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Rizal Contextual Analysis

1) The document analyzes 7 statements from Jose Rizal's letters to understand his position on reform vs revolution in the Philippines under Spanish rule. 2) The statements show Rizal's strong feelings for his fellow Filipinos and desire for their education and development, as he saw this as the path for reform over revolution given the circumstances. 3) Over time, as the oppression intensified and hope in Spain was lost, Rizal's statements showed a growing acceptance that revolution may become necessary if conditions did not improve and Filipinos could no longer endure their suffering. However, he still primarily advocated for reform through education and independence campaigns rather than violence.

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Jewel Cabigon
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234 views2 pages

Rizal Contextual Analysis

1) The document analyzes 7 statements from Jose Rizal's letters to understand his position on reform vs revolution in the Philippines under Spanish rule. 2) The statements show Rizal's strong feelings for his fellow Filipinos and desire for their education and development, as he saw this as the path for reform over revolution given the circumstances. 3) Over time, as the oppression intensified and hope in Spain was lost, Rizal's statements showed a growing acceptance that revolution may become necessary if conditions did not improve and Filipinos could no longer endure their suffering. However, he still primarily advocated for reform through education and independence campaigns rather than violence.

Uploaded by

Jewel Cabigon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Jewelyn L.

Cabigon GEC109- A1-2

Question on Strategy and Tactics, REFORM or REVOLUTION?

The seven different statements are extracted from Rizal’s letters to the reformists and to
Ferdinand Blumentritt, an Austrian scholar in Leitmeritz that became Rizal’s lifelong
correspondence and his friend. The given dates on the references give us a peek of the time
when Dr. Rizal wrote the statements. It was recognized that it was the height of Spain
governance and the issues surrounding it. The interpretation of the texts of Dr. Rizal held stand
that it was for reformation as how the author and his historical context appear.

Given the references of the statements, it was taken off from letters which Dr. Rizal
wrote. Hence, the idea of writing letters are quite intimate and the author of such may be
influenced by his feelings or his circumstances. The given statements or write-ups were
identified to give off the idea of strong feelings of compassion for his fellow countrymen and a
glimpse of his dream for the Filipinos. Regarding to its history, it was primarily known that Rizal
stands for reformation and who fought off through his writings. Through his letters, it conveyed
his thoughts and feelings through his choice of words. It can be viewed that he advocates
patriotism as it gradually intensify throughout the text.

Citing the phrase from second statement, “Starting under the present circumstances, we
do not want separation from Spain. All that we ask is greater attention, better education,
better government [officials], one of two representatives [in Parliament], and greater security
for persons and our properties.”. This may partakes to us on how Rizal tries to suggest on
what’s lacking on that time. Thus, the idea on presence of exploitation but he saw that we can
achieve an uplift with the Spain, given who was in power.

On the same state of circumstances- on seventh statement, he wrote to his fellow


reformists that Marcelo del Pilar, a Filipino scholar who already finished his studies, came back
to Europe. He strongly opposed the action by revealing him and stating that “To serve our
country, there is nothing like staying in it. It is there that we have to educate the people; it is
there that we have to work” – reveals an identity of Rizal aiming for reformation through the
means of education and improving the knowledge for overall development.
The next phrase -first statement states, “The Filipinos had long wished for
Hispanization and they were wrong in aspiring it” –it gives the glimpse of growing awareness
on the Spain assimilation on the country and how wrong it was to dream of becoming one where
the benefits were not given to them. The date given on the letter’s reference were the same time
which he wrote his second part of Noli Me Tangere. Rizal, through his novel, described the state
of the country under the rulings of Spaniards. In which metaphorically, written to reveal the
sufferings of his countrymen and to awaken the truth.

It happened on what the fourth statement that he wrote to his friend “I believe that it is
already late; the majority of the Filipinos have already lost the hope they have pinned on
Spain!” it may happen that the ignition of revolutionary actions already manifested and
Filipinos losing hope towards the Spanish government only grew. The third statement revealed
his strong thoughts on partaking the revolution- “when the Filipinos shall prefer to die rather
than endure their miseries any longer, then I too shall advocate violent means”.

On his fifth statement, he held on the idea of working on the independence through
alternative response, separatist movement- “The propaganda for assimilation is necessary but
separatist propaganda should be even more active for the practical thing is to seek adherents
in shaking off the yoke [of Spain entirely] since we should not obtain [assimilation]”. On the
same line, he knew that assimilation will be almost impossible, thus striving for independence is
much feasible. It happened that Dr. Rizal was said to be against violent means of revolution as
he recognized the deficiency of weapons and the disadvantages Filipinos faced.

Through his letter to the members of La solidaridad Association, “If the Filipinos in this
cruel and unequal struggle demonstrate fortitude and valor in spite of everybody and
everything, then it will be because they are worthy of freedom and then we can say: [The day
has come]. “—the conviction it told on how he firmly he stands for the Filipinos and on how
worthy of achieving independence through its struggles.

Through these statements, it revealed a raw feelings of Rizal towards the time the
Spanish rulings took place. It was rather an opening portal of thoughts that Dr. Rizal was not
thoroughly against the idea of revolution. However, the aggressiveness and the given
circumstances gave away the plan to pursue through reform means. Dr. Rizal’s way of conveying
towards the other end has dramatic turns of event and the statements has this strong impact
towards the readers, given also on his choice of words.

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