El Filibusterismo

RL

El Filibusterismo
(lit. Spanish for "The Filibustering"), also known by its English alternate title The Reign of Greed, is the second novel written by Philippine national hero Jose Rizal. It is the sequel to Noli Me Tangere and like the first book, was written in Spanish. Rizal began the work in October 1887 while practicing medicine in Calamba.

In London (1888), he made several changes to the plot and revised a number of chapters. Rizal continued to work on his manuscript while in Paris, Madris, and Brussels, finally completing it on march 29,1981 in Biarritz. It was first published in 1891 in Ghent, Belgium.

The book is dedicated to the memory of the GOMBURZA, three priests who were accused of being seditious and executed. In his dedication, Rizal audaciously expresses his conviction that their treatment at the hands of the Spanish authorities was unjust.

The plot is similar to that of Alexandre Dumas, pre's French classic The Count of Monte Cristo. Both narratives revolve around a man's determination to avenge himself and reclaim his beloved fiance. The protagonist of each novel disguises his identity and comes up with an intricate plot of revenge and retribution.

El Filibusterismo

Thirteen years after leaving the Philippines, Crisostomo Ibarra returns as Simoun, a rich jeweler sporting a beard and blue-tinted glasses, and a confidant of the Captain-General. Abandoning his idealism, he becomes a cynical saboteur, seeking revenge against the Spanish Philippine system onsible for his misfortunes by plotting a revolution.

Simoun insinuates himself into Manila high society and influences every decision of the CaptainGeneral to mismanage the countrys affairs so that a revolution will break out. He cynically sides with the upper classes, encouraging them to commit abuses against the masses to encourage the latter to revolt inst the oppressive Spanish colonial regime.

This time, he does not attempt to fight the authorities through legal means, but through violent revolution using the masses. Simoun has reasons for instigating a revolution. First is to rescue Mara Clara from the convent and second, to get rid of ills and evils of Philippine society..

He uses his influence to encourage government officials to become corrupt and further abuse the people. Only Basilio, now a young medical student, recognizes his true identity. Simoun is actually Crisostomo Ibarra from Noli Me Tangere, turned bitter and vengeful. He has returned after thirteen years to foment revolution rescue his beloved Maria Clara from the convent.

He tries to convince Basilio to join him. Basilio owes him a debt of gratitude for helping him bury his mother in the Ibarra forest. Furthermore, Simoun knows of what his family sufered at the hands of the authorities. He tries to convince Basilio to join him so that he may also take his revenge but Basilio refuses.

Simoun's first attempt at revolution fails when he hears of Maria Clara's death and breaks down. Then Basilio, along with other students, is arrested for forming an allegedly seditious organization. His sweetheart Juli goes to plead with an influential friar to assist her in securing Basilio's release. She is trying to escape the friar's amorous advances.

When Simoun arranges for Basilio's release, Basilio is now also bitter and vengeful, as well as grateful to Simoun. He offers his full support to Simoun's second attempt at sparking a revolution. Simoun then tells Basilio his plan at the wedding of Paulita Gmez and Juanito (Basilios hunch-backed classmate).

His plan was to conceal an explosive which contains nitroglycerin inside a pomegranate-styled Kerosene lamp that Simoun will give to the newlyweds as a gift during the wedding reception. Simoun then tells Basilio his plan at The reception will take place at the former home of the late Captain Tiago

which was now filled with explosives planted by Simoun. According to Simoun, the lamp will stay lighted for only 20 minutes before it flickers; if someone attempts to turn the wick, it will explode and kill everyone important members of civil society and the Church hierarchyinside the house.

Basilio has a change of heart and attempts to warn Isagani, his friend and the former boyfriend of Paulita. Simoun leaves the reception early as planned and leaves a note behind:

Mane Thecel JuanPhares Crisostomo

Initially thinking that it was simply a bad joke, Father Salv recognizes the handwriting and confirms that it was indeed Ibarras. As people begin to panic, the lamp flickers. Father Irene tries to turn the wick up when Isagani, due to his undying love for Paulita, bursts in the room and throws the lamp into sabotaging Simoun's plans

He escapes by diving into the river as guards chase after him. He later regrets his impulsive action because he had contradicted his own belief that he loved his nation more than Paulita and that the explosion and revolution could have fulfilled his ideals for Filipino

Simoun, now unmasked as the perpetrator of the attempted arson and failed revolution, becomes a fugitive. Wounded and exhausted after he was shot by the pursuing Guardia Civil, he seeks shelter at the home of Father Florentino, Isaganis uncle, and comes under the care of doctor Tiburcio de Espadaa, Doa 's husband, who was also at the house.

Simoun takes poison in order for him not to be captured alive. Before he dies, he reveals his real identity to Florentino while they exchange thoughts about the failure of his revolution and why God forsook him. Florentino opines that God did not forsake him and that his plans were not for the greater good but for personal gain. Simoun, finally Florentinos explanation,

squeezes his hand and dies. Florentino then takes Simouns remaining jewels and throws them into the Pacific Ocean with the corals hoping that they would not be used by the greedy, and that when the time came that it would be used for the greater good, when the nation would be finally ving liberty for themselves, sea would reveal the treasures.