CITY COLLEGE OF

ENGM201b: Literary Criticism

CALAMBA (Die Inday) LITERARY CRITICISM
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, SCIENCES, AND TEACHER EDUCATION

Inspecting Die Inday through the lenses of Marxist

Criticism
Marie Leonora L. Villareiz
City College of Calamba
Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines
marieleonoravillareiz@gmail.com

Date Received: November 21, 2019

Abstract – The story of Die Inday is a Filipino adaptation of Jean Genet‟s thrilling classic „The
Maids‟ that was played in the stage at the NCAS Auditorium of UP Los Banos directed by Prof. Elmer DS
Rufo. The play enlarges the Marxism in which there is a gap between rich and poor. This paper aims to
analyze the play of Die Inday. It is about Soleng, the maid of madame, who envies to the characteristics
of their madame. They imitate their madam every time she was not around because they want to try to
have a power. Power is broad and driving force in this play. The sisters, tired and ugly from difficult
work, and makes roleplaying that Claire plays Madame and the other one is Soleng become as the
obedient maid. Illusion is a kept secret and must remain so in order for them to survive. Until the sisters
frustrate to their fantasies. The role playing may differ but one thing their intention is how to kill their
madame. They desire to kill madame every time she commands them. So, one time they imitate madame
as she is not around, accidentally Soleng was not in her presence of mind at the moment because of her
madness and he killed Claire that he thought it was madame. This paper aims to state clearly
understanding of the stage play. This paperwork examines the story by determining the elements, plot of
the story wherein analysis of the events and gives conclusion for the manifestation of the title “Die,
Inday”. The stage play is analyzed using the literary theories and finding out what Die Inday as
interpreted in terms of Symbolism, Marxist Criticism, Queer theory and archetypal criticisms.

Keywords: Soleng, Madame, gap, Literary Criticism, Sisters, Power

INTRODUCTION uses a word that insults Soleng for commands in

In literature, the word drama defines a genre, or
style of writing. Drama is a play that can be
performed for theatre, radio or even television.
These plays are usually written out as a script or
a written version of a play that is read by the
actors (Carroll, 2010). The Marxist criticism is
the main approaches will be used since Madame
her aristocratic appearance and behavior. It
discriminates two kinds of class which is the
madam and her slaves. It shows that there is
difference of individuals. The symbolism in the
story is the red dress that portrays power and the
tea signifies death. Archetypal Criticism the
scenario is always repeating of their fantasizing
scenes and one if it is becoming the master
 CITY COLLEGE OF
ENGM201b: Literary Criticism
CALAMBA (Die Inday)
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, SCIENCES, AND TEACHER EDUCATION
someday like their madam. This paper aims to
analyze the meaning of a stage play entitled "
Die Inday” and gives clear manifestation for the
readers. Queer theory they desire to have a
lover in which Mario is one of their causes of
fights. It represents of LGBT community
combined area of gay and lesbian studies and
criticism, including studies of variations in
biological sex, gender identity and sexual
desires. As we observe Claire in the story, he
fantasize to have lover or able to feel a care and
love by someone that he desire.
ANALYSIS
Elements of the Story
 Characters
Madam is a beautiful woman who enjoys
luxury in life and the protagonist in the story.
Claire is the younger sister of soleng that envies
for having seen the down face of Madame. He
hates Soleng because of idea of murdering.
Soleng is one of the maids of madame that hates
his own madame because she always gets insults
and kills madame. Mario is the boy catches the
heart of Claire and Soleng. Madame’s husband
named Monsieur that never appears at the stage
but he has been unjustly sent to the jail because
of Claire’s letter.
 Setting
The setting of the story is the bedroom of
madame wherein Soleng and Claire dream to
have it someday.
 Conflict
- Man vs. Man
The opponent in this story is madame
wherein the sisters planning some evil plans. It
LITERARY CRITICISM
shows in the story that the protagonist and his
antagonist have threats to each other.
- Man vs. self
At the end of the play, Soleng asks himself
for what he’d done. Reflecting to the ideas came
to her mind.
 Narrator and point of view
The point of view in the stage play is 1st
Person limited. It describes the story in not so
detailed way which makes story questionable. It
narrates by them and not fully defined in
delivering dialogues.
 Style
The author’s style in the tone is hatred for
using foul words and the moods of the story are
anger, hatred and serious for what happened in
that crime.
 Theme
The theme of Die Inday is revenge,
power and illusion. The play shows how
discrimination between slave and its boss fall in
making crimes. There is more pain emotionally
specially when that person uses her power and
wrecked your dignity. It results the possible
making crimes. It tells to us what may happened
if envy and over fantasies occurs in our life.
Plot of the Story
 Exposition
From the start, Soleng and Claire imagine
that they were like the owner of the house. They
always fantasize that someday they will be the
one to taste of riches. They are imitating their
madam for having that powe until the telephone
rang.
 CITY COLLEGE OF
ENGM201b: Literary Criticism
CALAMBA (Die Inday)
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, SCIENCES, AND TEACHER EDUCATION
 Inciting incident
Claire answered the phone when rang and it
was Monsieur that he will be free from the jail.
Claire never mentioned this to her madam and
left the phone in disarrange form.
 Rising Action
Claire wants Madam to drink the tea but she
refused because it was cold and need to hurry
because her husband is waiting for her. This is a
part that possible start of the emotions.
 Climax
The climax of the story is when madame
spots the telephone off the hook. It indicates that
someone touches and calls for her.
 Falling Action
Soleng realized that she is now alone when
Claire and madame was dead.
 Denoument
Soleng realized what he has done. It is sad to
be alone and it might be their fate to be maid
what matter they fantasize and role playing them
want to be.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The 4 literary theories and interpretation
on Die, Inday, directed by Elmer Rufo
LITERARY CRITICISM
Symbolism
The symbolism in the story is the red
dress that portrays power and the tea signifies
death. Claire uses it to become madame and
makes her as powerful person to command
everything she want and tell what he intended to.
Marxism
Madame uses words that insult Soleng
for commands in her aroscratic appearance and
behavior. It shows that there is difference of
individuals. The stage plays discrimates the two
individual people.
Queer theory
It tells combined area of gay and lesbian
studies including studies of variations in
biological sex, gender and sexual desires. Soleng
and Claire desire to have a lover and that was
named Mario which he is one of their causes of
fights. The characters were played by the man
that shows loving a boy they met and fantasizing
to have a lover. It shows realities to our time that
we can love who we wanted.
Archetypal Criticism
The scenario is always repeating of their
fantasizing scenes and one if it is becoming the
master someday like their madam. It depicts to
the happenings that always happen to them. The
sisters are thirsty to the power especially Soleng
that wants to be on peak of the mountain
someday.
 CITY COLLEGE OF
ENGM201b: Literary Criticism
CALAMBA (Die Inday) LITERARY CRITICISM
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, SCIENCES, AND TEACHER EDUCATION

Overseas Filipino workers that they still manage

CONCLUSION
Becoming Inday is not an easy task and
can’t be Die Inday is a stage play that is about a
story of maids that do their jobs in household
chores and sometimes they made a mistake in
which receives insults from their boss. Madam
commands Soleng even though it hurts
someone’s feelings that leads hatred and anger.
The analysis of this story is used five
approaches to interpret the story want to imply to
the readers. The main approach used for this play
is the Marxism because of portraying the
discrimination between of two individual in the
story between the maid and the employer. It
shows how employer sees themselves towards to
the maid. The best example for these days is
to long their patience from some employers treat
them belittle and unequal to the point of stepping
up their egos and dignity.
It was entitled Die Inday because Claire
died in the story that makes Soleng realized what
he’d done. Never let emotions put to our actions
and let be the first for the reason that might done
things we must think first. We all have own jobs
in life. There is no process that is easier in terms
of maid. It’s better to don’t step other’s ego
because it leads black desires and wrong doings.
Also, Illusions can take you in desired place but
not ever take a chance if this will lead to crime
for you to seize your moment.
 CITY COLLEGE OF
ENGM201b: Literary Criticism
CALAMBA (Die Inday) LITERARY CRITICISM
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, SCIENCES, AND TEACHER EDUCATION

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Reference
https://pop.inquirer.net/81170/die-Inday-set-for-the-uplb-stage-promises-to-send-audience-home-
laughing-and-disturbed#ixzz66m2vERRe