“Comparison and Contrast of Noli Me Tangere

and El Filibusterismo”
Noli Me Tangere Similarities El Filibusterismo
 Both aim is to enlighten
 The theme of Noli Me Tangere  El Filibusterismo's theme seems to
the Filipinos on what is
seems to expose the exploitations focus on how to reach a social
happening in the country
committed by the Spanish friars and and to give them an reform and revolution. Simoun,in

government officials. The various insight into the events which Simoun tries to convince

friars in the book were arrogant, taking place in their Basillio to join the bloody
respective countries.
condescending to the Filipinos, and revolution, almost like Darth Vader
 Similar topics are
greedy. They represented the trying to convince Luke to join the
brought up in both of the
infamous behavior of the Spanish books. These topics dark side. This represents Rizal's

friars in the Philippines. The being the dire need of fading hopes for reform against his

brutality of other officials and reform in education, the long-held abhorrence and aversion
abuse of the Filipinos by
authorities are also shown in the to revolution. The book focuses on
the hands of the Spanish
novel. It is a lot more hopeful and a the inevitable revolution and
the friars, the corruption
little romantic than in comparison to whether or not the Philippines
of the politicians and
el FIli. officials. There's also the should rebel peacefully and

 I have noticed that this novel focuses characters returning from diplomatically or violently.

a lot more on the church. This book Noli appearing in Fili,  The novel's dark theme contrasts
these being Ibarra, now
is a lot more hopeful than el Fili, greatly from Noli Me Tangere's
Simoun, Basillio, etc.
which can be very dark and violent. very hopeful and romantic
There are also mentions
The novel goes on, however, of Ibarra in various atmosphere. Ibarra's change and

detailing the abuses of the military chapters in el Fili. longing for revenge signifies his

and the church The church kept the last resort for the Philippines

masses afraid by their teaching them freedom, resorting to violence, as a

about hell, and if they(the Filipinos) vengeance for what has happened

don't follow the Spanish, they will to him in Noli, and how the his

be sent to hell and such. previous efforts have had almost

 You can see for yourself in the little to no effect to the country and

introduction of Noli, that the book the Spaniards treatment of the

isn't exactly anti-church nor anti- Filipinos.

Catholicism, but it doesn't glorify the  We can even see in the

spanish friars and the church introduction in the book itself that

established in the Philippines, but it states that the theme of El Fili is

rather slanders it in a way. about colonialism. Whether or not

Describing the abuse of women and colonialism is right if it is to

children by the friars, the disregard civilize a race, should said race
 of the Filipino people by the Spanish rebel or assimilate. If independence

at the time. is wished for, should it be peaceful

 In the dedication of Noli Me or bloody?

Tangere, Jose Rizal dedicated the  In the dedication in el

novel the Philippines itself. He states Filibusterismo, Rizal dedicated to

how the fatherland is plagued by a books to the memory of the

social cancer. This shows how the Gomburza from Cavite. They were

novel is more focused on the executed by the Spanish. They

Filipinos and the Philippines. To were blamed for instigating a small

quote Rizal himself, “The Novel is mutiny and were executed. I feel

the first impartial and bold account this is noteworthy as it creates, in

of the life of the Tagalogs. The my opinion, a bit of a contrast with

Filipinos will find in it the history of Noli's dedication. The Gomburza

the last ten years…" were unjustly killed by the

Spaniards, which is also paralleled

with one of the chapters in Fili.

References: https://prezi.com/azsmdrzyrpao/prezi-on-the-comparison-and-contrast-
between-the-themes-of-noli-and-fili/