Norms of morality as reflected in the 19th Century Philippine Literature: A content analysis

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the norms of morality as reflected in the 19th century Philippine literature. Content analysis was used in this study using the three approaches in literary analysis, namely Moral-Philosophical Approach, Feminism, and Historical-Biographical Approach. In moral philosophical approach, the following are the norms of morality as depicted in Lopez-Jaena’s Between <em>Kastila and Filipina</em>: Temperance and Patience. In Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s <em>To Josefa Gatmaitan</em>, the following attributes can be seen: Courage, Fortitude, Simplicity and Virtue. Jose Rizal’s <em>Letter to the Young Women of Malolos</em> exemplified the following: Piety, Fortitude/Courage, Prudence, and Resoluteness. Using the Feminist Approach, women at that time were regarded as “second class citizens” in a highly-patriarchal Philippine society, taking secondary roles in the home and in other aspects of their lives. Using the historical-biographical approach the Filipinos were repressed in their intellect and creativity because of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. Their struggles and pains in being writers at a time of colonization are evident in their works.