REPLICATING HUMAN STRUGGLES THROUGH LITERATURE: A STRUCTURALIST DECONSTRUCTION OF COGNITIVE WRITING PROCESSES IN NOVELETTE WHERE THE GALE SHALL WEEP

This paper explores the principle of mimesis, the imitation or representation of reality in literature, through a novelette that captures farmers' narratives after a traumatic super typhoon wrecked parts of the Philippines in December 16, 2021. The study analyzes farmers' emotional, mental, and communal tribulations based on one-on-one, in-depth interviews with eight participants from affected communities. Using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis, key themes of loss, financial instability, and psychological distress emerged. The findings unveil extensive damage to the land, leading to sustenance shortages, economic hardship, and long-term psychological trauma.