[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on Dogeaters
Hagedorn's noteworthy novel presents a story of the Philippines through a Baroque layering of interconnected plots, as the many characters swirl around in the urban landscape of Manila. As some posters have complained, the plot can be confusing because of the many interconnections. In addition to the many characters, the novel is at times overwhelming because it is so filled with named things: imported foods identified by their national origins, references to Hollywood actors and pop culture figures from both the US and the Philippines, and places in the Philippines. The density of this short novel deliberately challenges the reader to follow along by figuring out the plots' interconnections and the many cultural references. For those who aren't willing to meet the novel half way, it certainly would be easy to become lost or bored. In certain ways, I would compare this novel to the experience of entering a virtual world in which the reader has the freedom to explore a different reality. The reader's job is to engage and connect all the people and things to be found there. It is an effort worth making.
This book, like the One day of Life attempts to describe and given an understanding of Filipino identity both in terms of an individual level as well as on a national level. It portrays the problems faced by the people under the dictatorial government and how they tried to face their problems be it through drugs, bending towards the West, etc. Under the Marcos dictatorship during the twentieth century, citizens faced a lot of hardships in the construction of identity. It helps in understanding neo-colonialism of the West which came with extra baggage like consumerism, materialism and capitalism which was prevalent predominantly in Western nations. These influences resulted in the loss of the nation’s own rich cultural heritage..........
