Like Indecisive Bathers (Simile)
Describing the lunch stands lining the river, Rizal writes, “the amphibian structures, karihan, or wayside lunch-stands, which, amid gumamelas and other flowers, look like indecisive bathers who with their feet already in the water cannot bring themselves to make the final plunge.” Here Rizal compares the floating lunch stands to swimmers who cannot decide if they want to fully immerse themselves in the water. His colorful language helps describe the familiarity and ease with which Filipinos navigate between land and water.
Like a Corpulent Dame in a Jammed Throng (Simile)
In contrast to the small, agile Filipino boats, the modern steamboat struggles to navigate the curves and sand-bars of the Pasig River. Rizal highlights this by comparing the hulking steamer to “a corpulent dame in a jammed throng.” This simile provides the image of a large woman trying to weave through a crowd and getting stuck, just as the bulky and unwieldy steamer does on the river. For all that it is supposed to be the height of progress, it is highly impractical for the environment.
A Clay Jar Bashing Against an Iron Pot (Metaphor)
Tales’ attempt to stand up to the friars and protect his land is an uphill battle. Rizal uses the metaphor of a clay jar smashing against an iron pot to highlight the disadvantage Tales is up against. Tales is a simple Filipino farmer without powerful connections; he is represented by the clay jar. Yet, he braves standing up to the friar-administrator who is backed by the wealthy and powerful church, the iron pot. Just as a clay jar would be broken into pieces if smashed against an iron pot, Tales loses everything in his attempt to demand justice: money, his land, and his family.
Chains Harder Than the Diamond (Metaphor)
Simoun is criticizing Basilio and his friends’ desire to start a Spanish-language school for Filipinos. He continues, “you have united, so that by your efforts you may bind your fatherland to Spain with garlands of roses when in reality you are forging upon it chains harder than the diamond!” In Simoun’s point of view, Basilio’s dreams are naive. Teaching Filipinos Spanish will not lead to greater equality and opportunity. Instead, it will strengthen their subjugation, because Filipinos will be so focused on assimilation that they will lose their national language and identity. Rizal uses a metaphor to explain this idea: the garlands of roses are the equality Basilio and his friends believe they are pursuing, when in reality they are strengthening the chains that bind them to Spain.
Mushrooms Only Can Spring Spontaneously from Filth (Metaphor)
Padre Florentino explains to Simoun why he believes his efforts to bring liberty to the Philippines failed. He says Simoun fostered the corruption and cruelty already plaguing the country without providing an alternative that could cultivate something better. He compares this to a mushroom growing out of excrement, “From this fermentation of vices loathing alone could spring, and if anything were born overnight it would be at best a mushroom, for mushrooms only can spring spontaneously from filth.” Simoun hoped something beautiful would grow out of his efforts but since he only provided a rotten environment, the only thing he achieved was more violence and hatred.
