1. Juan Crisostomo Ibarra – represented the affluent and liberal European-
educated Filipino. Civic-minded, liberty-minded and patriotic, he desired the education of his people. 2. Elias – represented the Filipino masses in the novel. As the symbol of the common people, he did everything to vindicate them from the injustices suffered from the Spaniards. 3. Maria Clara – represented Filipino womanhood trained in a convent and immersed in education basically religious in orientation. 4. Don Rafael Ibarra – Crisostomo’s father, was jailed for helping a young boy being harmed by an ignorant Spanish tax collector. He was used by Rizal in the Noli to symbolize an affluent landlord with social conscience. 5. Sisa – mother of Basilio and Crispin; symbolized a lot of things in Filipino society during Rizal’s time. She was used by Rizal to illustrate the typical characteristics of Filipino mothers, willing to defend her children from all forms of injustice and accusations. 6. Capitan Tiago – a rich landlord whose wealth was derived from his involvement in the illegal opium trade; was used by Rizal to represent the subservient Filipino to the authorities to protect his personal and business interest. 7. Dona Victorina – as a social climber, she married Don Tiburcio to support her claim of being a Spaniard. She despised everything Filipino; was used by Rizal to symbolize colonial mentality among Filipinos during his time. 8. Dona Patrocinio – as the mistress of the alferez, she was noted to be imprudent, vulgar, cruel, and quarrelsome. She symbolized the mentality of the Guardia Civil. 9. Pilosopo Tasyo – represented Rizal’s epitome of a philosopher; was perceived to be a sage by the educated and a weird or lunatic by those who did not know him. 10.School Master of San Diego – symbolized the intellectual dissatisfaction in Filipino society during Rizal’s time. As an educated individual, he dreamed of changing the methods of teaching to facilitate greater learning of pupils.