El filibusterismo

Characters

1. Simoun- The continuation character of Crisostomo Ibarra disguised as a wealthy jeweler who
likes to wear blue tinted glasses, bent on starting a revolution. Using his wealth , he encouraged
the people who experienced abuse to join him in his rebellion against the church and the
government.
 Symbolism- Simoun represents the revolutionaries during that time who supported the idea of
holding bloody revolt against the Spanish government. His death in El Filibusterismo tells readers
that Rizal does not support the armed revolution.
2. Basilio- Sisa’s son and was adopted by Kapitan TIiago. He is the boyfiredn of Juli and he is an
aspiring doctor.
 Symbolism- represents the youth with a simple dream that his education will improve his social
and economic status in the future and is indifferent and selfish to the needs of society.
3. Isagani- poet and Basilio's best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive; Paulita Gómez'
boyfriend before being dumped for fellow student Juanito Peláez.
 Symbolism- Isagani is the symbol of the youth whose love for the country is great to the point
of being branded as idealistic.
4. Makaraig-
5. Kabesang Tales- Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former cabeza de barangay who resurfaced as the
feared Luzón bandit Matanglawin (Tagalog for Hawkeye).
 Symbolism- He personified a typical Filipino who is content with living a simple life. He also
symbolizes the natives and farmers whose lands were seized by the friars, an explanation as to
why Filipinos became rebels.
6. Juli- Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of Kabesang Tales.
 Symbolism- Juli, like Maria Clara, symbolizes the purity and innocence of the lower class women
during Rizal's time. She would rather sacrifice rather than give up her ideals
7. Don Custodio- a famous “journalist” who was asked by the students about his decision for the
academia de Castellano. In reality, he was a quite an ordinary fellow who married a rich woman
in order to be a member of Manila’s high society.
 Symbolism-
8. Paulita Gomez- The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina. In the end, she and
Juanito Peláez are wed, and she dumps Isagani, believing that she will have no future if she
marries him.
 Symbolism- Paulita Gomez is a caricature of a woman who chooses the best option for a more
stable future. She knows what is best for her and would take advantage of her admirers to get
what she wants.
9. Father Florentino- Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married, but
chose the priesthood instead,. The story hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as he chooses
an assignment to a remote place, living in solitude near the sea.
 Symbolism- Father Florentino represented the secular Filipino priests in Rizal’s time. It was also
through his character that the author stressed his disapproval of a bloody revolt.
10. Ben Zayb- Abraham Ibañez is his real name. He is a journalist who thinks he is the only one
thinking in the Philippines.
 Symbolism- Personifies a corrupted media.
11. Placido Penitente - A student of the University of Santo Tomas who was a very intelligent and
wise but did not want to, if not only by his mother’s plea he would not persue his studies. He is
always miserable, and always controls his temper most specially to Padre Million his physics
teacher WHY he is oe of the students (with pecson) who asked for educational reforms
 Symbolism- Placido means – silent and Penitente means – suffering. Combining those words,
“silent suffering” or in tagalog “tahimik na pagluluksa. They represent the people who have
yet to cultivate their nationalistic attitude.
12. Quiroga- a Chinese businessmen who dreamt of being a consul of a “Consulate of China” in the
Philippines. He kept Simouns weapons inside his house.
 Symbolism-
13. Tandang Selo- Father of Kabesang Tales. He raised the sick and young Basilio after his mother
had died.
 Symbolism-
14. Father Fernandez- the priest-friend of Isagani. He promised Isagani that he and the other priest
will give in to the student’s demands.
 Symbolism-
15. Attorney/Senor Pasta- He is an old Filipino lawyer of the mid-Hispanic Manila who refuses to
help the Filipino students in their clamor for educational reforms
 Symbolism- He represents the part of the society that is only generous and sympathetic to the
rich and powerful.
16. Captain General- no specific name- the powerful highest official in the Philippines.
 Symbolism-
17. Padre Sibilya- Hermando de la Sibilya, a Filipino friar and now a vice-rector of te University of
Santo Tomas.
 Symbolism-
18. Father Irene- He is a kind friar who is a friend of the Filipino students. He supports the students
who appeal to the government for an academy of Spanish language.
 Symbolism- He embodies the few Spaniards who are sympathetic to the Filipinos.
19. Doña Victorina- She is the ridiculously pro-Spanish woman who is going to Laguna in search of
her henpecked husband.
 Symbolism- Her search for her husband symbolizes her search for the foreign identity that she
did not have.