Rizal

During Rizal’s time in the 18th and 19th century, many revolution takes place that change different aspects of the global environment such as political, social and also physical changes in many nations. The Industrial Revolution changed Europe from feudalism to capitalism. This revolution greatly affect Philippines, many cities and ports were built by the foreigners. The French Revolution affected the political tone in the 19th. France was transformed from monarchy to democratic government. The American Revolution played the role of being a democratic aspiration or model when North America overthrow the British Empire and rejected their monarchy. These three major events had a great effect on Rizal and his works. Those events brought Rizal an encouragement to become a strong political figure.

Reform or Revolution? In the letter of Rizal to Blumentritt in the year 1887 says that: “The Filipinos had long wished for Hispanization and they were wrong in aspiring for it. A peaceful struggle shall always be a dream, for Spain will never learn the lesson of her South American colonies ……”. In his letter there is a crucial part which says “But, under the present circumstances, we do not want separation from Spain.” I agree to Quibuyen that this proved Rizal as an assimilationist. But in the latter part of his letter there is another “But” that says “But, quos vult perdere Jupiter, prius dementat!”. This was translated “whom Jupiter would destroy, He first makes mad.”. This explains that at that time Rizal is really not an assimilationist but become one for his future plans. He plan to become a reformist to make Spain insane by the reasonable demands of the reformist. That is the ways of Jupiter, by making it mad to destroy it. But Rizal itself look forward for what is to happen to the future and he never thought of not being a revolutionist. In his another letter to Blumentritt it says that: “I can assure you that I have no desire to take part in conspiracies which...