Philippine E-Journals

Humor in Alejandro Roces' Fiction

Maristela Binongo-sy

Discipline: Literature

 

Abstract:

Humor, as a source of fun, provides panacea from stress. There are writers who write humorous stories, but few use humor as a literary device. Alejandro Roces is one of the few, but no literary critical evaluation is made about his fiction because he is more popular as Filipino journalist. Thus, this study titled, “Humor in Alejandro Roces’ Short Fiction”, aims to ignite aesthetic stimulation by critical analysis to assess its literary merits. His fiction, “We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers,” “Of Cocks and Hens,” “Of Cocks and Kings,” “Of Cocks and Battle Cocks,” and “Of Cocks and Super Cocks”, as qualitative research work, leans on formalistic and mimetic approaches to Literature. Consequently, the key findings illustrate how humor develops an uncommon conflict of an inveterate gambler-protagonist because instead of feeling burdensome of his struggle, readers experience relief and release of tension. Moreover, some collective satirized peculiar Filipinism include English speech affectations, gambler’s inveteracy, Hispanic cultural attitudes and traditionalism. Hence, Roces’ characterizations and themes inherently reveal humor that satirizes peculiar Filipinism. For deeper aesthetic stimulation, this study should be compared and contrasted with the fiction of local and foreign humorists.