Activity Chapter 7 (Simoun /El Fili)

Give a concise explanation/discussion on the following items.

1. Why doesn't Basilio dig up the treasure by the balete tree when he frequently paid
visit there for 13 years?

Elias had told him to take the treasure and claim it as his own if nobody
else came.  But somebody did come -- Ibarra.

2. Why doesn't Simoun just kill Basilio in order to protect his secret and keep his
true identity hidden?

Basilio, like him, is a poor unfortunate soul victimized by the cruel clutches of
the government and the church. He also knew that one of Basilio’s good
characteristics is to keep a secret. Also, he yearned for Basilio to help him out
with the justice he wanted to seek and the freedom he needed to achieve. In
addition, he knew that Basilio wouldn't run to the authorities because he himself
is a hunted man. Fourth, Basilio owes Simoun -- when Ibarra had helped in
treating Sisa's ill condition and in digging her grave as well. Lastly, if things ever
came to the worst, it would be Simoun's word against Basilio's, and it is no doubt
that the government would believe Simoun.

3. How do you understand the line, “There are no despots where there are no
slaves”?
Discuss what it means in the context of the colonization of the Philippines.

I believe that the first reason as to why the Philippines was colonized was
because we welcomed people of which we already defeated. Then, we continued
on patronizing them and therefore chose to be fools and let the colonizers govern
us. Simoun wanted to tell Basilio that it was a choice to be slaves, if everyone
would have chosen to be free, then they will be free.
4. How does Simoun’s belief differ from that of Basilio as presented in excerpt 7?
Simoun believed that people needed to see that they needed freedom rather
than trying to please the government for a little less cruel life. He wanted to
repay evil for evil in order to have freedom and justice for those who have died
due to colonization.
Basilio on the other hand did not want to seek justice because he thought that
the dead would not come to life anyway. He wanted a peaceful life rather than a
revolutionary one.
5. How do you understand the “Dark forest” in the novel? 
The “dark forest” may be referred to as the grave of people who were killed in
injustice. Or it might have been referred to as the grave of the people who are alive
yet live like corpses, letting themselves be consumed by the vultures; which are the
colonizers.