GE9 – Life and Works of Rizal

Name: Revilla, Christian James C. Schedule: 5:30 – 7:30 PM Date: 07/11/21

I. Compare Rizal’s novels by filling out the matrix below with relevant information
based on the research of Watson (1998).

Noli Fili
1. Purpose and The novel's purpose is to show The novel is dedicated to the
intention of the the current condition of events in three priests also known as
novel the Philippines. The novel GomBurZa. It seeks to show the
highlighted many social, calamitous state in the country
economic and political realities in including the maltreatment
the Philippines, which was also experienced by the Filipinos
utilized to increase national under the Spaniards and to
awareness to the Filipino people. promote national consciousness.
2. Tone of the Being a romantic novel, Noli Me El Filibusterismo, in contrast to
novel Tangere contains an optimistic the first novel, is a politically
and idealistic tone. According to inclined novel with a tone of
Watson, the novel ends on a note despair about the efficacy of the
of failure and triumph of evil over political opposition. The humor is
good but it doesn’t show any kind also darker as a result of the
of redemption, abuse and more harsh approach. It also has
brutality. It shows lighter touches a tone of hatred, bitterness,
unlike the second novel. sorrow and violence.
3. Satirical purpose The first satirical method is In his second work, El
in the novel writing about characters based Filibusterismo, Rizal likewise
(give examples) on absurd behavioral patterns. A utilized a satirical style to
character like Don Tiburcio, a successfully express his political
quack doctor from Spain, may be ideas. He also used typical
found in Noli. Another strategy is situations to show the realities of
to show unhealthy social relation his time. Rizal’s example includes
using common situations. As an the scene in university hall where
example, Rizal exploited the a hardworking student became
mismatch between arrogant and the butt of a priest's mockery,
aggressive preachers and the resulting in embarrassment and
congregation's naive ignorance. It humiliation. This scene clearly
shows the clergy's, especially the portrays the Spanish friars'
friars', oppression over the humiliation, oppression, and
Filipino people. abuse to the Filipinos in his time.
4. Political purpose This novel attempts to reveal the El Filibusterismo is a novel that
of the novel Spanish government's conflicts of aims change for the current
(give examples) interest, corruptions, abuses, and situation in the story, which is
anomalies. Rizal can see that also reflected in the current
Filipinos had enough of Spanish situation of the Philippines during
oppression, which is why he that time. It is hungry for
GE9 – Life and Works of Rizal

utilized his work to raise freedom from the present system

consciousness in order to of governing the Philippines
separate his countrymen from through corrupt officials,
the Spaniards' unjust system. One dominated by Spanish friars, who
example is when Rizal was are known to be self-centered
accused of being the leader of a and unjust individuals. The cry for
fake revolt using falsified freedom was illustrated from the
documents with the help of Maria mutiny happened at Cavite
Clara, who gave the plotters with arsenal, which was also the
a specimen of Rizal's signature. reason for GomBurZa’s execution,
This story illustrates how Maria which happened to be Rizal’s
Clara symbolizes the government, inspiration in writing the novel
which will do anything to conceal because he believes that Spanish
its evil deeds. oppression must be ended.
5. Major themes of Strong nationalism and patriotism El Filibusterismo is characterized
the novel through the use of different to contain despair, violence,
approaches were the major revenge and redemption as its
themes of Noli Me Tangere. The major themes. In this novel, it is
novel promotes national obvious that Rizal possessed
consciousness through implying extreme hunger for change
different scenes in the novel that because of the current abuses
symbolizes the current condition and oppressions happening under
of the Philippines at that time. the Spanish governance.

II. Analyze and interpret Rizal’s dedication to GomBurZa for writing the El
Filibusterismo.
“To the memory of the priests, Don Mariano Gomez (85 years old), Don José Burgos (30 years
old), and Don Jacinto Zamora (35 years old). Executed in Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of
February, 1872.”
“The Church, by refusing to degrade you, has placed in doubt the crime that has been imputed
to you; the Government, by surrounding your trials with mystery and shadows, causes the
belief that there was some error, committed in fatal moments; and all the Philippines, by
worshiping your memory and calling you martyrs, in no sense recognizes your culpability. In so
far, therefore, as your complicity in the Cavite mutiny is not clearly proved, as you may or may
not have been patriots, and as you may or may not have cherished sentiments for justice and
for liberty, I have the right to dedicate my work to you as victims of the evil which I undertake
to combat. And while we await expectantly upon Spain someday to restore your good name
and cease to be answerable for your death, let these pages serve as a tardy wreath of dried
leaves over your unknown tombs, and let it be understood that everyone who without clear
proofs attacks your memory stains his hands in your blood!”
GE9 – Life and Works of Rizal

The Cavite Mutiny was a Filipino revolt against the Spanish authority at the Cavite
arsenal. The elimination of the personal privileges for workers, such as tax and forced labor
exemptions, sparked the rebellion. The rebellion resulted in the prosecution of Mariano Gomez,
Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, also known as GomBurZa, three prominent Filipinos and
secular priests. Because of the growing popularity of Filipino secular priests and their influence
over the Spanish clergy, they were labeled and accused of being the masterminds of the revolt.
The execution of the three martyrs was one of the inspirations for Rizal's second novel, El
Filibusterismo. Rizal witnessed some of the tragic events in the priests' lives and it became an
eye opener of the injustices and oppression of the Spanish authority. He described the Spanish
government as cruel and unjust due to the fact that he was adamant that the priests'
executions were the result of mistakes made at fatal moments. He contended that the three
priests were just victims of Spanish oppression since they were accused of a crime without
strong proofs or evidence, a good example of execution without due process. Rizal intended to
cleanse the priests' reputations and appreciate their greatness in order to give the justice they
truly deserved.

III. Provide the necessary information needed for the question.

1. If you were the author of the book, what would be your “alternative ending”?
If I were to write an alternate ending, I would choose not to kill Ibarra in the novel because
I want him to succeed before dying and I want him to achieve success for his father, Don Rafael,
for his partner, Maria Clara, and especially for his “Inang bayan” which is the Philippines. The
same in the novel, Ibarra came into Father Florentino’s house with blood all over his body.
Ibarra declined to be taken to the hospital because he knows he would be caught if he goes to a
public place; instead, he should stay at home. After being cured, Ibarra plotted his false death
with the assistance of Father Florentino in order to deceive the people and get them to stop
following him. Father Florentino made the authorities believe that Ibarra really died in order to
turn their attention. Ibarra then disguised his identify and assumed a new identity. Following
that, Ibarra fled to his homeland to plot his redemption and rebellion. This time, he is aware of
how his previous attempts failed, and he is now deliberating more carefully and thoroughly on
how he will carry out the uprising. He is now slowly putting his plans into reality through
recruiting different people and informing them about the oppressions and abuses that are
happening in their homeland due to the present governing system of the Spanish friars.

References:
Satire and Political Purpose in the Novels of Rizal – Watson
https://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/kasarinlan/article/view/1405
Cavite Mutiny and GomBurZa – Reference from Google
http://malacanang.gov.ph/7695-the-martyrdom-of-the-gomburza/