Issues why El Fili was published Need for reform in education Religion issues Abuses of friars Corruption of officials The social climber natives and

Spaniards

Introduction El Fili is said to be “The reign of Greed”. The title also according to Rizal is a dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged or well a presumptuous man. This novel is the second novel by Rizal where the switch of the characters has been showed. This novel seems to be tragic novel compared to Noli Me Tangere which is kind of romantic.

Characters Simoun - Crisostomo Ibarra in disguise, left for dead at the

end of Noli me tangere. Ibarra has resurfaced as the wealthy jeweler,

Basilio - Son of Sisa and another character from Noli Me Tangere. He became a servant of Captain Tiyago in exchange for education. In the events of the book, he is a graduating medical student who befriended Simoun. His girlfriend is Juli.

Isagani - Basilio's friend and one of the students who planned to set up a new school.

Kabesang Tales - Cabeza Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former cabeza de barangay  and the father of Juli and Tano.

Paulita Gómez - The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina, the old Indio who passes herself off as a Peninsular.

Father Florentino - Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married, but chose to be a priest after being pressured by his mother,

Juli - Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of Kabesang Tales.

Doña Victorina - Victorina delos Reyes de Espadaña, known in Noli Me Tangere as Tiburcio de Espadaña's cruel wife.

Father Írene - Captain Tiago's spiritual adviser. Although reluctant, he helped the students to establish the Academia de Castellano after being convinced by giving him a chestnut.

Tandang Selo - Father of Kabesang Tales and grandfather of Tano and Juli.

Tano - Kabesang Tales's elder son after his older sister, He was among the battalion killed his grandfather,

Captain Tiago - Santiago delos Santos, Captain Tiago is Maria Clara's stepfather and the foster-father to Basilio.

Macaraig - One of Isagani's classmates at the University of Santo Tomas. He is a rich student and serves as the leader of the students yearning to build the Academia de Castellano.

Symbolism Simoun- represents the revolutionaries. Isagani- Is a symbol of the youth whose love if the

country is great to the point of being branded as idealistic.

Macaraig- represents the well-to-do Filipino youth during the Spanish era who had good dreams for the country.

Paulita- represents a caricature woman who chooses the best option for a more suitable life.

“WRITINGS”

Nationalism

Nationalism in the novel is when Isagani has been informed by Basilio about the plan of Simoun in the day of Paulita’s wedding.

Background of the StudyWe could actually say that the

novel is more brutal and darker than the first novel of Rizal which is the Noli Me Tangere. Because suicide, rape, revenge and killing is involve. But then, accepted his mistakes when Father Florentino explained to him everything including the line that “God did not forsake him and that his plans were not for the greater good but for personal gain.”

Plot