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saakingbayan · 1 year

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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.

#el filibusterimo #isagani #simoun #basilio #paulita gomez #jose rizal #the reign of greed

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