Blood is a deathly flower: A play in three acts

Date of Publication

4-2026

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Literature major in Creative Writing

Subject Categories

Creative Writing

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Literature, Department of

Thesis Advisor

Mark Adrian Crisostomo Ho

Defense Panel Member

Mariane Amor-Romina T. Abuan
Mary Jessel B. Duque

Abstract (English)

Set shortly before, during, and after the 1945 Battle of Manila, Blood is a Deathly Flower looks into young gardener Melito Atienza as he attempts to not just make sense of the world, but also survive the conditions that are laid out before him. Split into three acts, Melito navigates this survival while also constrained by his employers, the Perez family.

Using Althusser’s concept of ideology, the play looks further into how ideology and consciousness plays into Melito and his choices, as well as the choices of members of the Perez family. Ideology here is not just present within their respective social classes, but how they interact with each other and how material objects are intertwined with their lives. The piano, a major image, acts as a symbol of wealth and how it is perceived by different characters in the play.

Although a historical play, it attempts to critique how the wealthy live in comfort during uncertain times and how they use greed for their personal interests, which mirrors the ongoing flood control issue under an unstable Marcos leadership. The play has drawn inspiration from existing works, such as A Portrait of an Artist as Filipino by Nick Joaquin and Oro, Plata, Mata by Peque Gallaga.

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

Nakasentro bago, habang, at pagkatapos ng Labanan sa Maynila noong 1945, sinusundan ng Blood is a Deathly Flower ang buhay ng binatilyong hardinerong si Melito Atienza sa kaniyang pagsisikap na hindi lamang unawain ang mundo, kundi ang manatiling buhay sa gitna ng mga hamong kinakaharap. Sa tatlong yugto, binabagtas ni Melito ang landas na ito habang nagigipit sa mga paghihigpit ng kaniyang mga pinaglilingkuran, ang pamilya Perez.

Gamit ang konsepto ng ideolohiya ni Althusser, sinisiyasat ng dula kung paano humuhubog ang ideolohiya at kamalayan sa mga desisyon ni Melito, gayundin sa mga naging pasiya ng mga miyembro ng pamilya Perez. Ang ideolohiya ay hindi lamang makikita sa kani-kanilang antas sa lipunan, kundi pati na rin sa kung paano sila nakikitungo sa isa't isa at kung paano nakaugnay ang mga materyal na bagay sa kanilang mga buhay. Ang piyano, bilang isang mahalagang imahen, ay nagsisilbing simbolo ng kayamanan at kung paano ito binibigyang-kahulugan ng iba't ibang tauhan sa dula.

Bagamat isang historikal na dula, sinusubukan nitong punahin ang marangyang pamumuhay ng mga elitista sa gitna ng kawalang-tiyakan at ang paggamit nila ng kasakiman para sa sariling interes, na siyang sumasalamin sa kasalukuyang isyu ukol sa flood control projects sa ilalim ng mabuway na pamumuno ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos. Naimpluwensiyahan ang dula ng mga kilalang akda, tulad ng A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino ni Nick Joaquin at Oro, Plata, Mata ni Peque Gallaga.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Historical drama; Ideology in literature; World War, 1939-1945—Drama

Upload Full Text

wf_yes

Embargo Period

4-13-2026

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS