COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Detail 1
I have noticed that this novel focuses a lot more on the church. This book is a lot more
hopeful than el Fili, which can be very dark and violent. The novel goes on, however,
detailing the abuses of the military and the church The church kept the masses afraid by
their teaching them about hell, and if they(the Filipinos) don't follow the Spanish, they
will be sent to hell and such.

Detail 2
You can see for yourself in the introduction of Noli, that the book isn't exactly anti-
church nor anti-catholicism, but it doesn't glorfiy the spanish friars and the church
established in the Philippines, but rather slanders it in a way. Describing the abuse of
women and children by the friars, the disregard of the filipino people by the Spanish at
the time.

Detail 3
In the dedication of Noli Me Tangere, Jose Rizal dedicated the novel the the Philippines
itself. He states how the fatherland is pleagued by a social cancer. This shows how the
novel is more focused on the Filipinos and the Philippines. To quote Rizal himself,"The
Novel is the first impartial and bold account of the life of the tagalogs. The Filipinos will
find in it the history of the last ten years…"

Theme of El Fili
El Filibusterismo's theme seems to focus on how to reach a social reform and
revolution. A number of chapters have long dialouges of text that seem to resemble
debates, an example being chapter 7: Simoun,in which Simoun tries to convince Basillio
to join the bloody revolution, almost like Darth Vader trying to convince Luke to join the
dark side. This represents Rizal's fading hopes for reform against his long-held
abhorrence and aversion to revolution. The book focuses on the inevitable revolution
and whether or not the Philippines should rebel peacefully and diplomatically or
violently.

Detail 1
The novel's dark theme constrasts greatly from Noli Me Tangere's very hopeful and
romantic atmosphere. Ibarra's change and longing for revenge signifys his last resort for
the Philippines freedom, resorting to violence, as a vengence for what has happened to
him in Noli, and how the his previous efforts have had almost little to no effect to the
country and the Spaniards treatment of the Filipinos.

Detail 2
We can even see in the introduction in the book itself that it states that the theme of el
Fili is about colonialism. Whether or not colonialism is right if it is to civilize a race,
should said race rebel or assimilate. If independence is wished for, should it be peaceful
or bloody?

Detail 3
In the dedication in el Filibusterismo, Rizal dedicated to books to the memory of the
Gomburza from Cavite. They were executed by the spanish. They were blamed for
instigating a small mutiny and were executed. I feel this is noteworthy as it creates, in
my opinion, a bit of a contrast with Noli's dedication. The Gomburza were unjustly killed
by the Spaniards, which is also paralleled with one of the chapters in Fili.