Name: Kent Adrian A.
Cagara Section: BSED SCIENCE-2B
Dennis S. Tan Instructor: Ms. Ronna Jean Agamon
Mark Ryann Aljecera Date: May 26, 2025
REFLECTION PAPER
“THINGS FALL APART” – CHINUA ACHEBE
The image associated with Things Fall Apart vividly captures the cultural and emotional
tensions at the heart of Chinua Achebe’s iconic novel. Central to the image is a powerful
figure likely representing Okonkwo, the tragic protagonist, who embodies strength, defiance,
and inner conflict. His intense expression and muscular physique reflect the traditional values
of masculinity, honor, and perseverance that define his identity within the Igbo society.
Surrounding him are other key figures: younger males who may represent his sons or the
future generation, a dignified woman adorned in beads (perhaps Ekwefi or Ezinma), a wise
elder playing a flute, and a stern-looking European missionary dressed in black.
The Inclusion of the European figure, isolated in appearance and attire, signals the disruptive
presence of colonialism. This reflects the core historical context of the novel: the British
colonization of Nigeria in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. With the Berlin Conference of
1884–85, European powers partitioned Africa without regard for indigenous systems. The
British established indirect rule in Nigeria, undermining local governance and introducing
Christian missionaries, whose religious and cultural doctrines eroded traditional beliefs.
The visual composition of the artwork mirrors Achebe’s literary purpose to reclaim the
African narrative from colonial distortion. The calm background of thatched huts and trees
contrasts sharply with the expressions of the characters, reinforcing the internal storm
brewing within a community on the brink of collapse. The flute being played by the elder
suggests a yearning for cultural continuity or harmony, even as the shadows of change loom.
Achebe’s novel, published in 1958 just before Nigerian independence (1960), served as a
literary response to colonial texts that depicted Africans as primitive. It laid the foundation
for modern African literature in English and asserted the dignity and complexity of African
life prior to European intervention.
Ultimately, this image captures more than just a book cover or an digital art, more like it
symbolizes a culture caught in the turmoil of transformation, the dignity of resistance, and the
tragedy of a man and a society that unable to bend without breaking.
Name: Shaniel Ruzz P. Cañas Section: BSED SCIENCE-2B
Jherby S. Canabe Instructor: Ms. Ronna Jean Agamon
Joland A. Elizondo Date: May 26, 2025
REFLECTION PAPER
“THE MARCH OF DEATH” – BIENVENIDO N. SANTOS
This image, The March of Death, is a grim visual echo of one of the darkest chapters of
World War II in the Pacific – the Bataan Death March. This historical event occurred in April
1942, when approximately 76,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war were forced by the
Imperial Japanese Army to march over 60 miles from Bataan to Camp O’Donnell under
brutal conditions. Thousands perished from exhaustion, starvation, disease, and violence
during the journey. The digital art reflects and visualize this agony through its sepia tone and
haunting realism.
At the forefront, two soldiers march with slouched shoulders and downcast expressions, the
weight of defeat and suffering etched into their faces. Behind them trails a long line of
prisoners, anonymous yet unified in their anguish. Their uniforms are torn and stained,
symbolizing both physical hardship and the stripping away of their human dignity. The
presence of an armed Japanese guard to the right evokes a sense of helpless subjugation and
danger.
This image doesn’t merely depict physical movement but it represents psychological torment
and forced submission. The barren road flanked by sparse trees intensifies the feeling of
isolation, hopelessness, and inevitability. The title, The March of Death, is not metaphorical
but historical and literal. It is a chilling reminder of wartime atrocities and the capacity for
cruelty under the guise of military conquest.
From a broader historical perspective, the Bataan Death March had profound implications. It
galvanized American public opinion against Japan and fueled the resolve for retribution in the
Pacific War. For Filipinos, it became a symbol of both national suffering and resilience, later
commemorated through annual remembrance activities and national memorials such as the
Mount Samat Shrine in the Philippines.
In terms of emotional resonance, the image forces us to confront the personal cost of
geopolitical conflict. These are not just soldiers; they are fathers, sons, and brothers who
endured unimaginable hardship. The image acts as a historical witness, a frozen moment that
demands reflection on themes of endurance, sacrifice, and the urgent need to uphold human
rights, even in war.
