For Humanity’s Sake (Verbal Irony)
After Tales and his family laboriously clear a section of the forest to farm, a religious order claims the land is actually theirs. The religious order has no legitimate claim to this land, however, they have the power to act and intimidate as they please. The friar-administrator of order decides, “for humanity’s sake,” to let the family stay on the land as long as they pay rent every year. In this phrase, Rizal is utilizing sarcasm, an example of verbal irony. The friar-administrator is driven by greed, not humanity, in his decision; he understands that they can earn money from the rent with which Tales will provide them year after year.
Generous Spain (Verbal Irony)
Tales leaves a note openly admitting to the murder of three people; afterward, the narrator addresses the other villagers. He outlines all the ways in which each of them have suffered equal to, or even more than, Tales at the hands of the Spanish. In a last plea, the narrator urges the people to hold on because “Spain, the generous Spain, is watching over you, and sooner or later you will have justice!” These last words are sarcastic in tone. Nothing about the injustice that Rizal writes of could be described as generous, yet Filipino citizens were indoctrinated with this idea that Spain was a generous benefactor taking care of a poor, helpless, and incompetent people. Rizal’s true sentiments of independence and revolution are betrayed in the following line, “sooner or later you will have justice!” These works make it clear that justice will come not from a “generous Spain” but from the people rising up and demanding it.
Simoun Advising the Captain General (Dramatic Irony)
Early on in the novel, the reader finds out that Simoun is in fact Ibarra and that he is plotting to bring liberty to the Philippines. Thereafter, there are many moments of dramatic irony where Simoun makes disparaging comments about Filipinos or encourages the Captain General to humiliate or punish Filipinos. While many of the other characters are shocked or offended by Simoun’s behavior, in an extended example of dramatic irony, the reader understands that however flawed his logic, Simoun is actually attempting to work for the betterment of his people.
Ben Zayb Describing the Thief (Dramatic Irony)
Isagani heroically saves everyone at the party from being blown up by Simoun’s bomb. However, because he was successful, no one in attendance understands what happened. When Ben Zayb writes about the incident, he paints Isagani as a thief trying to steal a valuable wedding gift. Ben Zayb uses this incident to reinforce his idea of the racial and moral superiority of the Spanish over Filipinos. However, Isagani risked his life to save people who would never do the same for him. With this knowledge, the reader understands that in fact, Isagani demonstrated himself to be the one of superior character.
