Name: Simoun (formerly Ibarra)
Sex: Male
Race: Indio
Occupation: Jeweler
Aliases: Ibarra, “Brown Cardinal, “His Black Eminence”, The evil spirit of the Capitan General, The dark soul of the Capitan General, Mister/Senor Sinbad
Affiliations:
Background
Simoun is originally Ibarra, a character thought to have died at the end of Noli Me Tangere, which took place thirteen years ago. He had come back from Europe to marry Maria Clara. But after the events of Noli Me Tangere, Ibarra had to fake his death. After that, he swore to get revenge on his enemies. He dug up the family wealth in a forest and went abroad.
Ibarra created a new identity and named himself “Simoun”, moving to North America. He stayed there for a long time, becoming a jeweler in Cuba. In Havana, he met the future Capitan General, who was a comandante then. Simoun befriended him by lending him money, and helped him hide his crimes. Capitan General eventually was appointed to rule the Philippines, with Simoun manipulating him as a “blind instrument” in order to commit injustices. Simoun currently lives on Escolta street in Manila, and is well-known as Capitan General’s most trusted advisor and friend. He continues to sell jewels and has become very wealthy, while encouraging Capitan General (and everyone in the country) to be as greedy as possible.
Story
Chapter 1: Simoun is first introduced as one of the passengers on the deck of Steamship Tabo. He is talking to the group of priests, Don Custodio, Ben Zayb and Dona Victorina. When the steamship gets stuck in the mud, Simoun suggests that a canal should be dug to create a new channel so that the old Pasig will be closed. Everyone agrees with Simoun’s idea except Don Custodio, who points out that they would have to tear down villages.
Simoun says they should go ahead, and when Don Custodio says they cannot afford to pay laborers, Simoun suggests having villagers work for months while bringing their own food and tools, comparing the situation to the construction of the Pyramids and Coliseum. Don Custodio mentions that people would rebel but Simoun explains that the Egyptians and Jews did not. Don Custodio argues that Indios have rebelled before, but Simoun brings up various buildings that were built without Indios rebelling
Don Custodio says that since it happened before, it can happen again. Simoun wonders why friars are around if people can still revolt. He leaves and the rest wonder where Simoun is from. While Simoun is gone, Don Custodio complains to Ben Zayb that Simoun wants to construct a cruiser and plan an exhibition to the Caroline Islands.
Chapter 2: Simoun joins Basilio and Isagani below deck, with Basilio introducing Isagani to Simoun. It is revealed that Isagani and Simoun lived in towns close to each other, and Simoun asks Isagani how the province is doing, explaining that he hasn’t been there because province people don’t buy jewels. Isagani is annoyed and says that province people don’t need them. Simoun offers Basilio and Isagani beer, but both refuse.
Simoun tells them that Padre Camorra thinks Indios have no energy because they drink so much water. Isagani explains how powerful water is, but Simoun leaves to get beer. Basilio asks why Isagani is irritated and Isagani says he doesn’t know, but confesses that Simoun makes him feel uncomfortable.
Chapter 3: Simoun returns to the deck and Don Custodio tells him he missed the view. But Simoun just says he has seen it all and is only interested in views that remind him of legends. Simoun listens as the skipper and Padre Sibyla tell legends about the river. Simoun asks about Dona Geronima, the character in Padre Sibyla’s legend. He tells Padre Sibyla that maybe the archbishop should have put her in a cloister in Santa Clara since that is “more gallant”.
Simoun asks Padre Salvi what he would have done instead, and Padre Salvi tells the group the Miracle of San Nicolas. Simoun asks Padre Salvi about his story, and whether the devil was trapped in the stone and if other petrified animals became like that also because of saints.
The steamship enters a lake and Ben Zayb asks the skipper where the spot was that Ibarra was killed (13 years ago). Everyone looks at the skipper, curious, while Simoun looks away. The skipper says Ibarra jumped from a banca near the break, and Ben Zayb asks about the body. Padre Sibyla says it joined that of his father, who was also a subversive. Ben Zayb notices that Simoun is quiet and asks if he is seasick.
Chapter 5: On Christmas Eve, Basilio goes to Capitan Basilio’s house in San Diego and sees Simoun there, talking to Capitan Basilio, the alferez of the guardia civil and Sinang. The group is planning to go to Tiana to look at Simoun’s jewels. Basilio feels annoyed at Simoun because he heard rumors that Simoun buys back jewels at half price from people who received them as gifts.
Chapter 6: Simoun is mentioned but not by name. Basilio goes to the forest of the Ibarras to visit the grave of his mother and remembers the stranger who helped him dig her grave 13 years ago, then Basilio is not yet aware that the stranger then was actually Simoun.
Chapter 7: Basilio notices a man digging nearby, and recognizes him as Simoun, realizing it was he who helped Basilio dig his mother’s grave. Basilio then figures out that Simoun is actually Ibarra. He approaches Simoun and offers to help but Simoun takes out a gun. Simoun asks who Basilio thinks he is, and Basilio answers that he sees Simoun as someone he thought was dead, and whose tragedies made him feel sympathetic.
Simoun puts down the gun, deciding to let Basilio live because they have both struggled. He says Basilio and him should work together, and explains that he has been promoting greed in the country. Simoun scolds Basilio for being pro-Hispanism as it will destroy the country’s national identity.
Basilio argues that knowing Spanish will unite all the islands, but Simoun says that Spanish cannot capture the ideas unique to the Philippines. By being Hispanized the Indios will remain slaves and that students like Basilio are working against their own country. Simoun calls himself the Judge who wants to punish a social system through its own crimes. He asks Basilio to help influence the youth into believing that they should mold their own individuality.
Basilio admits that he only signed the petition because Spanish will help his studies. He tells Simoun that all he wants to do is help the sick, and that will be his role in society. Simoun asks Basilio what he is doing about his mother and brother’s memories. Basilio gets angry and says he can’t do anything or else he will end up another victim. Even though Simoun offers to support him, Basilio says revenge cannot bring them back. But Basilio says revenge would mean others will not suffer the way Basilio did.
Simoun tells Basilio that he was punished for thinking like Basilio does. He insults Basilio, calling him the “ideal male” who only cares about having a house, a woman and rice. Basilio says he doesn’t have a talent for politics. Simoun tells Basilio to come to his house in Escolta if ever he changes his mind. Simoun wonders if he said the wrong thing, and whether Basilio just wants to “survive and reproduce”.
Simoun says to “have patience”, perhaps talking to himself about Basilio’s decision.
Chapter 10: Simoun goes to Cabesang Tales’ house with two servants and wants to spend the night there. He asks if Cabesang Tales’ revolver is good against tulisanes and Cabesang Tales shoots a bongga palm to prove that his gun shoots just as far.
Families come to Cabesang Tales to meet Simoun because they know he is a good friend of Capitan General. Simoun shows Capitan Basilio’s family his jewels. Cabesang Tales feels angry that Simoun is displaying his wealth while he has to give up his house. Simoun sells Capitan Basilio’s family some jewelry pieces and offers to buy old jewelry. He asks if Cabesang Tales if he’s selling anything, like the locket of Maria Clara, which he offers to buy for 500 pesos. Cabesang Tales says he will consult with his daughter, so he leaves the house.
The next day, in Cabesang Tales’ house, Simoun wakes up and realizes that his revolver is missing, but that the locket is there, with a letter attached. In the letter, Cabesang Tales apologizes for taking his property, but explains that he needs it as he is joining the tulisanes. He advises Simoun to stay out of their way, or else they will demand a ransom if they catch him.
Simoun orders his servant to go to Los Banos with his larger suitcase, and wait for him there.
Chapter 11: Simoun is one of the guests seen in Capitan General’s house in Los Banos. He plays billiards with Ben Zayb, then Capitan General asks him play tresillo. Padre Irene asks Simoun to bet diamonds instead of tokens. Simoun agrees, but asks if Padre Irene will bet prayers, acts of charity and virtues in return. Padre Sibyla tells Simoun that virtues cannot be passed, so Simoun asks the friars to bet promises.
Simoun asks Capitan General to bet specific documents and Capitan General asks what Simoun will gain from winning that. Simoun explains that he is tired of hearing about virtues so he wants to have them all placed in a sack and thrown into the sea. Padre Irene asks why he wants Capitan General to bet deportations and summary executions. Simoun explains he will use those to clean up the country.
Simoun tells the group that the tulisanes captured him and took his revolvers and cartridges. Because Simoun told Capitan General that the tulisanes had shotguns and rifles, Capitan General is going to issue a decree about sporting firearms
Padre Irene calls Simoun ungrateful for not being happy that the tulisanes let him keep his jewels, but Simoun says that the tulisanes are actually the most honest men in the contry. Simoun jokes that Padre Irene would not have let him go with his jewels. Don Custodio thinks Simoun only gets away with being rude because he is friends with Capitan General.
When the secretary brings up sporting firearms, Simoun suggests that only sporting arms that don’t have a 6 mm caliber should be sold. Everyone agrees except the secretary. Later, when Capitan General discusses the academy for teaching Spanish, Simoun is one of those against it because “the solicitation has a suspicious character”.
Chapter 14: Macaraig tells his fellow students what he heard from Padre Irene about the meeting in Los Banos. Simoun is mentioned as being against the petition for the academy for Spanish.
Chapter 16: Simoun attends Chinaman Quiroga’s dinner. He is seen talking to merchants who complain to him about their businesses because they hope he will talk to Capitan General to help them. Don Timoteo Pelaez complains to Simoun about the port not being finished and how people won’t buy his galvanized iron because they are too poor. Simoun tells Don Timoteo Pelaez to buy the houses that were to be demolished because they are made of light material. When Capitan General’s decree is withdraw, he will be able to resell them at higher prices.
Chinaman Quiroga talks to Simoun privately about the bracelets he bought from Simoun. He complains to Simoun that people keep borrowing money from him. Simoun argues that he is the one who lends money to officials so they don’t have to borrow from Chinaman Quiroga. Simoun tells Chinaman Quiroga that he will collect money for him from officials and sailors.
Simoun asks Chinaman Quiroga to do him a favor in exchange for lowering the prices of the bracelets. Simoun wants Chinaman Quiroga to hide crates of guns in his warehouses because Chinaman Quiroga can bring anything through customs and there is no more space in Simoun’s house. Chinaman Quiroga is afraid but agrees so Simoun will lower the price of the bracelets. The two return to the party.
Later, while Ben Zayb and Padre Camorra are arguing about the exhibit at Quiapo Fair, Simoun suggests that everyone go see it. Simoun, Don Custodio, Padre Salvi, Padre Camorra, Padre Irene, Ben Zayb and Juanito Pelaez take carriages to Quiapo square.
Chapter 17: While at the Quiapo fair, the group looks at wooden sculptures and joke that the statue of the British Indian looks like Simoun. They then notice that Simoun is gone, and Padre Camorra thinks it’s because he doesn’t want to pay for everyone. Ben Zayb says it is because Simoun is afraid of his friend Mr. Leeds being humiliated.
Chapter 19: At the Quiapo fair, Placido Penitente sees Simoun saying goodbye to a foreigner (Mr. Leeds). Placido Penitente hears them talking about Hong Kong, and remembers that Simoun once sold jewels in his hometown and told him stories.
Simoun is about to board a carriage. Placido Penitente goes to him and says he wants to go to Hong Kong. Simoun tells Placido Penitente to come with him to Iris Street. Later, after getting down from the carriage, Placido Penitente and Simoun see Isagani with Paulita Gomez, Dona Victorina and Juanito Pelaez. Simoun says “He only serves for that, it’s nice to be young.” After that, there is a question asking who Simoun is talking about.
Simoun and Placido Penitente go to a yard with a hut and Simoun talks to a pyrotechnist, asking if the gunpowder and bombs are ready. The pyrotechnist answers that they are, but he is still waiting for the cartridge shells. Simoun tells the pyrotechnist to leave and speak to the lieutenant and corporal, then go to Lamayan and meet a man in a bangka. The pyrotechnist asks Simoun if there is anything new, but Simoun says “it will be done within the week”. The pyrotechnist says the suburbs are not ready, but Simoun tells him they are not necessary. He tells the pyrotechnist to leave because they cannot wait anymore, or else Maria Clara might die.
Simoun tells Placido Penitente that the pyrotechnist used to be a schoolmaster but was exiled, and Simoun then “made him” a pyrotechnist. Simoun and Placido Penitente go back to the main street. Simoun greets a Spaniard on a crutch, telling him to be prepared and that “it” will happen in the coming week. Simoun tells Placido Penitente about the life of the Spaniard.
Simoun and Placido Penitente go to Simoun’s house in Escolta. What they do there is unknown, but it is mentioned that Placido Penitente leaves two hours later. In his house, Simoun looks out the window at Pasig River. He looks toward Intramuros (“the Walled City”) and tells himself that he will shatter the walls of “your prison”, though it is not mentioned who he is referring to (most likely Maria Clara).
Chapter 21: People gossip that Simoun might have been one of the people involved in getting the permit approved for the play “Les Cloches de Corneville” to be allowed to be performed.
Later, on the opening night of the play, Camaroncocido walks around and sees Simoun in a carriage, talking to a soldier. Simoun tells the soldier that “the signal is a shot” and that the soldier will be rewarded if he follows Simoun’s instructions. Simoun leaves in the carriage.
Chapter 23: Simoun doesn’t attend the play, and instead leaves his house at 7 pm and returns twice with different people. Macaraig sees him near the hospital (near the cloister of Santa Clara) at 8 pm, and at 9 pm, Camaroncocido sees him near the theater talking to a student.
Basilio is at Capitan Tiago’s house, worried that Capitan Tiago is dying. He notes that Simoun is one of Capitan Tiago’s only visitors. Basilio remembers that Simoun gave him pamphlets sent from abroad that were insulting the Philippines, but Basilio didn’t bother to read them.
Simon visits and asks how Capitan Tiago is and Basilio tells him that Capitan Tiago is getting weaker. Simoun compares Capitan Tiago to being like the Philippines and the government. Simoun scolds Basilio for not reading the pamphlets, and tells him that the revolution will start in an hour. He asks Basilio to join him or else Basilio will be considered an enemy.
Simoun explains that the leaders are all distracted while watching the play, and will think that the revolution was ordered by Capitan General or the friars. Basilio asks what he would have to do and Simoun tells Basilio to help Maria Clara escape the cloister. Basilio says Simoun is too late because Maria Clara just passed away that afternoon. Simoun is in denial but Basilio explains that Maria Clara got sick a few days ago, and Padre Irene brought a letter from Padre Salvi announcing her death. Simoun cries and run downstairs, which makes Basilio cry for the fates of Simoun and Maria Clara.
Chapter 24: While waiting for Paulita Gomez. Isagani overhears Ben Zayb telling someoune that Simoun got sick the night before and couldn’t attend the play. Isagani feels angry at Simoun for getting visitors when soldiers get none.
Chapter 25: The students at the dinner talk about Simoun: they heard that on the night of the play, he was found wounded in the streets because he either tried to commit suicide or was attacked by people who wanted revenge.
While dedicating various dishes to people, a student suggests dedicating the pansit guisado (sautéed noodles) to Simoun because it is believed to be Chinese or Japanese but is actually Filipino. Later, the students realize they are being watched. They see someone leave the pansiteria and enter the carriage of Simoun.
Chapter 28: After the poster incident, everyone is tense and Chinaman Quiroga is nervous because of the guns Simoun put in his warehouse. Chinaman Quiroga tries to visit Simoun but Simoun doesn’t want to see him, telling him to leave things as they are.
Later, Padre Irene visits Capitan Tiago and explains that he helped counsel Capitan Tiago on how to deal with the poster incident, but says he is sad that Simoun got sick and could not give advice.
At the silversmith’s house, Placido Penitente discusses the situation with the silversmith and other workers. Chichoy mentions Simoun, saying there won’t be a revolution because Simoun is sick.
Chapter 31: Simoun is mentioned as being one of the possible reasons that Basilio had to stay in jail, because the “prohibited books” he owns possibly refer to the pamphlets that Simoun gave him.
Chapter 32: The newspapers announce that Simoun has recovered from his illness. Ben Zayb hears a rumor that Simoun will celebrate his recovery by hosting a fiesta, since he will be leaving around the same time Capitan General’s term ends. There are rumors that Simoun encouraged Capitan General to extend his term, but Capitan General refused.
Ben Zayb tells Simoun that he should have bought Capitan Tiago’s house, but instead Don Timoteo Pelaez purchased that. After hearing that, Simoun is seen visiting Don Timoteo Pelaez’s store frequently.
During Holy Week, houses made of light materials are demolished (due to the decree of Capitan General) and the owners are unhappy, but Simoun goes to see them. It is revealed that Simoun helped arrange the wedding of Paulita Gomez and Juanito Pelaez, which will take place at the end of the April. There are rumors that Simoun will throw jewelry as part of his farewell party.
Chapter 33: Simon packs his things, putting his jewels in a steel chest. He is planning to give away bracelets and brooches. There are rumors that Simoun is leaving soon after Capitan General because he will no longer be protected and people will want revenge on him, or the new Capitan General may ask him to return his riches.
Simoun tells his servant to let Basilio in if he arrives. When Basilio arrives, Simoun is surprised by his terrible appearance. Basilio reveals that he was released from prison thanks to Simoun, and now wants to join Simoun’s cause. Simoun is happy to hear this, and tells Basilio that if he had joined earlier, the revolution would have succeeded. Simoun explains that he himself was unsure so many people left him, but now he can control his emotions, implying that because of Maria Clara’s death he is no longer holding back.
Simoun brings Basilio to his laboratory and shows him the bomb lamp, admitting that he was unsure about using it until Basilio arrived. He explains the plan to Basilio, telling him about the bomb and planned revolution, and that Basilio’s role will be to lead scared people to Chinaman Quiroga’s warehouse to get weapons. Meanwhile, Simoun will take over the city together with Cabesang Tales. He tells Basilio to kill those who refuse to join them because the weak and unsure must be eliminated.
Basilio asks what the world will say but Simoun argues that the world will applaud because people will only notice the effect of the act. Basilio agrees, saying the world does not care about the oppressed. Simoun gives Basilio a revolver and tells him to wait in front of San Sebastian church at 10:00 pm.
Chapter 34: While walking on the streets, Basilio sees Simoun leave his house with the bomb lamp and enter a carriage driven by the cochero Sinong. It is revealed that Don Timoteo Pelaez had borrowed money from Simoun to furnish Capitan Tiago’s old house. Simoun is to bring Capitan General’s wedding gift (the lamp) to the party.
Chapter 35: Capitan General thinks of Simoun, wondering if he should have listened to Simoun’s advice and stayed longer.
Later, Basilio sees Simoun arrive at Capitan Tiago’s house, carrying the bomb lamp. Basilio notices that Simoun stops before going up the stairs, seeming unsure. Soon, Capitan General arrives and Simoun greets him.
Basilio watches Simoun come out of the house, knowing the bomb lamp has been lit. Simoun gets into a carriage and tells the cochero to go to Escolta. Later, while having dinner, the important guests (including Capitan General, Don Custodio and the priests) are given a note from Ibarra.
Chapter 36: The caught robbers at the villa tell their story, mentioning Simoun (not by name) as a Spaniard who was “tall and sunburnt with white hair”. Simoun was supposed to guide them while invading the city after the signal (a cannon-shot) was given. But they waited and it never came, and some wanted revenge on Simoun (“the Spaniard”) for breaking his promise a second time. But the caught robbers attacked the villa and wanted to give two-thirds of their riches to Simoun.
It is revealed that after the wedding fiesta, Simoun vanished and gunpowder and bullets were found in his house. Everyone found out that Simoun was behind the bomb plot, and were surprised.
Ben Zayb goes to see Don Custodio and both have a silent conversation. Don Custodio signals with his arms that Simoun might be creeping up on them. Ben Zayb asks about Simoun’s diamonds and Don Custodio makes a gesture implying they are gone.
Chapter 37: At the Orenda house, Simoun is mentioned while the family discusses the bomb plot. Chichoy explains that only Don Timoteo Pelaez and Simoun had been in charge of Capitan Tiago’s house, and gunpowder had been found in the floors, furniture and roof. Chichoy tells everyone that his friend, the office clerk, said it was Simoun behind everything.
Everyone is surprised to hear the news, because the family always buys gems from him and he once complimented the Orenda girls. Sensia argues that Simoun was at the fiesta, but Momoy says Simoun left when they were going to eat.
Everyone speculates that Simoun wanted to kill all the Spaniards. Toringoy removes the ring that Simoun gave him and everyone realizes why Simoun is rich, and why his house has a strange odor. Binday says she once saw bluish flames at Simoun’s house.
Chapter 39: Padre Florentino thinks about the letter he received from the teniente of the guardia civil, warning him that he has been told to go to Padre Florentino’s house at 8 pm to arrest a Spaniard hidden in his house. It is revealed that Simoun came to Padre Florentino’s house two days ago, bleeding. He had his chest of jewels with him. Padre Florentino took Simoun in, thinking the wounds were due to attackers trying to get revenge on him. Simoun refused medical treatment and only smiled when Padre Florentino said that the police were coming to arrest him that night.
Padre Florentino thinks Simoun doesn’t want to hide because he is proud. Padre Florentino thinks about Simoun’s situation, noticing that he used to be rich and powerful but is now in hiding. Padre Florentino does not feel anger toward Simoun even though he did nothing when Padre Florentino asked for help to free Isagani from prison. Simoun even helped plan Paulita Gomez’s wedding.
Padre Florentino wonders if he should hide Simoun. A servant says Simoun wants to speak with him. Padre Florentino sees Simoun in pain and asks if he has suffering, but Simoun answers that soon his suffering will stop. Padre Florentino notices an empty bottle and asks what Simoun took, but Simoun tells him it doesn’t matter.
Simoun wants to tell Padre Florentino his secret and last will, but first he asks Padre Florentino if there is a God. Padre Florentino offers to get an antidote. He prays and sits beside Simoun to hear his story. Simoun tells Padre Florentino his real name and Padre Florentino is shocked.
Simoun tells Padre Florentino about his life. Padre Florentino tells Simoun that God will forgive him because everyone makes mistakes, and that God purposely ruined Simoun’s plans. Simoun argues that that means God wants the country to remain in its current state, but Padre Florentino assures Simoun that God is there when the oppressed fight back. Simoun asks why God did not support him, but Padre Florentino answers that it is because Simoun committed wrongs to fix wrongs, and only good acts can save the country.
Simoun asks why God allows good people to suffer and Padre Florentino answers that it is so their ideas will be spread. Simoun says “I knew it,” realizing he made everything worse. He asks what they are supposed to do, and Padre Florentino answers that they are supposed to suffer and to work.
Simoun asks what kind of God would think it’s fair that many people suffer for no reason. Padre Florentino explains that God punishes people to improve them, and people should earn their freedom. Padre Florentino tells Simoun that Filipinos have to learn to stop abusing when they themselves are abused, and only when they can understand freedom will they be able to have it.
Simoun takes Padre Florentino’s hand, quiet. Padre Florentino’s servant enters and asks if he should light the lamp. When the lamp is lit, Padre Florentino realizes that Simoun has died. The servants pray for Simoun’s body.
Padre Florentino throws Simoun’s chest of jewels into the sea.
Physical Description
“His white hair was like a silver frame for his bronzed features.” (Chapter 19)
Simoun has a very strange appearance, which makes him easily recognizable to almost everyone else. He is described as a “lean, tall, sinewy man, deeply tanned, dressed in the English fashion, and wearing a helmet of tinsin” (Chapter 1). His skin has also been described as bronze and sunburnt. He has long white silvery hair, but has a sparse black moustache and goatee which makes him look mestizo. He wears large blue-tinted glasses to cover his eyes, and they are said to make him look like a blind man. Many characters often do not know what race Simoun is due to his mixed features. He has been mistaken for a British Indian, a Portugese, an American and a mulatto.
“His hair had turned white, sported a moustache and a goatee, but the look in his eyes was the same, the same bitter expression, the same troubled brow, the same muscular arms.” (Chapter 7)
But even though Simoun’s appearance has changed greatly from when he was Ibarra, Basilio manages to recognize him while watching him dig (as Basilio had seen Ibarra dig a grave thirteen years ago as well). Basilio notes that Simoun’s hair color has changed and he now has facial hair, but his expressions are still the same.
“Since his illness, the jeweler’s face had turned harder and gloomier. The furrow between his eyebrows had deepened much. He appeared somewhat stooped: his head no longer held erect, his body bent.” (Chapter 33)
After hearing about Maria Clara’s death, Simoun gets sick. Basilio notes that the sickness has taken a toll on Simoun’s body: his appearance has changed and he now looks more serious. His posture has gotten worse, since he no longer stands tall.
Personality
“[Simoun] wandered around the world, dragged without respite by a whirlpool of blood and tears, sowing bad instead of doing good, dismantling virtue and fomenting vice.” (Chapter 23)
After the incidents of Noli Me Tangere, Ibarra created a completely different persona as Simoun. It is sometimes difficult to say which parts of Simoun’s personality are created as part of the role Ibarra is playing, and which parts are true to Ibarra’s behavior. For example, Simoun acts generous to other people in order to take advantage of their greed. Simoun is confident, friendly to people and always willing to make conversation, but he is also shown to be selfish because he always suggests plans without caring that they will cause a lot of people to suffer.
“The evil is not in that there may be tulisanes in the mountains and in uninhabited places. The trouble lies in the tulisanes of the towns and the cities.” (Simoun, Chapter 11)
He is not afraid of sharing his opinions, even though they are controversial, angering the people around him. An example can be seen in Chapter 1 when Simoun suggests tearing down villages to create a new channel, dismissing Don Custodio’s concerns that people will become homeless and revolt. He also insults Basilio just because Basilio does not want to join his revolution (Chapter 7), and tells everyone while in a meeting with Capitan General that the tulisanes are the most honest men in the country (Chapter 11). Because of Simoun’s sayings, many characters (such as Don Custodio and Isagani) secretly dislike him and think he is too cocky.
Simoun has a dark sense of humor and likes to suggest things to other characters that imply that he knows more about them than they think. Simoun often makes jokes in front of Padre Salvi about Maria Clara’s fate (Chapter 3), and even stages an exhibit to scare Padre Salvi (Chapter 17).
It is revealed in Chapter 19 that Simoun is still sentimental about his past, and wants to free Maria Clara from the cloister. Even though he is determined to make his revolution succeed, a big reason for making such elaborate plans is because he wants to see Maria Clara again.
After Maria Clara’s Death
“I was holding something in my heart, I was not the master of my emotions and I still loved… Now everything is dead within me and now there is no sacred corpse whose sleep I must respect.” (Simoun, Chapter 33)
Simoun goes through a big change in Chapter 23, when he hears about Maria Clara’s death from Basilio. Surprised and devastated by the news, Simoun bursts into tears and runs away. Due to his uncontrollable emotions he does not push through with the revolution that night. He hides from the public, causing everyone to assume he has gotten sick when he is actually mourning Maria Clara’s death.
Simoun is only able to recover nine chapters later (Chapter 32), and is revealed to be angrier and more bitter than before (Chapter 33) when Basilio visits him. Simoun reveals that he had lost his confidence after Maria Clara’s sudden death, and without Basilio to help him, the revolution attempt failed. But because of Maria Clara’s death, Simoun admits there is nothing holding him back anymore. He is shown to be far more cruel and violent. His new plan involves the murder of hundreds of people with a bomb, and then invading the city and killing anyone who refuses to join him. Simoun no longer has sympathy for anyone and does not care that many innocent people will die.
After the failed bomb plot, a very different Simoun shows up at Padre Florentino’s house (Chapter 39). He is weak, miserable and hysterical. For once, Simoun is no longer confident about his opinions, and is depressed because God made his revolution fail. However, Simoun reveals the real reason for his terrible actions, which was to get people to revolt to save the country, because he was tired of people for suffering for no reason. This mindset is most likely due to his terrible experiences as Ibarra. Suicidal, Simoun drinks poison and as he is dying, accepts that his violent methods were wrong.
Showing a change in his character from the beginning of El Filibusterismo (El Fili), instead of killing many people like he had planned, Simoun kills no one at any point in the book other than himself.
Skills
Manipulation
Throughout El Filibusterismo (El Fili), Simoun shows again and again that he is able to use people to his advantage, often without them noticing that he does not actually care about them. He manages to convince several people, such as Basilio, Cabesang Tales, Capitan General, Chinaman Quiroga and Placido Penitente, to help with his revolution even when they are not aware they are doing so. Simoun’s style is to do favors for people so that they will feel like doing what he asks to repay their “debts” to him. This is most obvious example is when Simoun convinces Chinaman Quiroga to store guns in his warehouse, which Chinaman Quiroga agrees to because Simoun sold him jewelry for a lower price (Chapter 16). Simoun freeing Basilio from prison is also what leads Basilio to join him. It is mentioned that Simoun even convinced the tulisanes to join his revolution, and in Chapter 19, even brags to Placido Penitente that he “made” a schoolteacher into a pyrotechnist.
The person Simoun manipulates most often is Capitan General, whom he always gives advice to in terms of ruling the Philippines. Simoun suggests making ridiculous laws which Capitan General usually approves. He is also able to convince the priests, Don Custodio and Ben Zayb to go to Quiapo Fair. They never find out that Simoun collaborated with Mr. Leeds to make a sphinx exhibit to scare Padre Salvi.
In later chapters, however, Simoun’s manipulation is not as strong. He is not able to convince Capitan General to extend his term (Chapter 32) and Basilio hesitates during the night of the revolution.
Intelligence
Simoun is very intelligent and knows a lot about various topics, including politics, law, jewelry, history, art, literature, language, weapons, war, environmental science, and even chemistry. Simoun often uses his knowledge of many different subjects to inform, argue with or influence people. But he applies his knowledge in strange ways, like by suggesting impractical laws to Capitan General but making them sound logical in order to convince him to approve them. Simoun admits to Padre Fernandez that he was purposely giving Capitan General bad ideas in order to ruin the country, which was part of his plan to cause the Indios to revolt (Chapter 39).
Simoun manages to build his own bomb in the form of a lamp, showing his skill in inventing. It is mentioned that he has a laboratory in his house (Chapter 33).
Deception
Even though Simoun is well-known in the Philippines, only two characters (Basilio and Padre Fernandez) are able to discover Simoun’s true identity. Other than them, the other characters have no idea where Simoun came from. Many characters cannot even figure out Simoun’s race due to his disguise (wearing blue glasses and growing a beard), showing how well he is able to hide his past and background as Ibarra. He manages to maintain a disguise for years, to the point that when it is discovered that Simoun is the one behind the bomb lamp, everyone is shocked (Chapter 37).
Relationships
Beliefs
On Justice
“I am the Judge come to punish a social system through its own crimes; make war against it by flattering it…” (Simoun, Chapter 7)
Simoun has a warped sense of justice and believes that people should be punished by their own crimes. He practices this belief by encouraging people to be greedy as possible (by selling jewelry and manipulating leaders), so that they can harm and be harmed by everyone’s greed. He confesses this strategy to Basilio in Chapter 7 and to Padre Florentino in Chapter 39. He also believes he is a person who can enact justice, and even calls himself “the Judge” who will punish a social system by committing injustices.
“It is somewhat more than nitroglycerine! It is concentrated tears, repressed hatred, injustices and wrongs. It is the final argument of the weak, force against force, violence against violence…” (Simoun, Chapter 33)
Simoun approves of getting revenge on the people who have harmed others. He tries to convince Basilio against the killers of Basilio’s mother and brother, showing Simoun believes bad people should be punished. This also means that Simoun doesn’t punish good people, instead thinking they deserve to be spared from punishment. His thinking is very black and white as he seems to divide people into two groups: a person either deserves to suffer or does not. Simoun shows sympathy to people who have suffered, as shown when he decides not to kill Basilio (Chapter 7) because he believes Basilio has struggled like him.
“In grave moments to declare oneself neutral is to expose oneself to the fury of both contending parties.” (Simoun, Chapter 23)
But if someone does not pick a side, Simoun also considers them an enemy and thinks they should be killed (Chapter 23). He shows this by telling Basilio that he will be considered an enemy if he does not join Simoun. Later, when Basilio joins Simoun, Simoun tells him to kill those who do not join them because they are “weak and unsure” and must be eliminated (Chapter 33).
On the Philippines
“If we cannot obtain a finished statue, polished in all its details, from the rough block that we polish, those who are to come will take charge!” (Simoun, Chapter 33)
Simoun believes that by ruining the Philippines as much as possible, he will somehow save it by inspiring people to revolt. He has a low opinion of the country and thinks it will die any day (Chapter 23), so part of his plan is to stage a revolution because from his point of view, violence is the only way to change the Philippines because it will wipe out almost everything and allow the country to be reborn into a better one.
On Hispanization
“As long as a people conserve their language they preserve the security of their liberty.” (Simoun, Chapter 7)
Simoun is against Hispanization because he believes it will destroy the country’s national identity (Chapter 7). Simoun does not approve of the Spanish language because it does not capture the ideas unique to the Philippines. He thinks that if Indios learn Spanish, then they will remain slaves and be working against their own country.
On Revolution
“It is necessary to renew the race. Cowardly fathers breed only slavish sons. It would not be worth the pain to destroy and then to rebuild with rotten materials! What? You shudder? You tremble? You fear to sow death?” (Simoun to Basilio, Chapter 33)
Simoun’s main goal in El Filibusterismo (El Fili) is to start a revolution. However, he keeps this a secret and instead leads others to think he believes the opposite. He tells Don Custodio in Chapter 1 that Indios would not rebel if they were forced to work, but his main plan is to get as many allies as possible to help him lead a revolution. He recruits various people, like Cabesang Tales, Placido Penitente and Basilio. Simoun believes that a revolution is the only way to save the Philippines from itself (Chapter 39) because violence can only be answered with violence.
On Religion
“What are you friars for if the people can rise in revolt?” (Simoun, Chapter 1)
Simoun at first seems to not care much about religion, although it is difficult to say whether he resents religion or just the friars (since friars took away Maria Clara from him). In Chapter 1, he questions why friars are even around if people can still revolt. He also thinks that friars can bet virtues and pass them to others (Chapter 11). But in Chapter 39, as Simoun is dying, he asks Padre Florentino to tell him if there is a god. Simoun asks why God wants the country to remain the same and why God did not support him. He is angry that God allows good people to suffer. But when Padre Florentino explains that people suffer so that their ideas will be spread, Simoun agrees, showing he might have been thinking of God’s reasons all along.
“You who believe so much in God… I want you to tell me if there is a God!” (Simoun to Padre Florentino, Chapter 39)
Simoun is bitter that God is the kind who punishes good people but when Padre Florentino explains that people are punished so they can improve, Simoun does not argue back and takes his hand before dying. This shows that perhaps in Simoun’s last moments, Padre Florentino was able to change his opinion of God.
On the Government
“With the Government or with us. With your oppressors or with your country. You decide now, for time demands it.” (Simoun to Basilio, Chapter 23)
Simon is very resentful of the government, wanting to stage a revolution to disrupt it. When Basilio mentions that Capitan Tiago is becoming weak due to nightmares, Simoun mentions that the government is the same, implying that the government is afraid which is why it is weak (Chapter 23). Basilio also says that Capitan Tiago is blind and calls him savior because he thinks he is Padre Irene, which Simoun also compares to the government. It is possible Simoun considers the government blind for praising the wrong people.
Simoun confesses to Padre Florentino later on that he manipulated government leaders into making the government worse, in order to inspire people to join his revolution (Chapter 39).
Trivia
- Simoun is the character who appears in the most chapters of the book, since he appears in 18 of 39 chapters and is mentioned in 7 chapters. Therefore, he is the most prominent character.
- Simoun is said to speak in “bad Tagalog” although this is probably done on purpose to hide the fact that Simoun is actually Indio.
Quotes
“Only the dead remain dead; and only the strong are given credit by posterity.” (Chapter 1)
“You bond together so that with your efforts you can bind your country to Spain with garlands of roses, when in reality you are forging her chains harder than diamond!” (to Basilio on Hispanization, Chapter 7)
“What will you be in the future? A people without character, a nation without liberty. Everything in you will be borrowed, even your very defects.” (to Basilio, Chapter 7)
“Those among you who speak that language are indifferent to their own tongue, so much so that they neither write nor understand it. How many have I seen who pretend not to know a single word of it!” (to Basilio, Chapter 7)
“If they refuse to teach you their language then develop your own, understand it and make it more widely known.” (Chapter 7)
“Patriotism can only be a crime in the oppressor nations.” (Chapter 7)
“Resignation is not always a virtue. It is a crime when it encourages tyrannies.” (Chapter 7)
“Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem laeseris.” (It is natural in man to hate those he has injured.) (Chapter 7)
“(In bad Tagalog) Within this box I have, as does the doctor’s bag, life and death; poison and its antidote; and with this handful I can drown in tears all the inhabitants of the Philippines!” (on Cleopatra’s necklace, Chapter 10)
“I am tired of hearing talk about virtues and I would like to have them all, all there are in the world,enclosed in a sack to throw into the sea, even if I have to make use of all my diamonds for ballast.” (Chapter 11)
“Study, all of you, why other nations prosper, and do the same as they.” (Chapter 16)
“To have a people submissive, there is nothing better than to humiliate and degrade them in their own eyes.” (Chapter 16)
“Later, Maria Clara may be dead. You leave at once!” (to Pyrotechnist, Chapter 19)
“I will shatter the walls of your prison; I will snatch you from the clutches of fanaticism; white dove, you will be the phoenix that will be reborn from the glowing ashes…! A revolution plotted by men in obscurity tore me from your side. Another revolution will bring me to your arms, will revive me and that moon, before reaching the apogee of its splendor, will light the Philippines, cleansed of her repugnant refuse!” (Chapter 19)
Simoun: “Tomorrow there will be no more studying, there will be no University, there will be nothing but combat and killings.” (Chapter 23)
“When we win, all those who could have served us but did not will be treated as enemies.” (Chapter 23)
“Justice is on my side because my cause is that of the unfortunates…” (Chapter 33)
“This night the most dangerous tyrants will blow up, be pulverized, the irresponsible tyrants, those who hide themselves behind God and the State, and whose abuses remain unpunished because no one can prosecute them! This night the Philippines will hear the explosion which will turn into debris the shapeless monument whose corruption I have hastened!” (Chapter 33)
“A paralytic and vitiated population must die to give way to another, new, young, active, full of energy.” (Chapter 33)
“What is death? Nothingness, or a dream? Can its nightmares be compared to the reality of the agonies of a whole miserable generation?” (Chapter 33)
“No more vacillation, no more doubt! What is the pain of death? The sensation of a moment, perhaps confused, perhaps agreeable like the transit from wakefulness to sleep…” (Chapter 33)
“The world will applaud as usual, conceding the right to the strongest, to the most violent!” (on the Revolution, Chapter 33)
“The common people pay little notice to principle, they look only at the effect. Execute the crime well, and it will be admired, and you will win more supporters than would virtuous acts carried to the end with modesty and timidity.” (Chapter 33)
“What is done is done. I should not fall alive into anyone’s hand….” (to Padre Florentino, Chapter 39)
