Deviant Behavior among Characters of Selected Filipino Contemporary Novels in English

This study aimed to analyze the deviant characters found in the selected contemporary Filipino novels in English namely Smaller and Smaller Circles by Felissa H. Batacan, Gun Dealer’s Daughter by Gina Apostol, and Blue Angel, White Shadow by Charlson Ong. Specifically, the study determined how do the selected works manifest the deviant behavior of the different characters in terms of innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. The study also investigated the possible causes of deviant behavior among the characters relative to psychological, sociological, and economic aspect. The study made use of qualitative approach specifically content analysis in research because it aims to find an honest and truthful understanding of the deviant behaviors manifested by the characters in selected Filipino contemporary novels written in English. The three novels under study found out to have characters who are innovative, ritualists, retreatists, and rebels. The causes of their deviance are their suffering from inappropriate mental processes within their individual personality; they project that what they are doing would benefit people and society in general but their acts are indications of different interests which are not beneficial as expected in the norms of society; and the characters also suffered poverty and victims of inequality. Thus, deviant behavior is manifested through actions of characters in three novels that violate norms of society through serial killing and being insurgent. Being overly- protected, poor and sexually harassed appear to be the major causes of deviant behavior.

Keywords – Anomie Theory, contemporary Filipino novels in English, deviant behavior