"The God Stealer"
F. Sionil José
“The God Stealer," a gripping short fictional story by F. Sionil José, explores the complexities of cultural identity and the long-lasting effects of colonization. The bond between Sam Christie, an American who is eager to learn a bit of indigenous Philippine culture, and Philip Latak, an Ifugao who has accepted urban life in Manila, is at the center of the story. The novel explores themes of alienation, the commercialization of sacred traditions, and the internal difficulties that occur when one's history collides with outside forces as one travels to Philip's ancestral home in the Ifugao region. José provides a thoughtful analysis of the challenges of preserving cultural authenticity in a world that is modernizing quickly.
The story centers on the theme of cultural loss and the effects of colonialism on Filipino heritage. The story follows Philip, an Ifugao man working in Manila, and Sam Christie, an American colleague of his seeking a bul-ul (Ifugao ancestral figure). Driven by a need for money, Philip steals his grandfather's bul-ul, an act symbolizing the fall of cultural heritage under colonialism. The belief that if this figure were to be tampered with, that it would cause serious consequences was proved when Sam Christie woke up the next day with Sadek, Philip’s older brother, delivering him the news of his grandfather’s death. This leads to Philip's return to his roots and the carving of a new bul-ul. Sam, distraught and filled with immense guilt, leaves the Ifugao region and takes the stolen artifact back to the city. The story unfolds in Manila and Ifugao, during a period of significant Western influence. The story's linear structure, straightforward style, and third-person perspective gives its readers an objective view of the events and the characters' internal conflicts, ultimately highlighting the tension between tradition and Western influence on Filipino identity.
This critical analysis and interpretation explores both the strengths and weaknesses of the story, discovering what relates to the readers, and the deeper meaning found within the lines of José’s, “The God Stealer”. “My brother dislikes me. Like my grandfather, he feels that I shouldn't have left this place, that I should rot here. Hell, everyone knows the terraces are good for the eye, but they can't produce enough for the stomach”. This is a quote from the beginning of the story implying the family’s initial disagreement of Philip’s move to the city. This is typically common during the author’s time as society back then was not very open to the idea of family members moving to big cities and even other countries, for the purpose of finding better job opportunities in order to provide for their families. Compared to the present time, in which this has been normalized and made socially acceptable, with most families having at least one member working overseas. The era this story was written paved the way for the adaptation of Filipinos to modern society and better familial choices.
Like any other story, despite it having great representation of its characters and a deep exploration of cultural identity, it still had its weaknesses, and one of them being the pacing. Due to the fact that the story focuses more on character reflection and internal monologues, readers might find the story slow because of the lack of action and events. Although these are vital in any story, several pages from the novel contain long paragraphs of just painting a picture of the surroundings and explaining the inner thoughts of characters, instead of focusing more on the conversations and the development of both the story and its plot. Another weakness that was present was the story’s uncertain ending. This last line from the story, “The stolen idol which he was bringing home to America to take its place among his souvenirs of benighted and faraway places.” leaves the readers wondering several different things. “What’s going to happen to Philip?”, “What about his career in the city?”, “Will Sam Christie and Philip remain friends?”, and “Is the bul-ul simply going to be just a souvenir now?” are only some of the various questions readers would be left with, due to the story's ambiguous ending.
The story’s complex characters were also represented very well, delving more into their inner thoughts and psyche. “Because I have to be somewhere, just as you have to be somewhere. It's that simple.” is a quote found in the story which implies that the character is only in the agency because he HAS to be, not because he wanted to. In their minds, they are hardwired to think that belonging to a city means that they are expected to have the best possible positions, a proper paying job, get promoted, and everything within those lines. This also reflects on the real world, and the famous saying, “money can’t buy happiness”, because unfortunately, there really are thousands of people out there working tirelessly everyday, yet feel completely numb and empty inside, struggling to find their true purpose and only getting up everyday out of routine and not out of passion. For the longest time, it has always been a part of their culture to stay in their region despite the struggles, and Philip deciding to move to the city in search for a better opportunity was a big opposition and breakthrough to that long-standing tradition. This part further proves the previous implications from the text and the family’s mentality that the city is not always better, and that more contentment can be found living simpler lives in simpler cities.
“The God Stealer” showcases the conflict between cultural heritage and personal ambition, highlighting how modernity can lead to the disconnection from one’s roots. Even in the face of progress and modernization, the story emphasizes the value of maintaining and appreciating cultural identity through the characters’ journey and final sacrifice. It reminds us that true fulfillment lies in understanding and honoring our heritage while navigating the changes of a modernizing world. To know and fully embrace our culture and identity is one way of honoring our ancestors and the hardships they went through for us to live the way we do now. The preservation and passing on of our own culture and practices should be stressed and given attention to now more than ever, with the ever-growing influence of foreign countries and the globalization of society as a whole. To ensure that cultural heritage continues to be an example in our lives, it is both our own and society's responsibility to find a balance between accepting progress and preserving those traditions that make us who we are.
The impact of colonialism on a person's cultural identity is the main issue present in “The God Stealer.” This demonstrates how Filipino culture is being influenced by Western culture. It is evident in our society nowadays, as families and even society as a whole are impacted by these changes as we are now favoring and going back Western culture at the expense of our own. We have been taking ownership of it and transforming it into something of our own. The impact of colonial mentality in the story was demonstrated when Philip had left his birthplace to pursue a goal in Manila and embrace American culture. While on the other hand, Sam Christie aspires to possess the Ifugao idol in the story. He treats it as a memento and a “priceless souvenir”, demonstrating cultural appropriation, rather than understanding its deeply-rooted origin and significance, considering it as a sacred item. The God Stealer emphasizes the need of understanding and honoring the past of our nation or culture. Future generations will learn from this that each person's culture is distinct and important in forming who they are. As a society and a citizen of our country, it is our responsibility to spread the word and teach the younger generations of the beauty of our culture, despite its complexities and imperfections. In our everyday lives, it is vital to include the values and traditions we have been passed down, and really show the rest of the world what a true blooded Filipino is. This in turn, enables us to contribute to the creation of an inclusive society and to be considerate of various customs and civilizations.
Composed By: Group 8, 11 - Bl. Peter of Gubbio
Canete, Clyde Ulyses
Cuevas, Jyro Jemver
Laguna, Aristotle Jr.
Mohametano, Athena Glenn
To, Margaret Celine
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