ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY

Interdisciplinary Studies
Summer, AY 2020-2021

Reflection Paper

Name (Surname, First Name) : Solmeron, Jobella Greziel

Course and Year : Bachelor of Science in Accountancy; 1st year
IDS Code and Schedule : 16-050; 5:15P-7:05P Weekdays
Professor : Ocdenaria, Jose Marie
Reflection (One page only)
(Technicalities: 500-600 words; Single space, Book Antiqua-13)
How is Kaye’s strange world and behavior different
from the Community Quarantines during this pandemic?
Kaye’s Subterranean World is described as a constructed world where Kaye
lives her hikikomori type of life. Although the reason was not stated for having such,
it is implicitly understood that it was her way of escaping the real world. Instead of
interacting with real people, Kaye preferred to stay in her own “strange” space, filled
with media and electronic devices like books, video cassettes, and computers. The
woman chooses and prefers to live like this—isolated, alone, and far from people and
the real world. This cause and motive as to why Kaye lives and behaves differently
are why it is different from the community quarantine that we have been experiencing
amidst the pandemic. The government imposed social isolation regulations to contain
the spread of the COVID-19 disease. In contrast, the isolation of Kaye was a personal
choice, not an obligation or restriction imposed on her by someone. Hence, her
situation is not the same as the home quarantine that most of us are facing today.
Because of the pandemic and the advancing technology that we have, most
people live life like how Kaye behaves in her Subterranean world. Most people get
used to interacting with people virtually rather than the traditional face-to-face.
Though this particular aspect is true both to reality today and in Kaye’s strange world,
it still varies because Kaye still has the chance to change her behavior. In contrast,
people today have been left with no choice but to be isolated and comply with the
health protocols. Kaye enjoyed her life being isolated because it is her own preference,
whereas people are mostly afraid because of the said health crisis. Also, most people
today already want to have face-to-face social interaction but are not allowed to, while
Kaye can do it, but he chooses not to. Further, although some people under
quarantine are like Kaye, who are more comfortable dealing with the virtual world
rather than the real world, given that we are amidst the pandemic, their reality will
never be the same.
In conclusion, Kaye’s strange world and behavior are a way of isolating herself
and her denial of reality. On the contrary, people who are having social isolation and
home quarantine are their way to face reality. Kaye can reverse her world whenever
she wants, but people today have no choice but to follow and comply. Kaye can go
out anytime and anywhere she wants, but people under quarantine are restricted
from going places without valid transactions. Though both worlds involve media and
technology, the motives and reasons for having such worlds will always differ. Hence,
we will never be the same as Kaye because her Subterranean world is her choice, and
the community quarantine we have is not a choice but a regulation imposed on us.