DeconstructionISM 
By: 
Glenne Hannah Ashley S. Gildore 
Jan Rey Gustillo
Jacques Derrida 
• French Theorist, philosopher, and writer 
• His areas of study include philosophy, literary criticism and 
literary theory 
• Studied Philosophy at a very prestigious school in Paris, 
Ecole Normale Superieure 
• He received a great deal of popularity for his theories and 
writing style, and equally as much criticism for them 
• In 1967, he introduced the theory of Deconstruction
ORIGINS OF DECONSTRUCTION 
Derrida’s main influence for the development of this 
theory was from the theorist, Martin Heidegger 
In his work called Being and Time, Heidegger talks about 
“destructuring” of previous ontological concepts such as 
time, history, matter, ect. in order to better understand them
BINARY OPPOSITION 
• Words have binary opposites like good/evil, mind/body, 
speech/writing. Usually one side is valued higher than 
the other. This creates difficulties that deconstruction 
aims to correct. 
• By deconstructing these binary oppositions, we are able 
to uncover the foundation. 
• Derrida argued that philosophical traditions were 
largely “marginalized,” and with the application of 
deconstruction, it is possible to express what has been 
repressed in these traditions.
COMPARISON 
FORMALISM 
• Every feature works 
together to create 
meaning. 
• Critics say that the 
formalist approach does 
not give enough 
consideration to 
historical and cultural 
factors. 
DECONSTRUCTION 
Finds ways that the 
features of a literary 
work contradict each 
other 
Ignores historical 
factors 
May also lead to 
nihilism or relativism
• Deconstructionists look for the ways the 
elements in literature contradict each 
other. 
• Premises: 
• Words cannot express meaning. 
• Every utterance contains a lie by 
omitting all other possible utterances. 
• Interpretations are sometimes bizarre and 
contradictory.
Deconstructionists focus on how language is 
used to achieve power. Since they believe, 
in the words of critic David Lehman, that 
“there are no truths, only rival 
interpretations
BINARY OPPOSITION 
• Words have binary opposites like good/evil, 
mind/body, speech/writing. Usually one side is 
valued higher than the other. This creates 
difficulties that deconstruction aims to correct. 
• By deconstructing these binary oppositions, we 
are able to uncover the foundation. 
• Derrida argued that philosophical traditions were 
largely “marginalized,” and with the application 
of deconstruction, it is possible to express what 
has been repressed in these traditions.
HOW IS IT USED IN LITERARY 
ANALYSIS? 
• Used as a tool in narrative analysis 
• Starts with a very careful reading that looks for 
inconsistency and contradictions in the text 
• The results often uncovering of a deeply complex 
foundation that is difficult to make sense of 
• This is one of the many criticism of Deconstruction, 
that it nihilistic and unproductive because it leads to 
uncertainty.
Deconstruction may strike you as a 
negative, even destructive, critical approach, 
and yet its best practitioners are adept at 
exposing the inadequacy of much 
conventional criticism. By patient analysis, 
they can sometimes open up the most 
familiar text and find in it fresh and 
unexpected significance.
JAPAYUKISAN 
Monang Fermin just came from Japan. The only reason why she 
came home is because of her father’s death. She worked as a 
cleric in bank at Japan but later on was transferred. She 
reasoned that her boss in the bank was a chauvinist so she 
decided to apply for a new job at a department store. The 
night after her father’s burial, Monang and Fidela (her mother) 
talked about the land that their father had which would be 
under the reform program. Monang became furious and 
promised that she will not let it happen. She became irritable 
the whole time and her mother was worried and confront her 
why she is being unreasonable with everything but she just 
reasoned out that she is just tired and needs a rest. She’s been 
waiting for a call from her friend Linda and she became 
paranoid waiting for a call and a mail.
JAPAYUKISAN 
Until one day, her ex boyfriend Franco who married her best 
friend visits her in her home. They talked about what 
happened in the past and Monang blame Franco for 
leaving him without any reasonable reason. But Franco 
told her that she owe an explanation to him for what 
happened to them. Monang can’t explain what she feels 
that time. Then Franco revealed that one time he got a 
placement in Bahrain and be flying there through Japan 
and wanted to surprise Monang but unfortunately he 
couldn’t find the address , but that night he decided to 
join his friends to go out and have some fun then he saw 
Monang. Monang was shocked hearing this revelation 
from Franco. He saw her that night. Later on she 
explained to Franco what really happened.
JAPAYUKISAN 
As everyone knew, she thought her job would be a clerical job 
but she only stayed it for just a few months but then she found 
out that they wouldn’t give her passport back. She offered to 
finish her contract but they wouldn’t and shunted her to 
another job in a resort which catered to tourists. Then the 
recruiters and backers whom she taught help her were 
syndicate and threaten them that if they didn’t do what they 
were told their lives will be at stake. With no other choices, 
She became a prostitute. But after four years a businessman 
found her and save her from the syndicate and get her a decent 
job. Franco was also shocked to hear this tragic story from 
Monang and asked her to start a new beginning with him, but 
Monang denied him and told him that she’ll be back in Japan. 
For her, her home is a good place but it isn’t for people like 
her. It’s for people without a past, only a future. She told 
Franco that
JAPAYUKISAN 
The Monang he knew died a longtime ago, 
slain in some dark bed in an unnumbered 
room, in some nameless street in a strange 
land. Franco lose hope that He and 
Monang could start anew, she had been a 
cold and hard woman and Japan had 
turned her into this. The last words that 
Monang told Franco is that “If you wish 
to keep memories, let them be of Monang. 
Not the girl you saw in Japan. Then you’ll 
remember her more kindly.”
JAPAYUKISAN 
After Franco leave, a mailman arrived and 
calls for her name saying that a mail was 
send to her. It was the mail that she’s been 
waiting for. It is the contract with her job 
in japan. But she told the mailman 
tonelessly that “There’s no one here by 
that name”
ANALYSIS 
The story Japayukisan depicts the life of Monang 
whom we think is a very successful person 
who worked at Japan and had a decent job not 
knowing of what really happened to her. The 
way she dress and carries herself with a great 
deal of poise and confidence shows that she 
has a positive life in Japan. The story revolves 
around her. She stayed for five years in Japan 
and went home because of her father’s death.
ANALYSIS 
The whole time of the story Monang has been 
very unreasonable with everything and always 
emphasizes that she worked hard in 
Japan.When being asked of her job in Japan, 
she gets angry and furious and don’t want to 
talk about it the reason why her mother told her 
that she is being unreasonable. Also, she is 
being paranoid waiting for a mail which 
includes her new contract. The story goes on 
until Franco visited her in her home and 
confronted her of what happened in the past.
ANALYSIS 
Deconstructionists look for the ways the 
elements in literature contradict each other. It 
is clear in the story that Monang do not want to 
stay in Philippines and is very eager to go back 
in Japan. 
Even though she and Franco had settled their past 
and asked her to start a new beginning she still 
denied it and determine to renew her contract 
but in the end after the mail has arrived she did 
not receive it which shows the contradiction.
ANALYSIS 
In deconstruction we find the tension and 
the contradiction within the text looking 
for ideas that don’t really match. 
One contradiction showed was when Franco 
has been attending the wake of Monang’s 
father the whole week while Monang still 
didn’t arrive. Franco also asked Neneng 
about Monang. But on the day of the 
funeral he did not show.
ANALYSIS 
Another shows contradiction that leads the 
readers to another path is how Monang 
describe her Job in Japan. The way she 
narrate her job description is believable. 
Factors also affects this such as the setting 
of the house, the interior design which 
shows the social status of their family.

Deconstruction Approach

  • 1.
    DeconstructionISM By: GlenneHannah Ashley S. Gildore Jan Rey Gustillo
  • 2.
    Jacques Derrida •French Theorist, philosopher, and writer • His areas of study include philosophy, literary criticism and literary theory • Studied Philosophy at a very prestigious school in Paris, Ecole Normale Superieure • He received a great deal of popularity for his theories and writing style, and equally as much criticism for them • In 1967, he introduced the theory of Deconstruction
  • 3.
    ORIGINS OF DECONSTRUCTION Derrida’s main influence for the development of this theory was from the theorist, Martin Heidegger In his work called Being and Time, Heidegger talks about “destructuring” of previous ontological concepts such as time, history, matter, ect. in order to better understand them
  • 4.
    BINARY OPPOSITION •Words have binary opposites like good/evil, mind/body, speech/writing. Usually one side is valued higher than the other. This creates difficulties that deconstruction aims to correct. • By deconstructing these binary oppositions, we are able to uncover the foundation. • Derrida argued that philosophical traditions were largely “marginalized,” and with the application of deconstruction, it is possible to express what has been repressed in these traditions.
  • 5.
    COMPARISON FORMALISM •Every feature works together to create meaning. • Critics say that the formalist approach does not give enough consideration to historical and cultural factors. DECONSTRUCTION Finds ways that the features of a literary work contradict each other Ignores historical factors May also lead to nihilism or relativism
  • 6.
    • Deconstructionists lookfor the ways the elements in literature contradict each other. • Premises: • Words cannot express meaning. • Every utterance contains a lie by omitting all other possible utterances. • Interpretations are sometimes bizarre and contradictory.
  • 7.
    Deconstructionists focus onhow language is used to achieve power. Since they believe, in the words of critic David Lehman, that “there are no truths, only rival interpretations
  • 8.
    BINARY OPPOSITION •Words have binary opposites like good/evil, mind/body, speech/writing. Usually one side is valued higher than the other. This creates difficulties that deconstruction aims to correct. • By deconstructing these binary oppositions, we are able to uncover the foundation. • Derrida argued that philosophical traditions were largely “marginalized,” and with the application of deconstruction, it is possible to express what has been repressed in these traditions.
  • 9.
    HOW IS ITUSED IN LITERARY ANALYSIS? • Used as a tool in narrative analysis • Starts with a very careful reading that looks for inconsistency and contradictions in the text • The results often uncovering of a deeply complex foundation that is difficult to make sense of • This is one of the many criticism of Deconstruction, that it nihilistic and unproductive because it leads to uncertainty.
  • 10.
    Deconstruction may strikeyou as a negative, even destructive, critical approach, and yet its best practitioners are adept at exposing the inadequacy of much conventional criticism. By patient analysis, they can sometimes open up the most familiar text and find in it fresh and unexpected significance.
  • 11.
    JAPAYUKISAN Monang Ferminjust came from Japan. The only reason why she came home is because of her father’s death. She worked as a cleric in bank at Japan but later on was transferred. She reasoned that her boss in the bank was a chauvinist so she decided to apply for a new job at a department store. The night after her father’s burial, Monang and Fidela (her mother) talked about the land that their father had which would be under the reform program. Monang became furious and promised that she will not let it happen. She became irritable the whole time and her mother was worried and confront her why she is being unreasonable with everything but she just reasoned out that she is just tired and needs a rest. She’s been waiting for a call from her friend Linda and she became paranoid waiting for a call and a mail.
  • 12.
    JAPAYUKISAN Until oneday, her ex boyfriend Franco who married her best friend visits her in her home. They talked about what happened in the past and Monang blame Franco for leaving him without any reasonable reason. But Franco told her that she owe an explanation to him for what happened to them. Monang can’t explain what she feels that time. Then Franco revealed that one time he got a placement in Bahrain and be flying there through Japan and wanted to surprise Monang but unfortunately he couldn’t find the address , but that night he decided to join his friends to go out and have some fun then he saw Monang. Monang was shocked hearing this revelation from Franco. He saw her that night. Later on she explained to Franco what really happened.
  • 13.
    JAPAYUKISAN As everyoneknew, she thought her job would be a clerical job but she only stayed it for just a few months but then she found out that they wouldn’t give her passport back. She offered to finish her contract but they wouldn’t and shunted her to another job in a resort which catered to tourists. Then the recruiters and backers whom she taught help her were syndicate and threaten them that if they didn’t do what they were told their lives will be at stake. With no other choices, She became a prostitute. But after four years a businessman found her and save her from the syndicate and get her a decent job. Franco was also shocked to hear this tragic story from Monang and asked her to start a new beginning with him, but Monang denied him and told him that she’ll be back in Japan. For her, her home is a good place but it isn’t for people like her. It’s for people without a past, only a future. She told Franco that
  • 14.
    JAPAYUKISAN The Monanghe knew died a longtime ago, slain in some dark bed in an unnumbered room, in some nameless street in a strange land. Franco lose hope that He and Monang could start anew, she had been a cold and hard woman and Japan had turned her into this. The last words that Monang told Franco is that “If you wish to keep memories, let them be of Monang. Not the girl you saw in Japan. Then you’ll remember her more kindly.”
  • 15.
    JAPAYUKISAN After Francoleave, a mailman arrived and calls for her name saying that a mail was send to her. It was the mail that she’s been waiting for. It is the contract with her job in japan. But she told the mailman tonelessly that “There’s no one here by that name”
  • 16.
    ANALYSIS The storyJapayukisan depicts the life of Monang whom we think is a very successful person who worked at Japan and had a decent job not knowing of what really happened to her. The way she dress and carries herself with a great deal of poise and confidence shows that she has a positive life in Japan. The story revolves around her. She stayed for five years in Japan and went home because of her father’s death.
  • 17.
    ANALYSIS The wholetime of the story Monang has been very unreasonable with everything and always emphasizes that she worked hard in Japan.When being asked of her job in Japan, she gets angry and furious and don’t want to talk about it the reason why her mother told her that she is being unreasonable. Also, she is being paranoid waiting for a mail which includes her new contract. The story goes on until Franco visited her in her home and confronted her of what happened in the past.
  • 18.
    ANALYSIS Deconstructionists lookfor the ways the elements in literature contradict each other. It is clear in the story that Monang do not want to stay in Philippines and is very eager to go back in Japan. Even though she and Franco had settled their past and asked her to start a new beginning she still denied it and determine to renew her contract but in the end after the mail has arrived she did not receive it which shows the contradiction.
  • 19.
    ANALYSIS In deconstructionwe find the tension and the contradiction within the text looking for ideas that don’t really match. One contradiction showed was when Franco has been attending the wake of Monang’s father the whole week while Monang still didn’t arrive. Franco also asked Neneng about Monang. But on the day of the funeral he did not show.
  • 20.
    ANALYSIS Another showscontradiction that leads the readers to another path is how Monang describe her Job in Japan. The way she narrate her job description is believable. Factors also affects this such as the setting of the house, the interior design which shows the social status of their family.

Editor's Notes

  • #7 Since they believe that litera­ture cannot definitively express its subject matter, deconstructionists tend to shift their attention away from what is being said to how language is being used in a text.
  • #20 This simply shows that franco was so eager to see Monang asking where is she but on the day of the burial he has found nowhere,