EARLJAKE GUARDA BPED 2F

Critical Essay on Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere

The two figures represent the two competing approaches to social improvement that Rizal
desires to examine. The first is socio-political change brought about by legal means and civil
debate, as typified by Crisostomo Ibarra, an affluent, liberally educated young man taught to
question civil authority but not provoke social strife. The other model is of quick sociopolitical
change brought about by force and, maybe, bloodshed, as personified by Elias, the vagrant
revolutionary attempting to enlist the dispossessed in his cause.
In his machinations against the Ibarras, Father Damaso initially appears more diabolical,
overtly prejudiced and spiteful. Father Salvi, on the other hand, is gradually revealed to be even
more malevolent, secretly plotting against the heroic Ibarra and lusting after Mari Clara. Rizal
highlights various ways in which priests can abuse their power in this manner.
Noli Me Tangere implies that vengeance is ultimately an useless and often deadly objective.
Tarsilo's quest for vengeance ends with him being brutally murdered without gaining the
vengeance he seeks. Ibarra experiences grave consequences when he attempts to revenge his father
by attacking Father Damaso. Characters with virtues, such as Elias, resist the impulse to seek
vengeance by drawing their inspiration from nobler desires.
Captain Tiago exemplifies the grave impacts of colonialism for even the most privileged
indigenous people. Captain Tiago's status in society is dependent on his rejection of his fellow
indigenous people, whom he refers to as "indios." Furthermore, in the narrative, wealthy people
have no feeling of loyalty, implying that Captain Tiago is disposable even to his comrades.
Many strongly religious persons, such as Elias, are positively portrayed in the story.
Furthermore, despite their priestly status, evil characters such as Father Damaso and Father Salvi
aren't very pious—the former is appalled when Maria Clara expresses an interest in becoming a
nun, while the latter makes little attempt to control his passion. Rather than condemning
Christianity or religion in general. Noli Me Tangere specifically attacks materialism and power
corruption.
While Rizal appears to believe that education is an important means of escaping oppression,
he does not appear to believe that education alone can free someone. Despite his extensive
education, Ibarra takes his time understanding the flaws of Philippine culture and beginning to
fight for a better future. Indeed, his education is an impediment to seeing how wrong his society
is since it grants him privilege. Rizal also demonstrates the shortcomings of some educational
systems when the schoolmaster informs Ibarra that he is barred from teaching his students
Spanish—they are not permitted to acquire the language that would help them to obtain the best
employment.
 The title's cancer is the corruption of the Catholic Church in the Spanish empire in the
Philippines, as exemplified by clerics like Father Damaso and Father Salvi. Many Filipinos were
hesitant to speak up about the country's endemic abuses of power, just as some were afraid to touch
the sores of a serious cancer.