Summary:
Simoun, wounded and exhausted, goes to the house of Padre Florentino to hide from the civil guards who are sent to arrest him and take him into custody. Simoun drinks a poison, then reveals his true identity to Padre Florentino – that he, Simoun the jeweler, is in fact Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, the fugitive believed to have died in the river years ago. He admits that everything is his futile attempt to corrupt the government and the society so that he could start a revolution to free the country from the bonds of Spain. Padre Florentino corrects Simoun, telling him that freedom cannot be won by violence and the shedding of innocent blood but by proper education, hard work, and long-suffering.
Points of Note:
Both the last chapter of the Noli and the last chapter of the El Fili are untitled.
The sun is about to set when Simoun reveals his true identity and life story to Padre Florentino.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: Why did Simoun go to Padre Florentino?
Answer: Simoun felt that the priest was the one who could understand him more than anyone else.
Question: What could have caused Simoun’s wounds?
Answer: He could have gotten it from the tulisanes who thought they were being played again by Simoun in the jeweler’s plan to revolt. Read what Padre Florentino says: “--- from the hands of those you urged you have been given punishment for your wrongs.”
Question: What was the mystery behind Simoun’s sad and cynical smile when he learned he was to be arrested that night?
Answer: He has made up his mind to end his own life.