"The Reign of Greed" by José Rizal: A Fiery Vision of Reform and Revolution
Introduction
The Reign of Greed (El Filibusterismo), published in 1891, is the second novel by José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. Written as a sequel to his first novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), this book marks a dramatic shift in tone—from hopeful reform to dark pessimism. While Noli exposed the social cancer eating away at Philippine society under Spanish colonial rule, El Filibusterismo explores what happens when idealism turns into rage, and reform into revolution.
In this powerful political novel, Rizal delivers a scathing critique of colonialism, religious corruption, and social injustice. More than just literature, it was a call to awareness, and indirectly, a spark that helped ignite the Philippine Revolution.
From Simoun to Revolution: A Shift in Tone
The main character of The Reign of Greed is Simoun, a wealthy and mysterious jeweler who is, in fact, Crisostomo Ibarra—the idealistic protagonist of Noli Me Tangere—now transformed by grief and bitterness. After failing to bring peaceful reform, Ibarra fakes his death, reinvents himself as Simoun, and returns with a new mission: to overthrow the corrupt colonial regime through violence and rebellion.
Simoun is both an antihero and a symbol. He represents the Filipino who, having lost faith in peaceful change, sees violent revolution as the only path to freedom. His journey explores moral ambiguity, the cost of revenge, and the blurred line between justice and destruction.
Themes and Social Commentary
1. Corruption and Hypocrisy
Rizal targets both the Spanish authorities and the Catholic Church, exposing their greed, cruelty, and moral bankruptcy. The title, The Reign of Greed, refers not just to the colonizers, but to a broader societal decay driven by selfishness, ambition, and betrayal.
2. Disillusionment with Reform
While Noli ends with hope for reform through education and dialogue, El Fili is steeped in disillusionment. Rizal portrays how idealism can die in the face of oppression and how even noble intentions can be corrupted by hate.
3. The Power—and Limits—of Revolution
Simoun’s plans ultimately fail, and he dies disillusioned, asking for forgiveness. Through this tragic ending, Rizal questions whether violence can truly bring justice. He seems to advocate neither blind rebellion nor passive reform, but something more complex: a revolution of the mind and soul.
4. Youth and Education
A key subplot involves university students who try to create change through intellectual activism. Rizal, a strong believer in education, uses them to highlight the power of knowledge—but also how youthful enthusiasm can be co-opted or crushed by a system built on fear.
Historical Context and Impact
Rizal wrote The Reign of Greed while in exile in Europe, aware that it could cost him his life. And indeed, his writings—particularly Noli and El Fili—were considered subversive by Spanish authorities. Though Rizal advocated for peaceful reform, his ideas inspired a generation of Filipino nationalists.
He was executed in 1896, becoming a martyr of the Philippine Revolution. His death marked a turning point in Philippine history, but his legacy lived on: El Filibusterismo continues to be taught in schools as a foundational text in Filipino identity and resistance.
Conclusion
The Reign of Greed is not just a sequel—it is a profound meditation on power, justice, and the limits of human idealism. It shows how the failure of peaceful reform can breed rage, and how even noble dreams can be twisted by oppression.
More than a novel, José Rizal’s work is a political weapon, a cultural landmark, and a timeless reminder of the cost of silence and the price of freedom. It invites every reader to ask hard questions: When is change truly possible? What is worth fighting for? And at what cost?
"I do not write for this generation. I write for other ages."
— José Rizal
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