This study aims to describe the effects of stylistic features in extrapolating the meaning and sociocultural realm of Merlinda Bobis’s short story, “The Sadness Collector.” The story`s theme, the breakdown of a family brought about by migration, is effectively and creatively achieved through the author’s stylistic speech and thought presentation techniques. The sociocultural actuality reflected in the story points out the miserable plight of the Philippines, having developed a “culture of migration” as a leading labor exporter, and the turmoil of Filipino families experiencing The downside of migration.
Keywords: Stylistics, narrative, speech and thought presentation, free indirect discourseBobis, M. (2004). A novel-in-waiting. Creative research: Towards writing fiction. Manila: The Center for Intercultural Studies and the University of Santo Tomas.
Bradford, R. (1997). Stylistics. New York: Routledge.
Carter, R. (Ed.). (1982). Language and literature. An introductory reader in stylistics. Great Britain: GeorgeAllen and Unwin
Dalisay, B. (2012, January 30). e literary Lopez. The Philippine Star. Retrieved from http://philstar. staging.exist.com/arts-and-culture/772126/literary-lopez
Jeffries, L., & McIntyre, D. (2010). Stylistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kirsznr, L.G., & Mandell, S.R. (2002). The Holt handbook (6th ed.). Orlando: Harcourt College Publishers.
Laurenson, D., & Swingewood, A. (1972). The sociology of literature. London: Paladin.
Leech, G.N., & Short, M. (1981). Style in fiction. A linguistic introduction to English fictionist prose. Lon- don and New York: Longman.
Meredith, K.S., & Steele, J.L. (2011). Classrooms of wonder and wisdom. Reading, writing, and critical thinking for the 21st century. USA: Corwin.
Nestvold, R., & Lake, J. (2006). Narrative voice and authorial voice. Retrieved from http://www.irosf .com/q/zine/article/10317
Simpson, P. (2004). Stylistics. New York: Routledge.
Toolan, M. (1996). Language in literature. London: Hodder Education.
Trevathan, M., & Goff, H.S. (2007). Raising girls. Michigan: Zondervan.
Widdowson, H.G. (1996). Stylistics: An approach to stylistic analysis. In J.J. Webber (Ed.),The stylistics reader. Great Britain: St. Martin’s Press, Inc.