Historical Context

El Filibusterismo was written about four years after Noli. In it Rizal reveals a more mature and less hopeful outlook regarding the political and social situation in the Philippines. The frustrations he had experienced in his efforts toward social reform in those years account for the book's graver tone. Rizal himself considered Fili to be a better, more profound novel than Noli. His biographer Retana agrees that as a political novel, it is superior. Upon completing El Filibusterismo Rizal wrote to Blumentritt: "I have not written in it any idea of vengeance against my enemies, but only for the good of those who suffer, for the rights of Tagalogs...." Given the reaction to his first book, Rizal tried to avoid allowing the second one to fall into the hands of the Spaniards. He had after all written El Filibusterismo not for the Spaniards but for the Filipino people to read. After distributing copies of the first edition to his friends in Europe, Rizal designated most of the remainder to be sent to the Philippines. The books were first sent to his residence in Hong Kong, to be smuggled to the Philippines by friends. Upon shipment to the Philippines the copies were immediately seized by the authorities, making El Filibusterismo a rare book overnight. The few copies that were circulated were greatly in demand among the Filipinos. The content of the novel and its dedication were used as proof of Rizal's subversion when he was tried. Against Rizal's intentions, along with Noli Me Tangere the book inspired Andres Bonifacio and other revolutionaries in their cause.