diced b Jos e S. Arc a, - non

means to either persuade or bribe people to win them over for his perniciousplans. These efforts are no longer heroic. They are, instead, increasing thefilth, the greed, and the demoralization of the people. This is demonstratedfor instance in the way Simoun wins over Basilio, who is reprimanded by theauthor for not protesting against the former's "criminal actions."'s The brightcontrast to Basilio is Isagani, the student, who lectures his professor, Fr.Fernandez, on morals and duties; Isagani the "idiot," who gives himself up tothe government authorities to answer for his convictions and be punished fora crime he had not committed, Isagani, the man who is ready to sacrifice hislife for others because of love.'Rizal does not leave the intention of the novel to the reader'simagination. It is extensively explained in the last chapter by Fr. Fiorentino,a Filipino priest, to the dying Simoun who had found refuge in the priest'shouse after his attempted revolution had failed. Fr. Fiorentino replies toSimoun's question, why God had forsaken him: because God could notapprove the means chosen by the rebel!The glory of saving a country cannot be given to one who has contributed to itsruin. You believed that what crime and iniquity had stained and deformed, morecrime and more iniquity could cleanse and redeem. This was an error. Hate onlycreates monsters, crime criminals; only love can work wonders, only virtue canredeem. If our country is some day to be fire, it will not be through vice andcrime, it will not be through the corruption of its sons, some deceived, othersbribed! Redemption presupposes virtue; virtue, sacrifice, and sacrifice, love."In the course of the discussion, Fr. Fiorentino elaborates on the latteraspect. In winning freedom for a country it is not so much the sword thatcounts. What counts is dignity and courage:We must win our freedom by deserving it, by improving the mind and enhancingthe dignity of the individual, loving what is just, what is good, what is great, to thepoint of dying for it. When a people reach these heights; God provides theweapon and the idols and tyrants fall like a house of cards?'It is no longer Spain which is asked to provide help, but God, and Godrequires sincerity, purity of heart, sacrifices! This point is stressed repeatedlyin this last chapter of El Filibusterismo, which can indeed no longer be takenas a call for a Katipunan-like revolutionary movement. It is, rather, a call fora religious-like service, for self-sacrifice among the youth "who will givegenerously of their blood to wash away so much shame, crime, andabomination. Pure and immaculate must the victim be for the sacrifice to beacceptable . ."39213