El Filibusterismo: Summary and Analysis of Chapter 30 (Juli)

Summary:

Juli is deeply troubled by the news of Basilio’s capture and imprisonment.  People convince her to approach Padre Camorra and ask him to intercede for the youth.  Juli is afraid to follow their advice and approach the friar because he is known to be frisky and quite fond of women.  However, when news reaches Juli that Basilio is about to be killed, the young lady is compelled to go and ask the friar’s help.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Question: Why does Hermana Penchang say, “What a good thing I did when I drove her from my house! I don’t want to have any trouble with the friars, so I urged her to find the money.”

Answer: It’s not true that she drove Juli out of the house.  She didn’t like it when Basilio saved the young lady.  She does not want to have any trouble with the friars.  During those days it is quite easy to be implicated in a political or religious uprising and since Basilio is captured and Juli is Basilio’s lover, Hermana Penchang might be implicated since Juli is in her service.

Question: What did Padre Camorra ask in return for helping and releasing Tandang Selo?

Answer: He wanted Juli to lay with him, so he could have her as he had wanted for a long time.

Question: What is it that Padre Camorra asked for in return for releasing Basilio that Juli had already anticipated and expected would be the price for such a favor?

Answer: The same thing he wanted in return for releasing Tandang Selo – for her to lay with him.

Question: Did Juli really give herself to Padre Camorra?  Justify.

Answer: Surely, she did.  Rizal had prepared the readers for this from the beginning.  How?

1. Padre Camorra is depicted as one who is fond of women.


2. The friar had already asked Juli to give herself to him when she begged for the release of Tandang Selo, although the young lady never gave in to his request.


3. Juli is greatly anxious and doubtful about asking for the friar’s help.


4. Juli dies, and at the same time Hermana Bali runs outside screaming in the street.  If Juli had killed herself before the friar raped her, Hermana Bali would not have behaved in such a way.  Padre Camorra had done the act in front of Bali.


5. This assault against Juli is part of the novel’s intention to awaken the hearts of the people to hatred towards the evil friars.