The genius in Rizal lies in using the major character of his NOLI and FILI novels to express his moral and political principles that to me are his defining moments. Let start looking at wounded Simoun being pursued by soldiers who finally found refuge and safe haven in the house of a retired Filipino priest, Padre Florentino.
In the ensuing dialogue between the man of God and the failed “revolutionario” who is in a hurry to bring independence to his people, Padre Florentino said to a dying rebel, “WHAT GOOD IS INDEPENDENCE IF THE SLAVES OF TODAY ARE THE TYRANTS OF TOMORROW” It was an appropriate reply to an earlier statement so convincingly invoked and argued, that “THERE ARE NO TYRANTS WHERE THERE ARE NO SLAVES” How can there be independence to a country when its citizens are not ready to take responsibilities to run the affairs of their government.They must first be educated, matured and responsible.There is nothing to blame God for a failed revolution. Padre Florentino's rationale on the failed Simoun's uprising is that the rebellion failed because the people are not ready and because they are not ready they DON'T deserve it!
The ingenuity of Rizal in which he makes his characters speak for him is not just romanticism but a clever subterfuge. Other than that they are prophetic, the highlighted quotations are something Rizal wants his readers to analyze on the importance of education, rational or analytical inquiry that educated citizens to be independent must possess.
Rizal addressed his countrymen that his primary reason for writing the NOLI is to remove the VEIL OF IGNORANCE that has kept them 400 years of misrule, abused and as a consequence getting used to be slaves under Spain.
Rizal was aware of the “Reign of Terror” during French Revolution when Marat, Danton, and Robiespierre abused their leadership to exact vengeance on their enemies at the expense of justice, fairness and equality. During those tumultuous times Madam Roland made her famous statement: ‘O LIBERTY, HOW MANY CRIMES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED IN THY NAME?”
I always assumed that Rizal is so keen about violent revolution where intrigue, cloak and dagger fashion are the tools of the trade, to attain personal ambition, power and glory which in the end will lose all the fruits of the hard won independence. “Slaves becoming tyrants can be the worst scenario to learn the lessons of history. Was there any preventive measure to avoid Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio from being brutally killed in Mount Buntis, Cavite? Or in the case of General Antonio Luna, getting tricked or did he invite himself to come to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija to be ambushed? Let us go back to George Santayana and his famous words:”THOSE WHO REFUSED TO LEARN THE LESSON OF THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT”
The last defining moment of Rizal using a NOLI character that of sounds to me an ideal OBITUARY for him came from the mouth of Elias who after rescuing Crisostomo Ibarra hidden in the banca covered with water lilies in the Pasig River and relentlessly being pursued by the Civil Guards was mortally wounded.
Crisostomo Ibarra, the rescued survivor compassionately watched Elias hovering between life and death saying, “I DIE WITHOUT SEEING THE DAWN OF MY COUNTRY. YOU WHO WILL SEE IT CHERISH AND ADORE BUT DON’T FORGET THOSE WHO FELL IN THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT”
Figure of speech, metaphor, imagery, rhetoric or simile: Name it! And Rizal has it. An ideal and fitting to be an OBITUARY! There is extra room for imagination or interpretation. DAWN could be the independence, Rizal’s lifetime preoccupation. “THOSE WHO FELL IN THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT”, refer to the men and women who joined the revolution killed in the struggle. All that Rizal coming from the mouth of Elias is Never to forget their valiant deeds! There is a reason for living and there is time for dying.
Jose Sison Luzadas, KGOR
Scarborough Chapter, CANADA
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