Jose Rizal is known as a reformist. He sought change through a "peaceful" way and used education for empowerment. However, the El Filibusterismo stirred the 1896 Philippine revolution. Simoun, the lead character of the novel, sought freedom and revenge against Spanish oppressors through an uprising. The book describes an armed struggle for national reorganization. Rizal's thoughts became an inspiration for a bloody uprising.
The Fili then is interpreted as one of the manifestations of Rizal's position on revolution. According to Benedict Anderson, the characters in the novel represents Rizal. The accounts reflect his mind, thus reflects his possibilities. Simoun could be Rizal. There could be a possibility that Rizal is a revolutionary. The El Fili placed Rizal in a different light and gave him a different persona.
However, Rizal told Ferdinand Blumentrit , "I have not written in [El Fili] my idea of revenge against my enemies but only what is for the good of those who are suffering...". The question still remains, is he for or against revolution?
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