The Reign of Greed

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rizal, José, 1861-1896

Contributor:

Derbyshire, Charles E.

Standardized Title:

El Filibusterismo. English

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Reign of Greed" by José Rizal is a novel written during the late 19th century, forming a sequel to his earlier work "Noli Me Tangere." This book delves into the socio-political landscape in the Philippines during the final days of Spanish colonial rule, reflecting Rizal's disillusionment and more mature perspective on reform efforts through its somber narrative. The story follows several characters, particularly Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, who becomes embroiled in conflicts with the friars and colonial authorities as he seeks to improve conditions for his people. The opening of "The Reign of Greed" sets the stage with insights into the broader context of Philippine society under Spanish rule. The narrative begins with a description of a steamer navigating the Pasig River, symbolizing the sluggish progress of the nation itself, while contrasting the lives of the upper deck passengers-Spanish officials and wealthy Filipinos-and those cramped below, representing the oppressed Filipino majority. Characters like the ambitious Ibarra, his betrothed Maria Clara, and the sinister figures of the friars are introduced. We witness Ibarra's struggle for social reform and his growing tensions with the church, culminating in various personal and collective tragedies that highlight the pervasive injustices of colonial life. The intertwining stories of hope and despair reflect Rizal's sharp critique of the social injustices faced by Filipinos during this period. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg.

Notes:

Reading ease score: 66.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_filibusterismo

Release date is 2004-01-01