ACTIVITY 1: Discussion Questions

Crisostomo Ibarra and the mysterious and powerful Elias are quite similar, even
though the former is an immensely wealthy mestizo and the latter, an
impoverished fellow who has seen better days. Both have been victimized by the
colonial system, yet have contrasting approaches to addressing the social ills that
surround them. In one pivotal scene the two debate passionately about their respective
views, as though the author were debating himself.
1. How do their experiences shape these views? What reforms does Ibarra advocate?
Why does Elias consider these futile?
They both have been victimized by the colonial system. The experiences of Ibarra and
Elias influenced their own perspectives; Ibarra wanted to struggle in a nonviolent
manner, while Elias concluded that bloodshed was the best way to help the nation regain
its sovereignty.
Through Ibarra, Rizal the social reformer makes it clear that he believed greatly in the
transformative power of secular education. To learn only by rote prevented the ordinary
Filipino from truly understanding his situation, hence Ibarra’s proposal to build a school
for the town of San Diego.
2. In contrast, what was the conventional view of education in San Diego? Why were Padre
Damaso and, later on, Padre Salvi, against such innovation? How did race figure in their
opposition?
Despite his mestizo roots, Ibarra has been able to rise to prominence and recognition in
the community as a result of his European education, which has enabled him to
generate new opportunities for the next generation of Filipino youth by establishing a
school for them. However, education's power is limited. Furthermore, despite his
advanced education, Tasio is mocked by the majority of society because his beliefs and
thoughts vary from the usual. Furthermore, Rizal demonstrates that education's
transformative potential is minimal. Despite his schooling, Ibarra is ignorant when it
comes to comprehending the scale of Filipino colonialism in colonial society, and he
takes a great deal of dissent.
Tasio, thetown sage, is elated by Ibarra’s plan for a school but immediately
cautions the young man, “The first advice I will give you is to never come to me for
advice again.”
3. What makes the old man say this? What is his reputation in San Diego and what
perspective does he add to the novel?
Another main character in the plot was Tasio, who was lobbying the government for
changes. Due to his extraordinary ability for logic, knowledgeable residents of San Diego
and others dubbed him "Tasio the mad." Tasio told Ibarra that he could never seek his
advice again because he could give him exceptional advice or logic that might put him in
a dangerous position.

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 The Noli is clearly anticlerical in its depiction of the friars and of the Catholic
church. Padre Damaso and, to a lesser extent, Padre Salvi, personify clerical abuses
—the main cause, in the novel, of the population’s discontent. Rizal’s portraits,
however, are not one-dimensional; rather, they reveal the all-too-human faults of each
priest.

4. How does the novelist individualize them? How do the failings of Damaso and Salvi
propel the novel’s action? The two friars have in common their feelings for Maria
Clara, yet those very feelings should divide them. Why?

Father Damaso's demise came after his deepest secret was revealed: he assaulted Pia
Alba, the wife of businessman Don Santiago de los Santos. In his plots against the
Ibarras, Father Dámaso seems to be more villainous at first, overtly racist and petty.
Father Salv, on the other hand, is gradually shown to be perhaps much more sinister,
conspiring against the valiant Ibarra and lusting for Maria.

Maria Clara betrays Ibarra even though she loves him. Her motive is to prevent the
identity of her true, biological father from being revealed.

5. Discuss the consequences of her act, and how it leads to tragedy.

Maria Clara became distraught. Visited by Padre Damaso, she begged him to let her
become a nun in order to forget Ibarra, threatening to kill herself. Maria Clara entered
the Sta. Clara convent as a nun. Maria Clara fell ill and died a few days later.

The novel describes vividly life in the town of San Diego and its social and
political hierarchy.

6.If we see San Diego as a microcosm of Philippine society, what kind of portrait
emerges, overall, of life under the Spanish colonial system? In particular, how
does the planning for the town feast clearly illustrate who holds real power?

It will portrays a slavery of the Spanish to us Filipino in our own country. Those who is
rich and have a great or royal blood line only holds power. Spanish belittle us Filipinos in
every way. The novel offers both a panoramic view of the Philippines of the time on
every level of society and droll satire. Rizal states that once there was such a horrible
form of cancer that the sufferer could not bear to be infected, and thus the disease was
called Noli me tangere.

Capitan Tiago and Doña Victorina de Espadaña identify completely with the
colonial mind-set.

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 7.In portraying the two, Rizal pokes fun at their pretensions. What pretensions are
these and how are they lampooned? Is Rizal gentler with one than the other?

Capitan Tiago, is a harsher parable used by Rizal. Tiago criticizes the native
businessmen and landed gentry who maintain the status quo in order to maintain their
convenience. They lack moral courage, are morally apathetic, and lack ideals. Their
primary incentive is survival, and they are able to throw their fellow Filipinos under the
bus, or kalesa, as it was known back then. In a world fraught with differences, both
Capitan Tiago and Doa Victorina attempt to elevate themselves by politics, company, or
marriage. To do so, they allegedly profit from the same scheme that impoverishes their
fellow indios. Rizal portrays them as pitiful - perhaps tragic - characters in terms of their
motivations and behavior. In today's jargon, they're cringe-worthy.

The author also mocks the mindless religiosity exhibited by Tiago and some other
characters, especially the equally wealthy spinster, Doña Patrocinio, whom Tiago
considers his rival and vice versa. Each strives to make as splashy material offerings as
possible to the church, thinking thereby to ensure their spiritual future.

8.Discuss the Catholic notion of indulgences, how this ties in to lavish

expenditures, and, more broadly, how it ironically reveals the worldly nature of the
church.

The head of the Guardia Civil and his wife, Doña Consolacion, strike fear in the hearts of
San Diego’s ordinary inhabitants. The wife is repellent, even to her husband.

9.What do they exemplify and what purpose do these two characters serve in the
novel?

10.Rizal depicts a gap that exists between the Spanish civil administration and
clerical rule. How wide or narrow is that gap? What incidents demonstrate the
differences between the two sectors?

Sisa goes mad due to her harsh treatment by the Guardia Civil, the death of one son,
and the disappearance of another. Critics have said that she is symbolic of the
oppressed mother country.

11. Do you agree with this notion? Are there parallels with Maria Clara and her fate and,
to a lesser degree, Tiago’s?

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