awarded in PHILSTAGE for the Performing Arts since it’s establish in 2008.

 The co-convener with Ferdinand M. Lopez of the annual UST Varsitarian. 

 J. Elizalde Navarro National Workshop in Arts Criticism held every summer in Baguio City.

Lists of Works: 

 Home Life Magazine (1998)

 The NCCA in 2005 as part of its UBOD New Authors Series, Bongga ka 'day!:

 Pinoy gay quotes to live ( Book ) year 2005

 The southern cross, and other poems (Book) year 2018

 “Sa Mga Pagitan ng Buhay at Iba Pang Pagtutulay” (Book) year 2013.

 

• Textual information:

Year published: 1910.

COPY OF THE LITERARY TEXT

Justice

By: Ralph Semino Galan

These are the accoutrements of her office.

The blindfold symbolizing impartiality;

A golden pair of scales measuring the Validity

Of evidence given, both pro and con;

The double edge sword that pierces through

The thick fabric of lies; thot’s feather

Of truth which ultimately determines whether.

The defendant life is worth saving.

In J. Elizalde Navarro’s oil painting titled

Is this Philippine Justice? The figure

Of the Roman goddess Justitia slowly fades

into thin air, swallowed by pigments

Cloud as doubts. In my uncertain country

Where right and wrong are cards

That can be shuffled like a pile of money bills,

Even the land’s chief magistrate

Is not immune from culpability; found guilty

He has to face the music of derision.

ANALYSIS

A. Literary Genre 

              Poetry

 Literature that evokes imaginative  awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language

 chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound and rhythm.

 It’s a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic qualities, in addition to, or instead of, its apparent meaning.

 Is the literary work in which special intensity is given to the expressions of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collective or a genre of literary

 Writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of expression in language chosen and arranged to create a specific motional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm.

B. Analysis  Guides

Reader Response

           We understand here in the poem is how he wrote it and why he wrote it for and how he explained this poem. 

Plot and Structure

It symbols are related and symbolizing about justice. Reality happenings in the Philippines. The judgement comes in, where the Lands Magistrate is found guilty and ready for impeachment. 

Setting

The setting of the poem ‘justice” by Ralph Semino Galan is in the Philippines. Since he lived in the Ilagan Mindanao that the time when he wrote that poem. Mindanao is belongs in the country of Philippines.

Tone

         The tone of the poetry titled "Justice" by Ralph Semino Galan is serious. According to the terms he used it is really deeply and meaningful. In that case, he wants to spread the reality or the real situation of the Philippines society when it is about justice.

Point of View

Objective is the point of view used in the poem of Justice by Ralph Semino Galan because the narrator tells the story based on what he see but does not tell of what the character feels. 

Diction and Style

          The diction and style is informal because that the point of view is third person, and also the personal tone speaking directly to the reader.

Images and symbol

           One of the symbol of justice is Golden Pair of Scale. The Scale of Justice represents the balance of the individual against the needs of society and fair balance between interest of one individual and those of another. The personification of justice balancing the scales dates back to the Egyptian Goddess of Justice, Maat, who stood for truth and fairness. The blindfold, symbolic of Blind Justice, represents equality knowing no difference in the parties involved. Representations of the Lady of in the Western tradition show that sometimes she wears a blindfold, which is more prevalent in Europe, but often she appears without one.

Sound effects

           Free verse is the use sound in the poem of Justice. Is an open form of poetry, which in its modern from arose through the French word " vers libre" form. It does not use consistent metre patterns, rhyme, or any musical patterns. It thus tends to follow the rhythm of a natural speech.

View point/Tone

          The poem Justice is centered on the various symbolism in the poem. It is an interpretation of a painting showing Lady Justice. This poem also questions state of Justice in the country. It is known that the Philippines has a very slow justice dispensation. Court  trials are delayed for years and years. Second is the double-edge sword that symbolizes that its not always reason and its not only Justice. Justice and reason should be balance.

Theme

This symbolizes that justice is “blind” – in other words, justice is supposed to be objective, without bias; never favoring the strong nor the weak, the rich nor the poor, the righteous nor the wicked, the symbol is important in the poem because it helps us to comprehend deeply and ii also widens our understanding.

C. Analysis Guide

          It is sociocultural context because it depicts the society who is full of fairness. It tackles the weaknesses of people nowadays, like the money which can manipulate people to do a mistake. Also like the Chief Justice who impeached because of his criminal acts, such as corrupting.

Summary

           When you hear the word Justice? Is it fair? Always living the truth? So maybe in some countries. But not ours. Not in the Philippines. Justice means having equality and fairness with others but in the Philippines it doesn't show. The principles of justice are procedural justice, retributive and restorative. Such principles must be ensured - impartial, consistent and unreliable discussions. It focuses on implementing the rules in a fair way that is soothed only by the outcome that can be achieved. But those just does not shows in the Philippines. The political or government now, always depends on money, either it right or a mistake. The people nowadays are really blind. Like our former Chief Justice who traits Philippines. The justice is like the painting Justitia, its blurred like going to fade its own real image. Justice is supposed to have no biases and measures the evidence regardless if it is pro or against. It is this evidence that will eliminate all lies and find out if the defendant is guilty or not guilty. However in the Philippines, it is the opposite. It's similar to a game of cards where money is involved and even the Chief Magistrate is not immune to the faults of the system.

Reference

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://blog.cocodeal.jp/journal/justice-by-ralph-semino-galan-poem-explanation-08aa8c&ved=2ahUKEwixnOLrmLjsAhXaLqYKHbRyAI4QFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw2b_nnkiVidUm06gXX9ALQn

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://enhanceyourvocabulary.wordpress.com/justice-author-ralph-semino-galan/&ved=2ahUKEwixnOLrmLjsAhXaLqYKHbRyAI4QFjABegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw2UqxC6dqtZCT52aB3fTXuk

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Justice – ENHANCE YOUR VOCABULARY WORDS

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