# A Cochero's Christmas Eve explained — El Filibusterismo

> Chapter companion for El Filibusterismo by José Rizal.

## What happens

Basilio returns to San Diego during the Christmas Eve procession, observing the cochero's superstitious reflections and the town's decline. He witnesses Simoun at Capitan Basilio's house and learns of Cabesang Tales' kidnapping.

## Themes in this chapter

### Colonial Oppression

The Civil Guard's brutality, the cochero's beating, and the legend of King Bernardo symbolize colonial subjugation.

### Class and Racial Inequality

The cochero's envy of the Magian Kings (two Spanish, one black) and the curate's forced gifts highlight racial and class hierarchies.

### Hope and Despair

The cochero's hope in King Bernardo contrasts with the town's decay and Basilio's despair over the same old complaints.

## Character check-ins

### Basilio

Returns to San Diego, observes the procession and town's decay, learns of Cabesang Tales' kidnapping.

### Simoun

Present at Capitan Basilio's house, selling jewels to the curate and alferez.

### Sinong

The abused cochero who reflects on the procession and the legend of King Bernardo.

### Cabesang Tales

Mentioned as having been kidnapped, affecting Basilio's mood.

### Sinang

Seen in Capitan Basilio's entresol, now married and plumper.

### Capitan Tiago

Basilio's house is Capitan Tiago's, now occupied by a trustworthy man.

## Key lines

> In the time of the saints, surely there were no civil-guards, because one can't live long on blows from rifle-butts.

The cochero imagines a past without the Civil Guard, as their violence makes survival impossible.

_Reflects the cochero's resentment of colonial authority._

> When he gets his right foot loose, I'll give him my horses, and offer him my services even to death, for he'll free us from the Civil Guard.

The cochero vows to serve King Bernardo when he breaks free, hoping for liberation from the Guard.

_Illustrates folk hope for deliverance from oppression._

> That fellow is fierce! He does business everywhere. And if I can believe a certain person, he buys from some gentlemen for a half of their value the same jewels that he himself has sold for presents.

Basilio muses that Simoun profits by reselling jewels he originally sold as gifts at half price.

_Highlights Simoun's cunning and the corruption in colonial society._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/v-a-cochero-s-christmas-eve
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_filibusterismo_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters