# Ben Zayb — El Filibusterismo character guide

> Ben Zayb in El Filibusterismo by José Rizal.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Abraham Ben Zayb, the wretched Ben Zayb

**First appearance:** 0003-i-on-the-upper-deck

## Snapshot

A journalist whose pen turns every event into a sensation, and whose confident misreadings of the world around him are as reliable as weather.

## Who they are

Ben Zayb trades in cheap funerals and filibuster jokes, and he is the first to notice when Simoun falls silent on the water — then the first to misjudge why. He treats the colony as material for copy, and his cheerful errors make him useful to men with heavier purposes. His presence keeps the novel's satire sharp about how the press can amplify authority rather than question it.

## In the story

### [I: On the Upper Deck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/i-on-the-upper-deck)

A journalist with the countenance of a friar, he argues with Padre Camorra about river straightening and later flatters Simoun by calling his plan a 'Yankee plan.'

### [Legends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/iii-legends)

Ben-Zayb enthusiastically praises the legends and plans to write articles about them, adopting a lecturer's tone.

### [The Tribulations of a Chinese](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xvi-the-tribulations-of-a-chinese)

Engages in a heated discussion about magnetism and spiritualism with Padre Camorra. He proposes a plan to visit the sphinx exhibition without the public.

### [The Quiapo Fair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xvii-the-quiapo-fair)

A journalist who is full of bright ideas and champagne, he jokes about the wooden figures and insists the sphinx show is a trick of mirrors.

### [Legerdemain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xviii-legerdemain)

Skeptical journalist who tries to expose the trick but fails to find mirrors; later writes an article on occult sciences.

### [XX: The Arbiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xx-the-arbiter)

Mentioned as a recipient of Don Custodio's opinions about the native Filipinos, particularly regarding the Arabic origin of their culture.

### [Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxiv-dreams)

Seen talking about Simoun's illness near the Anda monument.

### [XXVIII: Tatakut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxviii-tatakut)

Gloats over his anti-education articles, claiming foresight of the unrest.

### [The High Official](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxxi-the-high-official)

Ben Zayb is mentioned as adding flattering adjectives to the General and commenting on Padre Camorra's transfer.

### [Effect of the Pasquinades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxxii-effect-of-the-pasquinades)

Writes articles praising Simoun's recovery and spreads rumors about the upcoming fiesta.

### [Ben-Zayb's Afflictions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxxvi-ben-zayb-s-afflictions)

Writes a suppressed article about the assault, then investigates a robbery at a country-house, and later discusses the Simoun plot with Don Custodio.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/ben_zayb
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters