Name: Rose Marie V.

Cesario
Year/ Section: BEEd IV-A
Subject: Literature of the World
Topic: - Noli Me Tangere (synopsis)
Instructor: Ms. Maria Charlene D. Ocampo

CHARACTERS

 Juan Crisostomo Ibarra- the most important character in the novel,

manifesting in him the Filipino who acquired European ideas through his
education in Europe. In the novel, Ibarra’s
Personality will result in the disagreements of liberal idealism in education
and conservatism represented by the Catholic Church.
 Elias- the character that Rizal placed to represent the Filipino masses who
suffered from Spanish Brutalities and abuse due to powerlessness in the
novel, and in real Philippines social situation in that time.
 Maria Clara- in her, Ibarra has fallen in love as she also mirrored the
Filipina woman of religious upbringing and orientation. Through her love to
Ibarra, she represented true fidelity and religiosity of the woman in real
Filipino society.
 Don Rafael Ibarra- known in the plot as a concerned citizen and property
owner who was the father of Crisostomo Ibarra. Padre Damaso who plays
an antagonists role calls him heretic and rebel, due to his views on
liberalism in society.
 Dona Vectorina- wife of Don Tiburcio de Espanadana, known in the novel
as trying hard rich Filipina woman, who abhors anything that is Filipino and
clings to Spanish way of life. This kind of character was manifested in some
Filipinos of that time.
 Don Anatacio delos Santos- an illegal opium trader who subsequently was
a land lord. He represents a different view in religion and thus, more on
businessman who uses his money to work for him even in religious life and
obligations.
 Sisa- she represented in the novel a sad plight of the Filipina mothers
losing her two sons.
 Pilosopo Tasyo- he portrayed the role of a philosopher who was
completely misunderstood in many aspects, he argues with the belief of
the Catholic Church, social changes and concerns in the novel.
 The School Master-a teacher at San Diego, his views in the novel
represented the weak, obsolete and useless education in the Philippines.
He attributes the problem from facilities and methods of learning that the
friars implemented in the country.
 Padre Damaso- an antagonists in the character and represented the
unchristian works of the Catholic friars who are in the church.
Through his novel, Rizal unveiled the real situation of the Philippines as explained
in the following lines patterned after Rizal’s original explanation in his letter:

 He described in the novel, the condition of the Philippine society, the

Filipino beliefs, life hopes and desires.
 He stated the laments and grievances of the Filipino people and revealed
the hypocrisy of the friars, using religion to impoverish and brutalize the
Filipino people.
 He differentiated the true and false Catholic religion, and presented how
the friars were using the church teachings to extract money from the
native Filipino populace.
 He unveiled the deceptions of the Spanish government in the Philippines.

This novel has been a rich source of insights into the history and culture not
only of 19th century Philippines but as importantly, of the 20th century. It’s
generally realistic perspective offers the reader a panoramic view of a
conflicted and deeply divided colonial society. The characters in the novel
stands out as recognizable types of individual, both from the ruling class and
the oppressed, and the struggles they undergo are indices to the turbulent
conflicts in the 19th century. This novel also significant for the specific ways in
which it has shaped the trajectory of realistic novels in the Philippines.

Idea of writing the Novel in the Philippines

His reading of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin¸which portrays

the brutalities of American slave-owners and the pathetic conditions of the
unfortunate Negro slave, inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel that would
depict the miseries of his people under the lash of Spanish Tyrants. He was
then a student in the Central University of Madrid.

In the reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno residence in Madrid on January 2,

1884, Rizal proposed the writing of a novel about the Philippines by a group
of Filipinos. His proposal was unanimously approved by those present, among
whom were Paternos (Pedro, Maximo, and Antonio), Graciano Lopez Jaena,
Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorete, Melecio Figueroa, and
Valentin Ventura.

Unfortunately, Rizal’s project did not materialize. Those compatriots who

were expected to collaborate on the novel did not write anything. The novel
was designed to cover all phases of Philippine life. However, almost
everybody wanted to write on women. Rizal disgusted at such flippancy. He
was more disgusted that his companions, instead of working seriously on the
novel, wasted their time gambling or flirting with Spanish Senioritas.

Undaunted by his friends ‘ indifference, he determined to write the novel-

alone.
 The writing of the Novel

Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and
finished about one half of it.

When he went to Paris, in 1885, after completing his studies in Central

University of Madrid, he continued writing the novel, finishing one-half of the
second half. He finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany. He wrote the
last few chapters of the Noli Me Tangere in Wilhelmsfeld in April-June 1886.

VIOLA SAVOIR OF THE NOLI

In the midst of his despondency and misery, Rizal received a telegram

from Dr. Maximo Viola who was coming to Berlin. This friend of Rizal was a scion
of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan. When he arrived in Berlin shortly before
Christmas Day of 1887, he was shocked to find Rizal living in poverty and
deplorably sickly due to lack of proper nourishment.

Upon seeing his talented friends predicament, viola, being loaded with
ample funds, gladly agredd to finance the printing cost of the Noli. He also
loaned Rizal cash money for living expenses. Thus it come to pass Rizal and Viola
happily celebrated the Christmas of 1886 in Berlin with a sumptuous feast.

 To save some expenses in printing he deleted certain passages in his

manuscript including a whole chapter – “Elias and Salome”.
 On February 21, 1887, the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing.
 Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft, 300 pesos for 2000 copies.

Printing of the Noli Finished

 March 21, 1887, the Novel came off the press. Rizal immediately sent the
first copies of the printed novel to his intimate friends, including
Bluementritt , Dr. Ma. Regidor , Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce,
and Felix R. Hidalgo.
 March 29, 1887, Rizal, in token in his appreciation and gratitude, gave
Viola the Galley proofs of Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he
used in we=riting it and a complimentary copy, with the following
inscription: “ To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and
appreciate my work- Jose Rizal”.

The title of the Noli

The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not.” It
is not originally conceived by Rizal, for he admitted taking it from the Bible.
Rizal writing to Felix R. Hidalgo in French on March 5, 1887, said : “ Noli Me
Tangere, words taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke, signify “ do not touch
me”. In citing the Biblical source, Rizal made a mistake. It should be the
Gospel of Saint John (Chapter 20, Verses 13 to 17).

NOLI ME TANGERE: SUMMARY

 The young and idealistic Juan Crisostomo Ibarra returns home after seven
years in Europe. The wealthy meztizo, like his father Don Rafael endeavors for
reform primarily in the area of education in order to eliminate poverty and
improve the lives of his countrymen. Upon learning about his father’s demise
and the denial of a Catholic burial for his father Ibarra was provoked to hit
Padre Damaso which eventually lead to his excommunication. The
excommunication was later rescinded upon the intervention of the Governor
General.

Padre Salvi, Ibarra’s mortal enemy accused Ibarra of insurrection. Ibarra’s

letter to his beloved Maria Clara was used against him. Later in the story, Maria
Clara will tell Ibarra that she did not conspire to indict him. She was compelled
to give Ibarra’s letter in exchange for the letters of her mother before she was
born. Maria Clara found out that the letters of her mother were addressed to
Padre Damaso about their unborn child which means that she is the biological
daughter of the priest and not of her father, Capitan Tiago.

Meanwhile, Ibarra was able to escape the prison with Elias, who also
experienced injustice with the authorities. Ibarra was able to speak with Maria
Clara about the letters and thereafter forgave her. Ibarra and Elias flee to the
lake and were chased by the Guardia Civil. One was shot and the other
survives. Upon hearing the news, Maria Clara believed that Ibarra was dead;
she entered the nunnery instead of marrying Alfonso Linares.

The fatally wounded Elias found the child Basilio and his dead mother Sisa.
The latter was driven to insanity when she learned that her children were
implicated for theft by the sacristan mayor. Elias instructed Basilio to dig for his
and Sisa’s graves and there is a buried treasure which he can use for his
education.

Noli Me Tangere brilliantly described Philippine society with its memorable

characters. The melancholic fate of Maria Clara and the insanity of Sisa
characterized the country’s pitiful state, which was once beautiful, turned
miserable. Reading Noli Me Tangere will open one’s mind about oppression and
tyranny.