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Rizal 1 Final Act

The document discusses Jose Rizal's dedication of his novel El Filibusterismo to three Filipino priests - Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora - who were executed in 1872, fueling Filipino nationalism. It contrasts the portrayal of the secular Filipino priest Father Florentino with the corrupt Spanish friars, showing that not all priests were the same. It explains that Father Florentino throws away the jewel box at the end of the novel to be rid of the source of greed destroying the country.

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41 views2 pages

Rizal 1 Final Act

The document discusses Jose Rizal's dedication of his novel El Filibusterismo to three Filipino priests - Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora - who were executed in 1872, fueling Filipino nationalism. It contrasts the portrayal of the secular Filipino priest Father Florentino with the corrupt Spanish friars, showing that not all priests were the same. It explains that Father Florentino throws away the jewel box at the end of the novel to be rid of the source of greed destroying the country.

Uploaded by

yushinzhi
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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Name: Gweyneth E.

Daligdig

1. Not coincidentally, Rizal dedicates the book to the memory of Fathers Gómez, Burgos,
and Zamora, Filipino secular priests executed by the state in 1872. Who were these
priests, and why does Rizal dedicate the novel to them?

The 1872 Cavite Mutiny was a pivotal event, directly sparking the 1896 Philippine
Revolution and intensifying nationalist sentiment against Spanish colonial rule. During this
movement many Filipino troops and workers at the Cavite arsenal was heavily injured.
Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, otherwise known as GomBurZa,, were the secular
Catholic priest that extend their helping-hand to the injured victims of the mutiny was said
to be betrayed and framed up as the leader of the said movement resulting to their public
execution. This unjust execution not only fueled the fire of the nationalism movement, but
also inspired Jose Rizal into writing his novel.
Jose Rizal who has witnessed the execution of the martyred priest decided to dedicate
his second novel “El Filibusterismo”. He even declared in a letter that “without 1872, there
would have been no Plaridel, Jaena, or Sanciangco; nor would the brave and generous
Filipino colonies in Europe have existed. Without 1872, Rizal would now have been a
Jesuit and instead of writing ‘Noli Me Tangere,’ would have written the opposite…”

2. In contrast, Father Florentino is a secular priest, an indio, and Rizal’s portrait of him is
very different from that of the Spanish friars. Discuss some of these differences, and what
might have been Rizal’s intent in positing such differences.

Father Florentino is a natural born Filipino from a wealthy family who became a priest
unwillingly, as he has done any means necessary such as having multiple affairs. Moreover,
Father Florentino is someone genuinely dedicated to his parishioners, he is a priest that does
not discriminate and involve himself to politics. He sheltered not only Simoun, but also Isagani
and Don Tiburcio, despite their situation Father Florentino welcomed them and offered his
listening ears. Lastly, when Simoun died and left all his treasures, Fether Florentino did not
covet them and instead thrown it away, showing that he someone who is not blinded by greed
and material things.

In contrast, most of the Spanish friars in the novel were depicted as perverted, lustful,
abusive and selfish. They lust over the young woman of the town, use their power to gain
monopoly of the education and rob men of their lands. Everything they have done was for
their own interest which was very unlikely of a priest that was supposed to seek peace and
spiritual enlightenment.

Rizal may have written these contrasting characters of the priests to show that in light
there is darkness and in darkness there is still a light and hope. That despite all of the
unseemly doings of the general mass have done it does not mean that everyone is alike. For
instance, most of the friars were wicked and unjust, however there is still someone among
them that does their job properly and untainted of their evil doings like Father Florentino. In
summary, we should not be bias and discriminate.

3. At the novel’s conclusion, after Simoun’s suicide, Father Florentino throws the jewel box
into the ocean. Why?
Father Florentino had thrown the jewel box into the ocean for he believes that it is the
source of greed that is destroying the country. He hopes that one day somebody would find it
and use it for a more meaningful purpose. It could also mean that the treasures were not the
problem, but the greed that people have to use it for unnecessary means such as revenge
and corruption.

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