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31. The Chief of Staff
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in El Filibusterismo, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Colonialism and Identity
Violence vs. Nonviolence
Education and Freedom
Hypocrisy and Colonial Oppression
Summary
Analysis
Though the students are freed from prison, their academic careers suffer. Many of them are suspended and encouraged by their families not to return to the university. Juanito Peláez joins his father’s business, while Makaraig leaves for Europe. Father Fernández keeps Isagani in his course, allowing him to stay at the university. Basilio remains in prison, though the same coachman who took him to San Diego visits him and tells him what happened to Julí. Simoun recovers, though he is expected to leave soon with the captain-general, whose term is almost over. Paulita Gómez agrees to marry Juanito, her love for Isagani disappearing with his arrest. Don Timoteo carries out his planned demotion of flimsy houses, and he uses his increased wealth to buy Captain Tiago’s old house and to plan an elaborate wedding there for his son, with the help of Simoun and his jewels.
The repression of the student movement is by and large effective, scattering its leaders even once they are released from custody. This suggests that it was the captain-general or the priests who framed the students, not Simoun, but the novel never confirms who was responsible. Makaraig’s departure for Europe echoes Rizal’s own; this was a common escape for many upwardly mobile Filipino students who clashed with the colonial government. Otherwise, the oppression and exploitation continues as usual, with the captain-general being transferred not because he has abused the Filipino people but simply for administrative reasons.
Themes
