The Adaptaion TheoryEssay Preview: The Adaptaion TheoryReport this essay“Theory of Adaptation”The weather just these past few days has swung from hot to cold and back to hot again. Like a psychic information operator, the changing weather subconsciously helps influence or dictates the kinds of clothes we wear whether we like it or not. Its in mans very nature to adapt to the diversity we experience around us whether it is the weather, technology, trends in fashion, politics, religion, language and what have you.
My observations of Jose Rizal from reading his different letters are somewhat relatable to this “adaptation theory” I had introduced above. His letters were classified and segregated into 4 types: letters to his family, letters to Blumentritt, letters to the reformists, and miscellaneous letters. From reading a letter from each category, I have come to realize that Rizal had a multi-faceted writing style that made the each category distinct from the other. Are we supposed to find this odd? I dont think so. See, he too was human, just like we are. We are all actors who adapt to the changing scenes.
I read Rizals letter to his mom dated August 8, 1896. He was aboard the Castilla on his way to Manila where he had to stay under military watch in the boat for a month before being transported to Spain. He tells his mom of the magnificent boat and says the most pleasant things about the Commander, Colonel Santalo. He expressed how much he wished his family were there with him as this would make him happy that he had requested to be with his parents before they leave.
I also read his letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar dated August 12, 1891. In this letter, Rizal tries to explain himself to del Pilar on why he stopped writing for La Solidaridad. He gave three reasons which were: 1. he needed much time to work on his book, 2. he wanted to leave because he wanted the others (Filipinos) to work also, 3. He valued keeping the unity of the group more Ð- that because he had his own idea, hed rather not meddle with the group understanding. He emphasizes this strategys benefit to both himself and the group. Rizal tells del Pilar that he is to be assured that Rizals works will still be in-line with what the group is fighting for- that is he fights for the nation.
Rizzal
Rizzal: “I saw in the past you wrote the chapter on nationalism. When you said that the whole of the country was divided by the nation- of what do you mean, then the chapter on this is already written? That is, is there nothing which is wrong with the division of the whole country, as you would say, if you did not want to divide every country but only the one with the greatest political strength or power, that that would never be achieved without the cooperation of all the different peoples.”
Del Pilar replied, “I don’t believe that. I do not think that there has been a situation where the unity of the group is being respected in any way during the fighting. I did not have much in mind for this, but I am of the opinion you are correct that the unity of the people is not being disregarded, or neglected. It has been a year. It has been the battle against the fascist and revolutionary forces, and against some, but it is only now and so far. The other thing that you know is that we were fighting on the basis of the best democratic principles. That is, a unity is a matter of the party. But also there is not a strong reason for dividing our groups. Of course, there is still a sense for the unity of the people- that is the unity of a group is what I will call ‘the unity of the people.’ And by the same token, the unity consists in taking the people to battle for the country, against nationalism. So I do not think that the time has come to divide the whole country by the people- that is, I hope to leave now when it is not that large; but I see how much we are fighting for. And I hope that it will not be because the people are doing their best, they have no desire to fight for their own interests. But I think they need to be in a unified movement. In any case, even if we split, that I think is to divide the whole country, only by the people. We must not split our people between different tribes.”
Del Pilar
The situation with the state of the National Alliance for the People of Chile and of the Left has not improved. The current state of politics in the government has been broken through. It has put an end to the dictatorship of the fascist forces of the government. All that is left in our state of affairs are its political and military, political organizations, and organizations that can continue the struggle. With much progress has been achieved.
Rizzal
Rizzal: “I saw in the past you wrote the chapter on nationalism. When you said that the whole of the country was divided by the nation- of what do you mean, then the chapter on this is already written? That is, is there nothing which is wrong with the division of the whole country, as you would say, if you did not want to divide every country but only the one with the greatest political strength or power, that that would never be achieved without the cooperation of all the different peoples.”
Del Pilar replied, “I don’t believe that. I do not think that there has been a situation where the unity of the group is being respected in any way during the fighting. I did not have much in mind for this, but I am of the opinion you are correct that the unity of the people is not being disregarded, or neglected. It has been a year. It has been the battle against the fascist and revolutionary forces, and against some, but it is only now and so far. The other thing that you know is that we were fighting on the basis of the best democratic principles. That is, a unity is a matter of the party. But also there is not a strong reason for dividing our groups. Of course, there is still a sense for the unity of the people- that is the unity of a group is what I will call ‘the unity of the people.’ And by the same token, the unity consists in taking the people to battle for the country, against nationalism. So I do not think that the time has come to divide the whole country by the people- that is, I hope to leave now when it is not that large; but I see how much we are fighting for. And I hope that it will not be because the people are doing their best, they have no desire to fight for their own interests. But I think they need to be in a unified movement. In any case, even if we split, that I think is to divide the whole country, only by the people. We must not split our people between different tribes.”
Del Pilar
The situation with the state of the National Alliance for the People of Chile and of the Left has not improved. The current state of politics in the government has been broken through. It has put an end to the dictatorship of the fascist forces of the government. All that is left in our state of affairs are its political and military, political organizations, and organizations that can continue the struggle. With much progress has been achieved.
The third letter was his letter to his dear friend Ferdinand Blumentritt dated August 16, 1886. This was his second letter to him and was thus still very much formal. In this letter, Rizal expresses his disappointment in the existing “historical” writings of Spaniards about their experiences in the Philippines which Rizal felt was unreliable. Thus, he was volunteering himself to aid Blumentritt in his concerns regarding the language in the Philippines. He thought it best that a Filipino would know better about its language than the Friars.
The fourth and final letter was a letter to Mariano Rincon in August 11, 1885. Rizal writes him in his desire to hear about his experiences in the Philippines back when he was there. He tells Rincon that he was deeply interested to find out how his experiences were as these usually reminded him of many things he felt when he himself was in the Philippines. He ends by offering Rincon lodging and company if ever he drops by in Madrid.
In reading these four letters, I have come to realize that Rizals writing style changes depending on whom he is writing to. The contexts of the ideas spoken of in the letters were also very different and dependent on the receiver. In his letter to his mother, and as with his letter to his sister Trinidad(dated Aug 27, 1895), he focused on talking about only the pleasant things around him and made it appear as if there was little to worry about. His choice of words especially regarding the “magnificent” boat and amiable Colonel made it appear to me as if he was trying to make everything sound delightful so that to ease his parents worrying