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graphomaniacc · 6 years ago

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Unmasking the Prometheus Unbound

Claire Cantillo

To understand the deep meaning of the passage, one should dig deeper into the nature from which the poem was made. It was in 1973 wherein Prometheus Unbound was written by Ruben Cuevas, his pen name, through the cataclysmal chapter of the Philippine government. Demanded by the situation where the country was put under Martial Law, Lacaba (real name) wrote the unwritten conditions of the Philippines since press freedom was hindered. He sealed a secret message through publishing a poem under Focus, a magazine that has connection with the Marcos regime, which sparks to the heart of many Filipinos. To hide this, the writer used the Greek Mythology as reference. The poem described the injustices, violence, crimes and killings under Marcos administration and how greedy the ruler was at that time.

Through dissection, word by word, verse by verse and stanza by stanza, it was very evident the description of how tumultuous the situation is under Martial Law.

Firstly, the title, Prometheus Unbound, is from a four-act lyrical drama by Percy Bysshe Shelley wherein Prometheus, the antagonist, defied the gods and gave sufferings to all humanity. In this context, Prometheus is a character used in the poem as the leader of the Philippine Martial Law.

Secondly, the first stanza of the poem described how resistant the writer is to the administration of Marcos. “I shall never exchange my fetters for slavish servility” meant that the writer will never trade his loyalty or he will never obey Marcos for a personal interest. “Tis better to be chained to the rock than bound to the service of Zeus.” It is better to be imprisoned than to serve the president.

Thirdly, the line “Mars shall glow tonight” when read fast there is other phrase that is formed which is “Martial Law tonight”. It is other way of using the phrase so that the true meaning of the poem is hidden and only the minds of those who truly suffer will understand.

Fourthly, this stanza “Artemis is out of sight, Rust in the twilight sky Colors a bloodshot eye and or shall I say that dust sunders the sleep of the just?” describes the happenings at that time. There are no evidence of security and safety. Blood is everywhere. Hundreds and thousands of deaths in a span of months. And these killings has no justice.

Fifthly, the third stanza described how Marcos rules at that time. “Holds fast to the gift of fire! I am rage! I am wrath! I am Ire!” meant that any opposite actions taken upon him will anger him and will be in danger. “The vulture sits on my rock, Licks at the chains that mock” Many sufferings and killings yet Marcos is enjoying and mimicking the situation as if it was nothing. “Emancipation’s breath, Reeks of death, death, death.” Anyone who tries to fight and achieve independence will suffer and die. That time, many tried and many died.

Sixly, the fourth and last stanza gave an encouragement to the minds and hearts of the people to fight for their right, freedom and justice. Death shall not unclench me. Death will not hinder the writer for he is a Filipino. And justice will only be gotten through bravery and will defy anything through love for the country. Only then, the freedom is achieved.

Lastly, the author left a hint true the writing style of the poem, following the first letters of every line, the meaning of the poem is cracked. The poem was written acrostically forming MARCOS HITLER DICTADOR TUTA.

Thus, the writer was very successful in affecting its readers for every word were felt and realistic. The style appeals to the readers as if it is sparking the passion within you, to resist and never let cowardliness eats you. The achievement of independence lies within our hands and that nothing beats the love of country.

Sources:

n.d.). How to Construe and Convey Tone in Poetry. Retrieved from https://www.writingforward.com/poetry-writing/how-to-construe-and-convey-tone-in-poetry

Melendez, P. E. (1970, January 1). The Marcos-era Resistance Poem that Smuggled a Hidden Message into State Media. Retrieved from https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/the-marcos-era-resistance-poem-that-smuggled-a-hidden-message-into-state-media-a1508-20180911-lfrm2

(n.d.). Poetry as a weapon for peaceful dissent. Retrieved from http://nine.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/literature/2016/11/29/poetry-as-weapon.html

#analysis

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graphomaniacc · 6 years ago

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Prometheus Unbound: Analysis

Justine Matthew Cañaveras

Alleah Anne Bea

Rochelle Carillo

After reading and analyzing the said poem, it already gives us the idea that it is all about the unfair and injustice system of the government. As we go further in analyzing and reading the poem, to the first stanza until the last stanza. The four stanzas of the poem tells us about the different kind of dictatorship governmen, the first is about “Marcos”, second is to “Hitler” and third to a “Diktador” and lastly to “Tuta”.

The first stanza’s message does not really pertaining to Mars the planet or as a Greek god. It is “Mars shall glow tonight” and it literally means Martial Law, a law that Marcos declared. We think the writer wants to inform the people that they are not having a fair or equal justice. That the government violates the human rights.

The second stanza’s message states that the people were punished by just a flick of a gun by the authorities and it is said that they are in mad, wrath or rage phase. And because of this kind of government, the people remained to be silent because the government are controlling them and threaten them with a arsenal, just like in Hitler’s way of government.

The third stanza’s message states that the people must know what to do. They should be brave and not afraid of death. Its message tells the people to fight for what is right and just. Let them know what is the value of human rights. and if they really love the country they are going to do it wholeheartedly.

The fourth stanza’s message was about the victory part that narrates what happened. The people for their rights and democracy. That the government ended their unfair system of government. And by the help of God, and the courage of the people’s country to do the People’s Power Revolution. The Martial Law ended, and the people of the nation once again felt the sweetness and victory of democracy.

Sources:

n.d.). How to Construe and Convey Tone in Poetry. Retrieved from https://www.writingforward.com/poetry-writing/how-to-construe-and-convey-tone-in-poetry

(n.d.). Poetry as a weapon for peaceful dissent. Retrieved from http://nine.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/literature/2016/11/29/poetry-as-weapon.html

#analysis

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graphomaniacc · 6 years ago

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“Mars shall glow” is “Martial Law”

Elisha Brotemarkle

Francis Beluang

Literacy is used to communicate in a rapidly changing world. It is very essential for lifting communities out of poverty. Literacy empowers people, enabling them to participate fully in society. This essay will tell you that the “Prometheus Unbound” by Ruben Cuevas, which was the myth of Prometheus picked up where Percy Bysshe Shelley left off is all about the martial law and it is a secret message for the resistance movement against the dictator.

After reading the poem, it already gives me hints that it is all about an injustice system of a government. And as I analyze more of it I saw an acrostic, in which the first letters of each line, when read downwards, spelled out a message different from that of the rest of the poem. And it says “Marcos Hitler Diktador Tuta”.

The underlying message of the first stanza of the poem does not really pertaining to Mars the planet or Mars as a greek God. It is Mars shall glow tonight, and it means martial law. In this stanza the writer wants to inform the people of his country that they are not having equal justice anymore. That the government is not following the human rights. The people of his country do not have any choice but to not fight for their rights because they still love their lives.

In the second stanza, it was stated there that the people were punished by just a flick of authorities’ finger on their guns. It was also said that they are mad, wrath and rage. But they remained to be silent because the government are controlling them and they are felt threatened because of deaths.

The third part tell the people what to do. It was stated there that they should be brave and not be afraid of death. It has an underlying message that tells people to fight for their rights, and to give justice to many people who mistreated by the government. And if they really love the country they are going to do it wholeheartedly.

The last part was the victory part that narrates what happened. The people fight for country’s democracy. The government ended their unfair system. By the help of God, loving and brave people of the country, the Martial Law ended. This piece gave me a lot of information about how the people in Marcos Era (Martial Law) fight for democracy and for their rights. This made me realize how powerful literary is. Literature is the foundation of humanity’s cultures, beliefs, and traditions. Everything that happens within a society can be written in a piece of literature. Whether it be poetry or prose, literature provides insight, knowledge or wisdom, and emotion towards the person who partakes it entirely.

Sources:

n.d.). How to Construe and Convey Tone in Poetry. Retrieved from https://www.writingforward.com/poetry-writing/how-to-construe-and-convey-tone-in-poetry

(n.d.). Poetry as a weapon for peaceful dissent. Retrieved from http://nine.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/literature/2016/11/29/poetry-as-weapon.html

#analysis

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graphomaniacc · 6 years ago

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PROMETHEUS UNBOUND ANALYSIS

by Catherine Borbe Dessabel Bihag Beriña

The story takes place during one of the most tumultuous periods in our national history—it is therefore a complex one, with a degree of subjectivity to its beginning and end. Today it is the stuff of literary lore cunning trumps censure and like many legendary accounts, it is polished now from all the reverent handling.

The first stanza of the first stanza is not really discussing about the mars (planet) but it tells about the martial law. The writer want to inform that the people from his country, the Philippines is not giving equal rights to an individual. It has a strong mood and bravery and also about death.

The second stanza ,it was stated there about gift of fire and rage. It tells how people were punished during the martial law days by the authorities just by using their guns. Is also tells how people during that time remained silence because they are being threatened and they are afraid of facing death.

The third stanza tells what the people really want to do. “Death shall not unclenched me”, the people wants to be brave and they want to fight for their rights and also to achieve justice from what the government did to them.

The last stanza tells how they achieve the justice they want also how they fight for their rights as a human. The people did not just fight for their own freedom, the fight for the freedom of the country and that’s how the Martial law end.

There was no opposition party to rock the boat, no independent judicial body to hamper the now free wheels of justice. Even the media muckrakers were in the sewers with the filth. Perhaps one thing that we can credit the Martial Law years for was how it made Filipino artists and writers creative in expressing their misgivings on the uptight Marcos dictatorship. To even exercise their human right to speak out then was dangerous. Many journalists and writers have paid not only with their defunct careers but with their lives.

Sources:

n.d.). How to Construe and Convey Tone in Poetry. Retrieved from https://www.writingforward.com/poetry-writing/how-to-construe-and-convey-tone-in-poetry

(n.d.). Poetry as a weapon for peaceful dissent. Retrieved from http://nine.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/literature/2016/11/29/poetry-as-weapon.html

#analysis

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