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Noli Me Tangere

The Noli me tngere can be regarded as a historical novel, as it has mostly


fictional characters but also historical persons like Father Burgos who lived
in actual places within a social system that was then typical of a colonized
land.
Admittedly, Rizal exaggerated a bit, as in his portrayal of characters like
the friars Damaso, Salvi, and Sibyla; the two women who were preoccupied
with prayers and novenas, and, the Espadaas but, on the whole, the novel
follows the basic rules of realism.
Humor worked best where a more serious presentation of the general
practices of religion during that time (and even up to present time) would
have given the novel a darker and pessimistic tone.
Rizals description of the lavish fiesta showed the comic antics at church
and the ridiculous expense for one day of festivities.

Title
Noli me tngere
Literally translated, the Latin words noli me tngere means, touch me
not
Taken from John 20:17 when Mary Magdalene holds on to Jesus and he
At the top, all that is best in Philippine life: woman, symbolizing
tells her not to touch him.
constancy, religious faith symbolized by the tombstone, with a laurel
John 20:17
(courage) and the flower of the pomelo, worn by bride and groom at
Jesus said to her: Stop clinging to me. For I have not yet ascended to the
a wedding and symbolizing purity.
Father . But be on your way to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending
The words partly covered by the title are the secret, inner dedication
to my Father and to your Father and to my God and your God.
by Rizal to his parents, the complete text being probably: A mis
P(adres.) al escribir e(sta obra he estado) pensando continuamente
Cover
e(n vosotros que me) habeis infundido los (primeros pensamientos) y
1. CROSS- sufferings
las primeras ideas; a (vosotros os dedi)co este manuscrito de me
2. POMELO BLOSSOMS AND LAUREL LEAVES- honor and
(joventud com p)rueba de amor. Berlin, (21 de Febrero de) 1887.
fidelity
3. SILHOUETTE OF A FILIPINA- Maria Clara
4. BURNING TORCH- rage and passion To the left of the title, the flower mirasol, representing youth seeking
5. SUNFLOWERS- enlightenment the sun.
6. BAMBOO STALKS THAT WERE CUT DOWN BUT GREW The author's name, meaning the green of renewal, mounting up into
BACK- resilience the green of the most enduring of all Philippine trees, the bamboo.
7. A MAN IN A CASSOCK WITH HAIRY FEET- priests using
religion in a dirty way At the bottom, all that is worst in Philippine life: the helmet of the
8. CHAINS- slavery Civil Guard, the whip and instruments of torture, and the foot of a
9. WHIPS- cruelties friar.
10. HELMET OF THE GUARDIA CIVIL- arrogance of those in
authority
*** Read the book for the background of Noli, it includes how he worked on the paper,etc. In here, its merely about the Noli Me Tangere Novel.
Preface According to Rizal, instead of teaching Filipinos true Catholicism, they
In the preface of his novel Rizal promises to reproduce the condition (of control the government by opposing all progress and persecuting members of
the country) faithfully, without discrimination. He wants to sacrifice to the ilustrado unless they make themselves their servile flatterers.
truth everything.
Rizal wrote in his dedication page in the Noli me tngere, I will strive to Rizal does not, however, spare his fellow countrymen.
reproduce thy condition faithfully, without discriminations; I will raise a part The superstitious and hypocritical fanaticism of many who consider
of the veil that covers the evil themselves religious people;
He clearly stated his intention of giving an accurate picture of the the ignorance, corruption, and brutality of the Filipino civil guards;
conditions in the Philippines at the time, and this gives the reader a good idea the passion for gambling unchecked by the thought of duty and
what the main theme would be. responsibility;
the servility of the wealthy Filipino towards friars and government
Theme officials;
Theme as an element of fiction is the idea that runs through the whole novel, the ridiculous efforts of Filipinos to dissociate themselves from their
repeated again and again in various forms and ways. fellowmen or to lord it over them--all these are ridiculed and disclosed.

The theme of Noli me Tangere comes from the Gospel of John. John tells
that when Jesus showed himself after the Resurrection, it was first to Mary Rizal nevertheless balances the national portrait by highlighting the virtues
Magdalene. and good qualities of his unspoiled countryman:
Jesus called her and she turned round and saw him. But Jesus did not want the modesty and devotion of the Filipina, the unstinting hospitality of the
her to touch him. He said literally to her, Do not cling to me, because I have Filipino family,
not yet ascended to the Father. the devotion of parents to their children and children to their parents,
But go to the brothers and tell them: I am ascending to my father and your the deep sense of gratitude, and
Father, my God and your God. the solid common sense of the untutored peasant.
The Noli me Tangere or Touch me not is a symbol of the need for It calls on the Filipino to recover his self-confidence, to appreciate his own
distance. worth, to return to the heritage of his ancestors, and to assert himself as the
The Noli me Tangere is a similar theme of longing and unfulfilment. equal of the Spaniard.
There is no more tragic love and of course no greater love than of two It insists on the need of education, of dedication to the country, and of
beings unable to reach each other, since such a love eternally remains absorbing aspects of foreign cultures that would enhance the native
unblemished. traditions."
Rizal's book persistently unmasks contemporary Spaniards in the
Philippines of every kind. Characters
He exposes corruption and brutality of the civil guards which drive good Major characters
men to crime and banditry.
He focuses on an administration crawling with self-seekers, out to make Ibarra (Juan Crisstomo Ibarra y Magsalin)
their fortune at the expense of the Filipinos, so that the few officials who are Son of a Filipino businessman, Don Rafael Ibarra, he studied in Europe for
honest and sincere are unable to overcome the treacherous workings of the seven years. Ibarra is also Mara Clara's fianc. Upon his return, Ibarra
system, and their efforts to help the country often end up in frustration or in requested the local government of San Diego to construct a public school to
self-ruin. promote education in the town.
The Noli is Rizal's expos of corrupt friars who have made the Catholic
religion an instrument for enriching and perpetuating themselves in power by
seeking to mire ignorant Filipinos in fanaticism and superstition.
*** Read the book for the background of Noli, it includes how he worked on the paper,etc. In here, its merely about the Noli Me Tangere Novel.
Mara Clara (Mara Clara de los Santos y Alba) Sisa, Crispn, and Basilio
She was raised by Capitn Tiago, San Diego's cabeza de barangay and is the Sisa, Crispn, and Basilio represent a Filipino family persecuted by the
most beautiful and widely celebrated girl in San Diego. Spanish authorities.
In the later parts of the novel, Mara Clara's identity was revealed as an Narcisa or Sisa is the deranged mother of Basilio and Crispn. Described
illegitimate daughter of Father Dmaso, former parish curate of the town, and as beautiful and young, although she loves her children very much, she can
Doa Pa Alba, wife of Capitn Tiago. In the end she entered local covenant not protect them from the beatings of her husband, Pedro.
for nuns Beaterio de Santa Clara. Crispn is Sisa's 7-year-old son. An altar boy, he was unjustly accused of
stealing money from the church.
Capitn Tiago (Don Santiago de los Santos)
is a Filipino businessman and the cabeza de barangay or head of barangay of After failing to force Crispn to return the money he allegedly stole, Father
the town of San Diego. He is also the known father of Mara Clara. He is also Salv and the head sacristan killed him.
said to be a good Catholic, friend of the Spanish government and was Basilio is Sisa's 10-year-old son. An acolyte tasked to ring the church bells
considered as a Spanish by colonialists. Capitn Tiago never attended school, for the Angelus, he faced the dread of losing his younger brother and falling
so he became a domestic helper of a Dominican friar who taught him of his mother into insanity.
informal education. He married Pa Alba from Santa Cruz.
Other characters
Padre Dmaso (Dmaso Verdolagas)
is a Franciscan friar and the former parish curate of San Diego. He is best Padre Hernando de la Sibyla a Dominican friar. He is described as
known as a notorious character who speaks with harsh words and has been a short and has fair skin. He is instructed by an old priest in his order to watch
cruel priest during his stay in the town. Crisstomo Ibarra.
He is the real father of Mara Clara and an enemy of Crisstomo's father, Padre Bernardo Salv the Franciscan curate of San Diego, secretly
Rafael Ibarra. Later, he and Mara Clara had bitter arguments whether she harboring lust for Mara Clara. He is described to be very thin and sickly. It
would marry Alfonso Linares or go to a convent. At the end of the novel, he is also hinted that his last name, "Salvi" is the shorter form of "Salvi"
is again re-assigned to a distant town and is found dead one day. meaning Salvation, or "Salvi" is short for "Salvaje" meaning bad hinting to
the fact that he is willing to kill an innocent child, Crispin, just to get his
Elas money back, though there was not enough evidence that it was Crispin who
is Ibarra's mysterious friend and ally. Elas made his first appearance as a has stolen his 2 onzas.
pilot during a picnic of Ibarra and Mara Clara and her friends. El Alfrez or Alperes chief of the Guardia Civil. Mortal enemy of the
He wants to revolutionize the country and to be freed from Spanish priests for power in San Diego and husband of Doa Consolacion.
oppression. Doa Consolacon wife of the Alfrez, nicknamed as la musa de los
guardias civiles (The muse of the Civil Guards) or la Alfreza, was a former
Filosofo Tacio(Pilosopo Tasyo) laundrywoman who passes herself as a Peninsular; best remembered for her
Seeking for reforms from the government, he expresses his ideals in paper abusive treatment of Sisa.
written in a cryptographic alphabet similar from hieroglyphs and Coptic Doa Victorina (Doa Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaa) -is an
figures hoping "that the future generations may be able to decipher it" and ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as a Spanish and mimics Spanish
realized the abuse and oppression done by the conquerors. His full name is ladies by putting on heavy make-up.
only known as Don Anastacio. Don Tiburcio de Espadaa Spanish Quack Doctor who is limp and
The educated inhabitants of San Diego labeled him as Filosofo Tacio (Tacio submissive to his wife, Doa Victorina.
the Sage) while others called him as Tacio el Loco (Insane Tacio) due to his Teniente Guevara - a close friend of Don Rafael Ibarra. He reveals to
exceptional talent for reasoning. Crisstomo how Don Rafael Ibarra's death came about.

*** Read the book for the background of Noli, it includes how he worked on the paper,etc. In here, its merely about the Noli Me Tangere Novel.
Alfonso Linares A distant nephew of Tiburcio de Espanada, the would- cornerstone for Ibarra's school. Instead of killing Ibarra, he was killed by his
be fianc of Mara Clara. Although he presented himself as a practitioner of cornerstone.
law, it was later revealed that he, just like Don Tiburcio, is a fraud. He later Lucas - the brother of the taong madilaw. He planned a revolution against
died due to given medications of Don Tiburcio. the government with Ibarra as the leader after he was turned down by Ibarra.
Ta Isabel - Capitn Tiago's cousin, who raised Maria Clara. He was said to have a scar on his left cheek. He would later be killed by the
Governor General (Gobernador Heneral) Unnamed person in the novel, Sakristan Mayor.
he is the most powerful official in the Philippines. He has great disdains Bruno and Tarsilo a pair of brothers whose father was killed by the
against the friars and corrupt officials, and sympathizes Ibarra. Spaniards.
Don Filipo Lino vice mayor of the town of San Diego, leader of the or Juan (ol Juan) - appointed as foreman of the school to be built by
liberals. Ibarra
Padre Manuel Martn - he is the linguistic curate of a nearby town, who Capitana Tika - Sinang's mother and wife of Capitan Basilio.
says the sermon during San Diego's fiesta. Albino - a former seminarian who joined the picnic with Ibarra and Mara
Don Rafael Ibarra - father of Crisstomo Ibarra. Though he is the richest Clara. Was later captured during the revolution.
man in San Diego, he is also the most virtuous and generous. Capitana Mara Elena - a nationalist woman who defends Ibarra of the
Dona Pa Alba - wife of Capitan Tiago and mother of Mara Clara. She memory of his father.
died giving birth to her. In reality, she was raped by Dmaso so she could Capitn Tinong and Capitn Valentn - other known people from the
bear a child. town of San Diego.
Sacristn Mayor - The one who governs the altar boys and killed Crispn
Non-recurring characters for his accusation.
These characters were mentioned in the novel, appeared once, mentioned
many times or have no major contribution to the storyline. Summary
Don Pedro Eibarramendia - the great-grandfather of Crisstomo Ibarra The plot revolves around Crisostomo Ibarra, mixed-race heir of a wealthy
who came from the Basque area of Spain. He started the misfortunes of Elias' clan, returning home after seven years in Europe and filled with ideas on how
family. His descendants abbreviated their surname to Ibarra. He died of to better the lot of his countrymen. Striving for reforms, he is confronted by
unknown reasons, but was seen as a decaying corpse on a Balite Tree. an abusive ecclesiastical hierarchy and a Spanish civil administration by
Don Saturnino Ibarra - the son of Don Pedro, father of Don Rafael and turns indifferent and cruel.
grandfather of Crisstomo Ibarra. He was the one who developed the town of The death of Ibarras father, Don Rafael, prior to his homecoming, and the
San Diego. He was described as a cruel man but was very clever. refusal of a Catholic burial by Padre Damaso, the parish priest, provokes
Salom - Elas' sweetheart. She lives in a little house by the lake, and Ibarra into hitting the priest, for which Ibarra is excommunicated. The decree
though Elas would like to marry her, he tells her that it would do her or their is rescinded, however, when the governor general intervenes.
children no good to be related to a fugitive like himself. The friar and his successor, Padre Salvi, embody the rotten state of the
Sinang - Maria Clara's friend. Because Crisstomo Ibarra offered half of clergy. Their tangled feelingsone paternal, the other carnalfor Maria
the school he was building to Sinang, he gained Capitan Basilio's support. Clara, Ibarras sweetheart and rich Capitan Tiagos beautiful daughter, steel
Iday, Andeng and Victoria - Maria Clara's other friends. their determination to spoil Ibarras plans for a school.
Capitn Basilio - Sinang's father, leader of the conservatives. The town philosopher Tasio wryly notes similar past attempts have failed,
Pedro the abusive husband of Sisa who loves cockfighting. and his sage commentary makes clear that all colonial masters fear that an
Tandng Pablo The leader of the tulisanes (bandits), whose family was enlightened people will throw off the yoke of oppression.
destroyed because of the Spaniards. Using satire brilliantly, Rizal creates other memorable characters whose
El hombre amarillo (apparently means "yellowish person", named as lives manifest the poisonous effects of religious and colonial oppression.
Taong Madilaw) - One of Crisostomo Ibarra's would-be assassins. He is not Capitan Tiago; the social climber Doa Victorina de Espadaa and her
named in the novel, and only described as such. In the novel, he carved the toothless Spanish husband;
*** Read the book for the background of Noli, it includes how he worked on the paper,etc. In here, its merely about the Noli Me Tangere Novel.
the Guardia Civil head and his harridan of a wife; the sorority of devout
women; Other confilicts
the disaffected peasants forced to become outlaws: in sum, a microcosm of Other conflicts, mostly internal reside in other characters such as Sisa,
Philippine society. Doa Victorina, Doa Consolacion, and Elias. However, the more internal
In the afflictions that plague them, Rizal paints a harrowing picture of his conflict within Ibarra is the more interesting one, as it expresses the dilemma
beloved but suffering country in a work that speaks eloquently not just to of present-day Filipinos: the conflict between traditional values and ones
Filipinos but to all who have endured or witnessed oppression. personal values that had been developed through time.

Good to know: Point of conflict Denouement


Ibarra debates with the mysterious Elias, with whose life his is intertwined. the final part of a play, film, etc. in which matters are explained or resolved.
The privileged Ibarra favors peaceful means, while Elias, who has suffered
injustice at the hands of the authorities, believes violence is the only option. Interestingly, Maria Claras escapism was revealed in the Epilogue when
Ibarras enemies, particularly Salvi, implicate him in a fake insurrection, two patrolmen who sought shelter from a storm under the eaves near the
though the evidence against him is weak. Then Maria Clara betrays him to nunnery.
protect a dark family secret, public exposure of which would be ruinous. They saw a white figure standing almost on the ridge of the roof with
Ibarra escapes from prison with Eliass help and confronts her. arms and face raised toward the sky as if praying to it. She escaped a
She explains why, Ibarra forgives her, and he and Elias flee to the lake. But problem through religion that was itself a part of that problem.
chased by the Guardia Civil, one dies while the other survives. Ibarras enemies, particularly Salvi, implicate him in a fake insurrection,
Convinced Ibarras dead, Maria Clara enters the nunnery, refusing a though the evidence against him is weak. Then Maria Clara betrays him to
marriage arranged by Padre Damaso. Her unhappy fate and that of the more protect a dark family secret, public exposure of which would be ruinous.
memorable Sisa, driven mad by the fate of her sons, symbolize the countrys Ibarra escapes from prison with Eliass help and confronts her.
condition, at once beautiful and miserable. She explains why, Ibarra forgives her, and he and Elias flee to the lake. But
chased by the Guardia Civil, one dies while the other survives.
Crisostomo Ibarra Convinced Ibarras dead, Maria Clara enters the nunnery, refusing a
As the protagonist of the novel, Crisostomo Ibarra is the character in whose marriage arranged by Padre Damaso.
character the main conflict resides. It is easy enough to identify the external Her unhappy fate and that of the more memorable Sisa, driven mad by the
conflicts: fate of her sons, symbolize the countrys condition, at once beautiful and
miserable.
Ibarra versus the society of his time -- its values and its prejudices; ______________________________________________________________
Ibarra versus Father Damaso and, indirectly, with the other friars; ______________________________________________________________
Ibarra versus Kapitan Tiago whose very strong sense of self-preservation
Scholars He Met When He Went To Europe
puts him in direct conflict with the love between Maria Clara and Ibarra.
Ferdinand Blumentritt, the Austrian scholar
Maria clara Dr. Carlos Czepelak., Polish scholar, renowned scientist of Europe
Maria Clara did not really resolve the conflicts within her; she chose to Professor Robert Klutschak, an eminent naturalist.
escape, by entering the convent as a nun. Seor Eusebio Corominas editor of La Publicidad,
Rightly or wrongly, Maria Clara has been held as the ideal Filipina which, Don Miguel Morayta owner of La Publicidad and a statesman
perhaps, is the reason why many Filipinas prefer to be or pretend to prefer Dr. Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.
being a Maria Clara type with all its dubious virtues. Dr. Otto Becker, a distinguished German ophthalmologist.
Many had used the convent as an escape from a world that could not give Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ulmer.
them happiness or the fulfilment they crave. Prof. Friedrich Ratzel, a famous historian
*** Read the book for the background of Noli, it includes how he worked on the paper,etc. In here, its merely about the Noli Me Tangere Novel.
Dr. Hans Meyer, a German anthropologist.
Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, the director of the Anthropological and
Ethnological Museum.
Dr. Feodor Jagor, the German scientist-traveller and author
of Travels in the Philippines
Dr. Rudolf Virchow, the famous German anthropologist
Dr. W. Joest, a German geographer
Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger, a famous German ophthalmologist

*** Read the book for the background of Noli, it includes how he worked on the paper,etc. In here, its merely about the Noli Me Tangere Novel.

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