Without Seeing the Dawn by Stevan Javellana

A Literary Critique

Submitted by:

Marjorie Balajadia

BSEd 2A

Submitted to:

Prof. Hazel P. Villa

West Visayas State University

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Historical Criticism Critique in the novel Without Seeing the Dawn applying the concept of

Michael Ryan

The novel Without Seeing the Dawn was written by Stevan "Esteban" Javellana and was
originally published in 1947. Stevan Javellana was born in 1918 in Iloilo. He fought as a
guerrilla during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines (Vieron, 2014). It was shown in the
novel clearly how the guerrilla fought the Japanese soldiers in the war. For over three years and
right to the day of Japan's surrender, the Philippines were to suffer grievously under the
depredations of military occupation (Anonymous, n.d.).
Stevan Javellana’s novel exhibits the simple life of the Filipinos living before the war, how they
suffered from the hands and ruling of the invaders and their fight to redeem freedom from the
Japanese soldiers in that era. “I remember the Spanish-American war. The Americans did not
rape and kill and burn as the Japanese are doing”, said Gondoy- a guerrilla army in the novel,
which makes the Japanese occupation peculiar from the other colonisations that took place in the
Philippines. Both men and women were harmed and both have bad experiences with the
Japanese soldiers.
The novel is divided into two parts; day and night. In the first part, their conversations
were very simple. It mostly tells how Carding and Lucing started their married life and also tells
many stories about the people in Manhayang and the place itself. They just worry about how
they would carry on with their daily lives, where the only concern of some is how to sell their
crops, concerned about planting in the field; Carding’s wedding, same as with how Filipino lived
before the war.
The title of the first part “day” can be also depicted as the “sunny” part of the story. It is as if the
people have still a lot of energy because during the day many chores can be done, they were
normally doing what is usual in their lives the same as how the characters in the story were
doing. It also applies to the Philippines before the invasion. Filipinos are living as usual, simple
and full of hope. This passage will prove how they lived in the pre-war part of the story. “…and
the festive atmosphere which their hilarity, earnestness and lighthearted youthfulness had
created.”
The “night” tells already about the war where the Japanese already invaded their village. When
Carding came back from the concentration camp, “Peace did not welcome him, but Grief sat
there on its haunches at his doorstep. Mentioning Grief marks the second part to be grim
compared when the Japanese had yet arrived. The arrival of the Japanese forced the young men
in the village to form a guerrilla army. Just like the word “night”, the second part was indeed
dim. Just like in the night movements are only limited, the chores that are favorable to be done in
the day time cannot be done in the night. It is as if the night has the power to command the
person to just sleep and rest that is also how people in the village felt. The mood in the second
part of the story is grim that upon reading, the reader cannot breathe because of what is going on
in the village. That is how Stevan Javellana wrote the novel as if the reader is also in the
situation. Observing this, the author provided a very vivid memory of his life. In reality, Stevan
Javellana was indeed a guerrilla army during the Japanese invasion in the Philippines.

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 The author also showed how Carding and the rest of the company tried to stop the
Japanese from harming the people in their village. The same as how many guerrilla organizations
were formed during that time trying to stop the Japanese. Investigations after the war showed
that 260,000 Filipinos had been actively engaged in guerrilla organizations and an even larger
number operated covertly in the anti-Japanese underground. The most famous guerrilla
organization was the "Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon" or well known as
HUKBALAHAP (People's Anti-Japanese Army) led by Luis Taruc. He had armed some 30,000
guerrillas who controlled most of Luzon (Anonymous, n.d.). These pieces of evidence showed
how the Filipinos resisted being colonized again by other foreign people. However, the Japanese
in Manila would not give up easily. It took 3 weeks of intense fighting before they finally
surrendered on February 23. Gen. MacArthur continued to liberate other parts of the country.
And finally proclaim general freedom from the Japanese on July 4, 1945 (Philippine History,
n.d.).
The novel was set on the time of Japanese occupation from the year 1942 up to 1945 in
the Philippines. It is evident in the novel because, in the second part of the novel, some Japanese
soldiers arrived in the village. The arrival of the Japanese soldiers set the mood for the rest of the
story. Feeling the sudden fear when people in Manhayang were shocked when there were
Japanese in their village and it was sustained until the end of the story. Their lives changed upon
the arrival of the Japanese. Manhayang was once full of hope, dreams, and aspirations from the
people and when the Japanese soldiers arrived, it gradually shattered. The village during the
invasion was in the state of catastrophe. People mourned over the death of their loved ones and
the state of their barrio which urged residents to evacuate the village. There was destruction
happened to the characters. Some were tortured for the reason that the character will not claim
that he is an Indio. For example, Poncing was tortured by live charcoal on his genitals and some
were just killed outright. Sadly, the most oppressed persona in these times was the women. The
women were raped by the Japanese soldiers and sometimes it was done in front of their loved
ones. It was how cruel they were. “While some held her hands and feet, the rest took turns in
spreading their lust upon her body”, to which if analyze thoroughly, the Philippines that time was
susceptible to how Japanese tortured it. The Japanese were just taking turns to molest and abuse
the Philippines and the Filipinos. “The whip passed out once again and the tough cowhide strips
a bit of his face and arms.” This may also be the imagery of how Stevan Javellana would
describe their suffering through the hands of the Japanese soldiers. It may not be literal, but
Carding represents the Filipinos who were repeatedly abused by these invaders.
The Japanese invasion was regarded as the darkest days in Philippine history and
literary tradition because of the war. The Japanese occupation ended in the year 1945 and the
novel was originally published in the year 1947. This leads to the assumption that the author may
be writing it during the Japanese occupation, if not, the novel was probably written right after the
Philippines redeemed its freedom from the Japanese. This may be the reason why the novel tells
how it was like living during that era. The events in the novel are greatly believable. How the
young men formed and joined the movement to protect their village. How the people reacted
upon knowing they are being colonized. All of them are very realistic.
The language that was used is simple and pastoral. It merely describes how the characters
feel and what they see around them. The characters utter their words innocently, simple to
understand, showcasing their provincial life. Especially the youth who are naïve enough to have

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wished for war without having any idea what it looks like. Even in the second chapter of the
second part it was said that in the village of Manhayang people were not much afraid because
they think that the Japanese will only be robbing goods and materials but it was too early for
them to tell since it was still the arrival of the Japanese soldiers. How the people in the village
think greatly reflects on their character.
The descriptions were very vivid and accurate that reading the novel induces empathy towards
the characters and at the same time pity for their fate and all the misfortunes that occurred in
their village. Without seeing the dawn is like a mirror, it exactly tells what happened during the
war in a provincial setting.
Without seeing the dawn used simple language maybe because of the larger target audience. This
book has even reached America. The book gives a rich and vivid collection of stories and
experiences happened in that era.
The language of the novel is in English which may be, Stevan Javellana intended it from the very
start to reach a larger audience. Maybe he wanted to show and tell others what the Japanese
soldiers did. Anyone capable of reading and speaking the English language will clearly
understand what the novel is all about. The author possibly used the book as a platform to slap
the Japanese on how cruel and evil they were. Particularly a book lasts forever. Additionally, the
book was published in America which makes it to the mainstream for the international masses to
read it. With this, by publishing a book that tells about the experiences of the barrio people
during the Japanese occupation is already a victory for the author. He has already won by telling
and sharing the story to the masses.
The theme of the story is the simple life of the Filipinos living before the war and their
fight to redeem freedom from the Japanese. The novel tells how Filipinos are like before and
during the Japanese occupation. How the Filipino seeks justice and freedom fuelled by their
different meaning of love. Their resistance from the Japanese was proven by the young men in
the village who joined the guerrilla army and one of them is the main character Carding. Carding
and Lucing have once enjoyed the mere bathing in the riverbanks. How the people in the village
were rich with resources provided by their farmlands. Inday Picat even enjoyed spreading
gossips before the Japanese came. They were merry and everyone seems to live their lives
simply and justly. That is how simple their lives were and it all changed when the Japanese came
into their village. There were countless deaths and destruction occurred to their village.
Moreover, one of the themes in the novel is revenge, not to battle but to make the people pay for
what they did. Revenge in that time was also seen in the Filipino, hence, forming a guerilla
organization. They were trying to protect their places from the foreign invaders and it forced
most of the Filipino young men to be brave despite the known danger that they will be facing. It
is implied by this passage, “But if you were a soldier and came home to find that your brother or
parents had been shot by the Japanese, your wife or sister raped, your children put to the bayonet
or the sword, would not be as big as a reason from fighting again, hopeless through the cause
might happen to be?”

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 To sum it up, the novel is greatly influenced by the era that the author was living. It
reveals how Stevan Javellana witnessed the Japanese invasion from a guerilla army disguised in
the character of Carding. The historical era when the story was set simply recollect the author’s
memory of the war and revised the characters lives and experiences in the novel to be fictional
and the fact that the novel greatly depicts the Japanese invasion, on how Filipinos tried to fight
for the Philippines shows that the novel Without seeing the dawn was greatly impacted by the
Japanese invasion in the Philippines which makes the novel fall under the genre of historical
literature.

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References:

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://sites.ualberta.ca/~vmitchel/fw6.html

Philippine History. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.philippine-history.org/japanese-

occupation.htm

Vieron,J. (2014 ). Without seeing the dawn. Retrieved from

https://prezi.com/cerldex4h4dd/without-seeing-the-dawn/

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 Grading Rubric for Literary Analysis
A B C D E
1) Literary Author engages in a Author provides Author uses simple Author displays Author neglects
Analysis SOPHISTICATED probing literary but inconsistent little connection to evaluate or
30 and ORIGINAL analysis and criticism. analysis and between textual analyse literary
points evaluation and Makes connections criticism. Provides support and themes or
(thematic analysis of the between textual basic evaluation thesis, and does techniques.
analysis themes and support and thesis, and analysis of not support the Author revisits
of techniques. Author though some may be literary themes and WHY. Simple or summarizes
literature) makes connections more stilted. The techniques. Some identification of rather than
between textual WHY is discussed, ideas are unoriginal the elements is giving depth the
support and overall but in a more or only in the done. There is a interpretation of
thesis/ and theme. pedestrian manner, surface of the text’s repetition of the text. Author
Furthermore, moves leading to more content resulting in already-stated does not use
beyond WHAT obvious conclusions a weaker argument facts making the adequate textual
happens and or showing less depth overall analysis unoriginal reference.
analyses the WHY. of thought overall. in thought.

27-30 24-26 21-23 18-20 15-17

Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given :
3) Develop Body paragraphs Body paragraphs are Textual support is Textual support is Body
ment offer focused, richly mostly fair, adequate, although present, but paragraphs
and developed, reasonable and not very thorough. sparse. Student contain illogical
Support sophisticated, logical. Body Student seems to omits a source. reasoning. Body
20 original, and paragraphs offer try to incorporate Support may be paragraphs
points convincing analysis focused, convincing text, although some irrelevant to the contain
(adequat of relevant and somewhat is not connected to main idea at summaries or
e evidence. Support original analysis of the overall main times. generalizations
support is applicable to relevant evidence. idea. Body that lack
and author’s main ideas Secondary source paragraphs offer relevant
textual and is used to guide support may not be some level of supporting
analysis the essay. as well-integrated, evidence and evidence and
from Secondary source perhaps. analysis which at analysis.
primary support aids in the times may be too Author fails to
source analysis and general. use textual
novel, provides additional support from
balance insight that, proves 13-14 novel and
d with depth of thought 17-18 15-16 secondary
commen 19-20 sources.
tary) 10-11
Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given :
5) Style Sentences are fluid Sentences are clear Paper focus waivers Sentences are Sentences are
20 and graceful and and direct. Sentences or fluency is solid but either overly
points are joined logically are joined logically to interrupted at times. sometimes simplistic or
to show show relationships Paragraphs are choppy. confusingly
(organiz relationships between ideas. organized but not in Sentences could worded.
ation, between ideas. Sentences the most logical be joined more Sentences are
clarity Sentences demonstrate way. Transitions logically to show not joined
effectively syntactical maturity may be mundane relationships logically to show

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 and demonstrate through varied and paragraphs between ideas. relationships
fluency syntactical maturity sentence structure. may contain more There is minimal between ideas.
of ideas, through varied Paragraphs contain implicit than explicit sentence variety. There is a lack
focus on sentence structure. connections to connections to the Lacks some of sentence
main Paragraphs are thesis/claim, though thesis/claim. Intro transitions. variety.Textual
idea) framed with perhaps not as and conclusion may support chops
connections to explicitly at times. contain more “fluff” 13-14 up prose. Intro
claim/thesis and are than substance. or conclusion
organized by idea. 17-18 may be
15-16 irrelevant or
19-20 omitted
altogether.
10-11
Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given :
7) Formatti Has properly used Has properly used Some APA Paper contains a APA format has
ng APA format in title APA format in title formatting has been noticeable not been used
15 page, body of paper page, body of paper used but is missing number of APA properly.
points and page and page numbering. elements. Sources errors and does Sources are not
(APA numbering. Sources Sources are cited are properly cited not consistently properly cited
including are properly cited using APA format using APA format follow formatting according to
Works using APA format with very few lapses with occasional rules. APA format.
Cited) correctly. in usage. lapses in usage.
13-14 11-12 9-10
15 7-8
Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given :

9) Conventi Essay uses 3rd Essay contains Essay contains Essay is filled with It seems as
ons person, active occasional flaws in obvious errors in errors in grammar though the
15 voice, present grammar and grammar and and conventions essay was not
points tense, with strong conventions, perhaps conventions and frequently proofread at all.
(Gramm verbs and a variety with more repetitive throughout, must be re-read to Various errors in
ar, of sentence sentence structures although they do follow the ideas. usage,
spelling, structures. Essay or more common not distract from the Language and grammar, and
subject/v has few, if any, language. meaning. Language structure begin to conventions
erb grammatical or usage is sentence distract from the distract greatly
agreeme proofreading errors. structure is basic meaning. from the ideas
nt, 13-14 but still conveys the and mar the
punctuat 15 point. 9-10 essay to the
ion, 11-12 point of
usage) incoherence.

7-8
Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given : Points given :

Nothing Follows and Good Luck.