I read, to the same motherland my heroes died for.
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I love how Isagani is definitely the type of person who would get into trouble because of how sharp his tongue is. He does not hesitate to speak up and argue with authority figures if it meant defending his ideals. He literally had no fear when he debated with the adviser to one of the most powerful men in the government (Señor Pasta), and even with the only friar professor he respected and looked up to (Padre Fernandez). He directly jabbed at Pasta's indifference to the welfare of his own countrymen and accurately insulted the Dominicans at Padre Fernandez's face.
Considering that he is still just a first year, I find the courage admirable.
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One of the things that greatly piqued my interest when I was reading El Filibusterismo was the symbolism behind the Simoun's lamp and Isagani's act of throwing it into the river just as the wick was about to be turned up, leading to the failure of Simoun's second and last plan.
The lamp contained nitro-glycerin, an element to the plan which Simoun explained to Basilio when he showed him the lamp and told him about what was going to happen.
Chapter 33:
“Yes, nitro-glycerin!” repeated Simoun slowly, with his cold smile and a look of delight at the glass flask. “It’s also something more than nitro-glycerin— it’s concentrated tears, repressed hatred, wrongs, injustice, outrage. It’s the last resort of the weak, force against force, violence against violence.”
After the failure of the plan, there is an entire chapter set in a rich jewel merchant's household wherein some individuals were talking about the failed assassination attempt and the sacks of explosive powder that were found everywhere in the venue of the wedding reception. With no knowledge of it being the bomb, the topic about the missing lamp that was intended as a gift to the newly wed couple and was snatched away by an unknown person during the commotion was also brought up.
Interestingly, Isagani was also there, quietly listening to them talk about the person who threw the lamp into the river, oblivious to the fact that he was right there with them.
Chapter 37:
Momoy turned to Isagani, who observed with an enigmatic smile: “It’s always wicked to take what doesn’t belong to you. If that thief had known what it was all about and had been able to reflect, surely he wouldn’t have done as he did.”
Then, after a pause, he added, “For nothing in the world would I want to be in his place!”
Although Momoy himself knew nothing about Simoun's plans and Isagani's involvement, the fact that he addressed this to Isagani seemed appropriate.
The lamp symbolized the fury of the Filipino people. The symbol of rebellion. The final retaliation against the decaying corpse of society. The force that should finally obliterate the oppression that they've penitently suffered through for such a long time.
Isagani had no right to take that away.
Why should and why would anyone want to get in the way of an oppressed people's revolution against the cruel and unjust system that has continuously exploited and abused it for a long time?
Although there is the fact that he is also a Filipino and has stood up for what he thinks is due to his people, he was not as wronged as the some of the characters in the plot (Simoun, Cabesang Tales, Juli, etc.). Basilio himself thought so when he was contemplating about telling Isagani the plan.
Chapter 34:
He thought for a while about his friend, a great and generous soul, and mentally asked himself if it would not be well to tell him about the plan, then answered himself that Isagani would never take part in such a butchery. They had not treated Isagani as they had him.
Apart from the fact that Isagani did not really know what it's like to be personally injured by the corrupt system, he was also an idealist who would most likely oppose Simoun's violent methods.
However, despite what he did, it's important to note that he was totally oblivious to the reasoning behind the plan and only acted out of love and concern for the girl he loved.
A rebellion held back for her who scarcely cared for him after his reputation got stained.
Something about this is vaguely identical to a good man who would do everything to preserve the welfare of a country that harbors no love for him, to shield it from the storm even if the same tempest could cleanse it from its filth.
But Isagani did not even know what that tempest meant. Basilio told him about the bomb but he had no idea of what it symbolized to the oppressed Filipinos who were eager to take part in Simoun's rebellion. All he cared about was Paulita. She who turned his back to him while he unknowingly held back an entire rebellion for her sake.
It almost seems foolish that the plan failed because of a young man's sentiment for a girl who didn't even love him anymore.
However, considering the idealism that his character embodies, it's also fitting for him to have been the one to take the lamp and throw it into the river, tossing away and dousing the idea of a violent and bloody revolution that the author opposed.
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There is a striking contrast between Basilio's and Isagani's ideals.
Basilio refused to take part in Simoun's plans because he believed that his purpose was not to meddle in politics or join a revolution but to help his people by pursuing his profession. Although he was one of the young people who pushed for the establishment of the academy, he did not do it for any political reasons, as opposed to everyone else who either supported or condemned the project to prove a point.
Meanwhile, Isagani, his close friend, was one of the students who pushed for the project not merely for educational purposes but also to fight for equality between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. He was even lectured by Señor Pasta to stop being the idealist that he was and pursue his chosen profession instead of adamantly chasing his dreams for the country.
Look at the contrast between Basilio's reason for refusing to join Simoun and the exchange between Señor Pasta and Isagani:
In Chapter 7, this was what Basilio said after Simoun told him his plans:
Meanwhile in Chapter 15, this was Señor Pasta's advice to Isagani:
Notice the similarity between Señor Pasta's advice and Basilio's idea of helping his people.
Isagani, on the other hand countered Señor Pasta with this:
Isagani's idealistic nature and Basilio's initial refusal to involve himself in conflict just proves the point that although Basilio's character significantly represents the wronged Filipinos who were victims of the oppressive tyranny of the Spaniards, he also stands as an example of an apolitical youth who is impassive to the bigger picture of a revolutionary movement until he is reminded and made to realize the injustices that the system had inflicted and still continue to inflict on him.
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The similarity between Padre Florentino and his nephew Isagani in terms of heartbreak is a bit interesting to me.
Padre Florentino had to leave his lover when he was forced to enter the seminary and she went on and married a nobody while Isagani's lover decided to marry his rival after he got arrested.
Both of their lovers ended up marrying someone else after their misfortunes.
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