Jump to content

The God Stealer: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
mNo edit summary
 
(33 intermediate revisions by 28 users not shown)
Line 12: Line 12:
| published_in =
| published_in =
| publication_type =
| publication_type =
| publisher = Solidarid Publishing House, Inc.
| publisher = Solidaridad Publishing House, Inc.
| media_type =
| media_type =
| pub_date = 1959 (short story)<br>1968 (collection)
| pub_date = 1959 (short story)<br>1968 (collection)
Line 20: Line 20:
}}
}}


"'''The God Stealer'''" is a [[short story]] by [[Filipino National Artist]] [[F. Sionil José]]. It is José's most anthologized work of fiction.<ref name=World/> It is not just a tale about an [[Ifugao people|Ifugao]] stealing a religious [[Cult image|idol]],<ref name=Phil>José, F. Sionil. [http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=425830 "The God Stealer"], The Writers in the South Speak Out, Hindsight, Arts and Culture, The Philippine Star, December 22, 2008, philstar.com</ref> but also about the friendship that developed between a [[Filipino people|Filipino]] and an [[United States|American]], a representation of the relationship that developed between the "[[colonize]]d" and the "[[colonialist|colonizer]]".<ref name=World>[http://www.worldcat.org/title/god-stealer-and-other-stories/oclc/51557272 The God Stealer and Other Stories], worldcat.org</ref> The story was a first prize winner during the [[1959 Palanca Awards|1959]] [[Palanca award]]s in the [[Philippines]].<ref name=Rmaf>[http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/BiographyJoseFra.htm "The God Stealer"], Biography of Francisco Sionil José, rmaf.org</ref> It is included in the book by José with a similar title, '''''The God Stealer and Other Stories'''''.<ref name=World/>
"'''The God Stealer'''" is a short story by [[Filipino National Artist]] [[F. Sionil José]]. It is José's most anthologized work of fiction.<ref name=World/> It is not just a tale about an [[Ifugao people|Ifugao]] stealing a religious [[Cult image|idol]],<ref name=Phil>José, F. Sionil. [http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=425830 "The God Stealer"], The Writers in the South Speak Out, Hindsight, Arts and Culture, The Philippine Star, December 22, 2008, philstar.com</ref> but also about the friendship that developed between a [[Filipino people|Filipino]] and an [[United States|American]], a representation of the relationship that developed between the "influenced" and the "[[influencer]]".<ref name=World>[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51557272 The God Stealer and Other Stories], worldcat.org</ref> The story was a first prize winner during the [[1959 Palanca Awards|1959]] [[Palanca award]]s in the [[Philippines]].<ref name=Rmaf>[http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/BiographyJoseFra.htm "The God Stealer"], Biography of Francisco Sionil José, rmaf.org</ref> It is included in the book by José with a similar title, '''''The God Stealer and Other Stories'''''.<ref name=World/>


==Character description==
==Character description==


The main characters in "The God Stealer" are Philip Latak and Sam Cristie. Philip, also known as Ip-pig, is an Ifugao who became a Christian and lived in Manila. By becoming a city dweller, Philip became less sentimental with his cultural identity, beliefs, and customs. His name was derived from the word Philippines. On the other hand, Sam Christie was an American who wanted to view the rice terraces of the Mountain Province (also known as the Cordilleras). He was also interested in purchasing an original figurine of an Ifugao god. His name was derived from Uncle Sam, a representation of the United States. Philip and Sam were co-workers.[4].<ref name=Fil/>
The main characters in "The God Stealer" are Philip Latak and Sam Cristie. Philip, also known as Ip-pig, is an [[Ifugao]] who became a Christian and lived in [[Manila]]. By becoming a city dweller, Philip became less sentimental with his cultural identity, beliefs, and customs. His name was derived from the word Philippines. On the other hand, Sam Christie was an American who wanted to view the rice terraces of Ifugao. He was also interested in purchasing an original figurine of an Ifugao god. His name was derived from Uncle Sam, a representation of the United States. Philip and Sam were co-workers.<ref name=Fil/>

==Summary==
==Summary==


Philip and Sam went to Baguio City. During a feast honoring Philip for his return, Philip and Sam were because of the unwillingness of the Ifugao people to sell any Ifugao statue. Philip plans to steal his grandfather's god in return for the salary raise given to him by Sam. After finding out that his god was missing, Philip's grandfather dies.
Philip and Sam went to Baguio City. During a feast honoring Philip for his return, Philip and Sam were irritated because of the unwillingness of the Ifugao people to sell any Ifugao statue. Philip plans to steal his grandfather's idol of a god in return for the salary raise given to him by Americans.

==Interpretation==
==Interpretation==


Line 42: Line 40:


==External links==
==External links==
*Roces, Mina. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/312888 "The God Stealer"] at Filipino Identity in Fiction, 1945–1972, Modern Asian Studies 28, 2 (1994), pp.&nbsp;279–315, jstor.org
*Roces, Mina. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/312888 "The God Stealer"] at Filipino Identity in Fiction, 1945–1972, Modern Asian Studies 28, 2 (1994), pp.&nbsp;279–315, jstor.org


{{FSionilJose-RosalesSaga}}
{{FSionilJose-RosalesSaga}}

⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:God Stealer}}
[[Category:1959 short stories]]
[[Category:1959 short stories]]
[[Category:Philippine short stories]]
[[Category:Philippine short stories]]
[[Category:Works by F. Sionil José]]
[[Category:Works by F. Sionil José]]

⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:God Stealer}}
{{1950s-story-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:11, 12 July 2024

"The God Stealer"
Short story by F. Sionil José
Collection first edition
CountryPhilippines
LanguageEnglish
Publication
PublisherSolidaridad Publishing House, Inc.
Publication date1959 (short story)
1968 (collection)

"The God Stealer" is a short story by Filipino National Artist F. Sionil José. It is José's most anthologized work of fiction.[1] It is not just a tale about an Ifugao stealing a religious idol,[2] but also about the friendship that developed between a Filipino and an American, a representation of the relationship that developed between the "influenced" and the "influencer".[1] The story was a first prize winner during the 1959 Palanca awards in the Philippines.[3] It is included in the book by José with a similar title, The God Stealer and Other Stories.[1]

Character description

[edit]

The main characters in "The God Stealer" are Philip Latak and Sam Cristie. Philip, also known as Ip-pig, is an Ifugao who became a Christian and lived in Manila. By becoming a city dweller, Philip became less sentimental with his cultural identity, beliefs, and customs. His name was derived from the word Philippines. On the other hand, Sam Christie was an American who wanted to view the rice terraces of Ifugao. He was also interested in purchasing an original figurine of an Ifugao god. His name was derived from Uncle Sam, a representation of the United States. Philip and Sam were co-workers.[4]

Summary

[edit]

Philip and Sam went to Baguio City. During a feast honoring Philip for his return, Philip and Sam were irritated because of the unwillingness of the Ifugao people to sell any Ifugao statue. Philip plans to steal his grandfather's idol of a god in return for the salary raise given to him by Americans.

Interpretation

[edit]

Philip's act of thievery represented the Filipinos' giving up of their past tribal origins and traditions, only to be replaced by an "unnatural" culture brought by colonialism. At one time in history, colonialism brought to the Filipinos a state of confusion, troubled emotions, helplessness, torment, embarrassment and the inability to embrace the past.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c The God Stealer and Other Stories, worldcat.org
  2. ^ José, F. Sionil. "The God Stealer", The Writers in the South Speak Out, Hindsight, Arts and Culture, The Philippine Star, December 22, 2008, philstar.com
  3. ^ "The God Stealer", Biography of Francisco Sionil José, rmaf.org
  4. ^ a b The God Stealer: Filipino Identity in Fiction By F. Sionil José, filipinowriter.com
[edit]
  • Roces, Mina. "The God Stealer" at Filipino Identity in Fiction, 1945–1972, Modern Asian Studies 28, 2 (1994), pp. 279–315, jstor.org


Stub icon

This article about a short story (or stories) published in the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=The_God_Stealer&oldid=1234133930"