GROUP 4

Compare and Contrast

Noli me Tangere and

El Filibusterismo

COMPARE AND CONTRAST
NOLI ME TANGERE
CHARACTERS
IBARRA
➔ He was a young man who had
the privilege to study abroad.
➔ He is a man who is
outspoken and idealistic.
➔ He symbolizes idealism of
the privileged youth.
MARIA CLARA
➔ She is a sweet and kind
hearted young woman, a
good friend, an obedient
daughter of Capitan Tiago And
Dona Pia, and the
childhood sweetheart of
Crisostomo Ibara.
➔ She symbolizes the purity
and innocence of a
sheltered nativefilipina woman.
1
El FILIBUSTERISMO
SIMOUN
➔ He is Juan Crisostomo Ibarra
Returned after 13 years as
Simoun, a rich jeweler to
seek his revenge.
BASILIO
➔ He is the son of Sisa
and a promising student of
Ateneo De Manila. His
study was financed by
Capitan Tiago.
➔ He first refuses the offer
of Simoun to join the
revolution but after the death
of Juli he decides to join
Simoun.
➔ He represents the young
educated Filipino who ready
the society.

ELIAS
➔ The Fugitive living in San
Diego who prefers revolution
than reform.
➔ He helped ibarra to escape from
prison.
➔ He represents the common
Filipino whois not only aware
of the injustices that are
happening in the country.
DOÑA VICTORINA
➔ She is an ambitious Filipina
who wants to maintain her
social status and wife's of Don
Tiburcio a Spanish doctor.
➔ She symbolizes those who have
a distorted view of their identity
CAPITAN TIAGO
➔ He is the father of Maria Clara
andan influential
businessman and powerful
man in San Diego.
➔ He symbolizes the rich
Filipinoswho oppress their
fellow countrymen in order
to maintain their social status.
BASILIO
➔ Son of Sisa and Brother of
Crispinand witnessed the
death of his brother and
losing the mind of Sisa.
CRISPIN
2
ISAGANI
➔ He is the nephew of
Padre Florentino and the
Lover of Paulita Gomez.
➔ He is a person with full of
hope with his country.
➔ He symbolizes the youth
whois very idealistic person
and he is eager to have
change.
MAKARAIG
➔ He is one of the classmates of
Isagani, a rich student and
serve as the leader of
the students in the movement.
JUANITO PELAEZ
➔ He was the prankster as
a child he often tricks
people and hide behind
others.
➔ He was married to Paulita
Gomez.
PAULITA GOMEZ
➔ She rejected Isagani believing
that she will not have future
with him and instead she
married Juanito Pelaez.
➔ She symbolizes represents
women who have no sense of
nationalism at sympathy
towards others and she only
think what is best for herself.
 3

➔ An innocent young man PADRE FLORENTINO

who was accused of stealing
money and tortured to death
in the hands of cruel
Spaniards
PADRE DAMASO
➔ He is the former Parish
Curate ofSan Diego who is
talkative and cruel priest, he
raped Dona Pia mother of Maria
Clar
➔ He symbolizes Spanish Friars
during Rizal's time.
CABESANG TALES
PADRE SALVI
➔ He is Franciscan curate of San
Diego and secretly having lust
towards Maria Clara.
➔ He is retired scholarly and
patriotic Filipino priest who
respects by everyone.
➔ JULI
➔
➔ She is the daughter
ofKabesang Tales and
sweetheart of Basilio.
➔ She killed herself after Father
Camora attempted to
rapedher.
➔ Dispossessed of his land and
became bandit chieftain. He
symbolizes the native and
Filipino farmers whose
land were seized by the
Spanish authorities.

The characters of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo portray

different characteristics and roles in the story but they have the same goal
which is to gain the sovereignty of the Philippines. They all suffer the cruelty
of the Spaniards, that evolves their beliefs more specifically to the main
character Juan Crisostomo Ibarra. The characteristics of the Spaniards in
both novels shows how cruel and brutal they are. And it is easy to
distinguished the characters in both novels since El Filibusterismo is the
sequel of Noli Me Tangere.
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PLOT
The plot revolves around Crisostomo
Ibarra, mixed- race heir of a wealthy
clan, returning home after seven years
in Europe and filled with ideas on how
to better the lot of his countrymen.
Striving for reforms, he is confronted by
an abusive ecclesiastical hierarchy and
a Spanish civil administration by turns
indifferent and cruel. The novel
suggests, through plot developments,
that meaningful change in this context
is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible
Crisostomo Ibarra has changed his
name and identity to a rich jeweler
named Simoun. In disguise, he travels
the world amassing wealth, which he
intends to use to topple the corrupt
and abusive regime in his native land.
But Simoun's real motive is personal.
He wants to rescue his beloved, Maria
Clara, from the convent and avenge the
death of his father. In a forest on
Christmas Eve, Basilio, a medical
student recognizes Simoun's true
identity as the man who helped bury
his mother Sisa more than ten years
before, under a tree. Simoun is in the
forest to retrieve the gems he buried
near Sisa's grave. As the film
progresses, all the secrets and intrigues
are revealed, and the plotters' plan
fails. A good Filipino priest throws
Simoun's jewels away, thereby
eliminating the greed, violence and
other evils they might have provoked.

The two novels are similar in their creator Jose Rizal. Another way they all
speak about how Spaniards abused the Filipinos, how the church exploited
their authority, and how Filipinos were discriminated against. Noli and El Fili
all demonstrate clear pro-clerical and even anti-Catholic color. They express
one story and the other is written in continuation or sequel
.
 5

THEME
The theme of "Noli Me Tangere," written by El Filibusterismo is an individual who is
Filipino national hero Jose Rizal, revolves against Roman Catholics and comes from
around the social, political, and cultural the word "filibustero." This book is a
issues prevalent during the Spanish political novel associated with revenge and
colonial period in the Philippines. The novel anger that was dedicated to the "Three
explores themes such as colonialism, Martyrs", GomBurZa (Fr. Mariano Gomez,
oppression, social inequality, corruption, Fr. Jose Burgos, Fr. Jacinto Zamora). The
religious hypocrisy, and the struggle for three martyrs were claimed by Rizal as
national identity and independence. victims of injustice and denial of justice
only. El fili is on the revolutionary side of
One of the central themes in "Noli Me Rizal.
Tangere" is the abuse of power and the
oppressive nature of the Spanish colonial
government. Rizal exposes the corruption
and cruelty of the ruling class, particularly
the friars, who exploit the Filipino people
for their own gain. Through vivid characters
and their experiences, the novel highlights
the injustices and abuses suffered by the
Filipino population under Spanish rule.

Another important theme is the social

inequality and discrimination faced by the
Filipinos. Rizal portrays the stark contrast
between the wealthy and privileged
Spanish mestizos and the impoverished
native Filipinos. He criticizes the social
hierarchy that perpetuates the
marginalization and exploitation of the
lower classes, emphasizing the need for
social justice and equality.

Religious hypocrisy is also a significant

theme in the novel. Rizal criticizes the
corrupt practices of the Catholic Church
and its clergy, who use their religious
authority to manipulate and control the
people. He exposes the hypocrisy of those
 6

who claim to be devout Christians but

engage in immoral and unethical behavior.

Furthermore, "Noli Me Tangere" explores

the struggle for national identity and the
awakening of Filipino nationalism. Rizal
emphasizes the importance of education
and enlightenment in empowering the
Filipino people to fight for their rights and
freedom. The novel serves as a call to
action, urging Filipinos to unite and work
towards social and political reform.

Overall, the themes in "Noli Me Tangere"

reflect Rizal's desire for social justice,
national awakening, and the liberation of
the Filipino people from colonial
oppression. It remains a significant literary
work that continues to resonate with
readers, highlighting the importance of
addressing social issues and fighting for a
just and equitable society.

➔ Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo have similarities in terms of the aim and
purpose of the book. Both strive to shed more light on what's going on in the
Philippines. They encourage and aim to persuade the people to fight for their
country and have total freedom.
➔ Noli Me Tangere and the intent of El Fili is to enlighten society and bring the
Filipinos closer to the facts.
➔ In this novel, the society is urged to open its eyes to reality and rebel for its
oppression and abuse against the Spanish Government. Such two novels helped
the Filipinos to wake up to fight for their liberty and stand for their