MARXIST LITERARY CRITICISM ON “FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH” BY JOSE GARCIA VILLA

JASMINE S. RIVERA
BSA 1-4, College of Accountancy and Finance
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Plain and simple life of a farmer’s family can be depicted on the story’s descriptive introduction. Due to the author’s
nationality, a Filipino poet, the story can also be viewed relating to the Filipino’s society. From then on, Philippines’
agricultural industry is controversial as massive capitalism prevails instead of rationality for all. The battle between the
landowner and farmers has been an unending issue and reflects Karl Marx’ ideology, whereas the former portrays the role
of bourgeoisie and the latter are the proletariat. Karl Marx believes that capitalism makes the rich to become even more
richer and the poor becomes poorer. For him, conflict between the two classes of society is inevitable, as the bourgeoisie
use their means of production to exploit proletariats and acquire their labor for a cheap price and unhealthy working
environment. 1 This literary work gives emphasis on about how workers work under capitalism lives in alienation.

Alienation is the experience of isolation and misery resulting from powerlessness, which frequently occurs when
capitalists dominate workers and treat them as a mere commodity and source of labor whom they can hire and fire at their
own will. 2 In this written work, the landowners are not part of casts and their problematic system had not been manifested.
However, from the described situations of Dodong and his family, actual alienations are observed and conflict in capitalism
can be derived as being part of the working class.

According to Karl Marx, there are four different forms of alienation which are exhibited through different scenes
in the context. The narrative started when Dodong, at the age of 17, is weary and frantic on how he’ll ask for permission to
marry the girl he loves to his parents. On his way home, the field where he works on was described to be dirty. As soon as
he arrived, they had a dinner, fish and fruits are served, which were described to be insufficient for them and the fruits are
overripe. How irony the situation is, they are the ones who gather food and yet they do not get the amount of food they
need. This mirrors the alienation of workers from the products of their own work, in which the commodities they produced
does not belong to them, instead, they are subjected to only for the market. 3

In continuation, Dodong saw how tired his mother is in doing household chores while his father, suffers from tooth
pain. In Dodong’s mind, he thought of his father to be afraid of the dentist in town. However, this could also reflect the
most cumbersome alienation of workers, where they are being alienated from themselves or from their potential as human.
4 This is where the capitalism made labor as an activity that hinders workers to be in their best qualities and undergone

dehumanizing experience. Due to exploitation of workers, overtime in field and being underpaid, Tatay might not have
enough time and also chose not to waste money for himself and prioritize saving it for his family.

Dodong finally asked his parents about his wedding decision, at first his father reacted the way Dodong couldn’t
understand but later on had supported him on his desire. They got married until Teang, his wife, gave birth to his first son
named Blas; in this moment, it hit him up, felt guilty and untrue, and he’s not ready at all. However, he embraced the
consequences, they lived together and bear more children. The couple experienced all the hardships that Dodong witnessed

1 Social Science Libretexts. “The Marxists Critique of Capitalism”. socialsci.libretexts.org. (accessed on September 18, 2019)
2 Judy Cox. “An Introduction to Marx’s Theory of Alienation”. pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk. (accessed on September 18,
2019)
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.
to his parents. Dodong had humiliated himself as he compared his sweet young dream to his present condition. Until one
day, his son Blas, at the age of 18, had asked him the similar question he had at the beginning, which made him realize how
youth and love triumph and then how unready he is as he entered life of being a worker who works under a capitalism kind
of society.

The lesson which the literature is trying to impart to us was for the youth not to rush things and not be reckless in
entering the adulting phase of life. It might not be written directly, but their societal class has been a major factor for the
outcome of their living. If only they had an opportunity to learn or to be educated like the same people in “town”, which
are commonly ahead of advancements, maybe Tatay will learn something that will help him improve himself in his
profession and as father. However, he is alienated from the act of working whereas he is enclosed to do repetitive and
tedious tasks in farming that led him not to develop his personal potential in his working environment. 5 Also, another
reason for Tatay’s underdevelopment was because he is alienated from other workers whereas, he is provided of a little
chance for human companionship not only to work but also to their family and community due to his workloads. 6This
may also result to unnecessary mentality of people to a competition, as they all aim to work for survival and for not being
cautious to people being left behind, in which Tatay’s case is an exemplary.

In today’s modern economic setting, it is most similar and the worse type of story. The deteriorating alienation led
to inauthenticity of people in life, they tend not to focus on things which they knew that’ll bring them happiness (which
is being rich) despite of their true passion and will. Dodong’s case may also be an illustration of being an unauthentic
individual as he just emulated his parents’ deeds aiming for eudaimonia in life and end up realizing that it isn’t what he
longed for. Most of the people are working hard which causes them to be alienated from their work, their products,
themselves and to other people. They are busy to make a living but forgot to live their life and be oppressed by capitalists.

This lifestyle continuously flows thru generations which is obviously inhumane and unhealthy for our well-being.
The technology might make a huge difference on how errands work nowadays. However, the societal issues remained and
became more complex together with the progress in our land. This literary work serves as a brief reminder to Filipinos
especially to the youth to what a real life could be. This also tells us to perpetuate the meaning and purpose of our life and
not be drowned in the system of capitalism while living. It’ll also reminds us not to lose ourselves in the process and
sacrificing the present moment for the future is not a good way of living our lives.

5
Judy Cox. “An Introduction to Marx’s Theory of Alienation”. pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk. (accessed on September 18,
2019)
6
Ibid.