NOLI ME TANGERE

CONTENTS:
• the story behind Noli Me Tangere
• the symbolisms found in the cover of the novel
• nationalism among the characters, and
• the synopsis of chapter stories.
THE STORY BEHIND NOLI ME
TANGERE
• Rizal proposed a novel project to the Filipino members of the Circulo
Hispano-Filipino.
• The novel would deal with the socio-cultural and political aspects of
life in the Philippines.
• Most of them were not interested in Rizal’s proposed project.
• Using his talent and writing skills, he started to write his masterpiece,
"Noli Me Tangere".
• He managed to finish half of the novel in Madrid and continued
writing in Paris until he finished it in Germany.
• The story was inspired by a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe entitled
Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
• This is what inspired Jose Rizal to prepare a novel that would depict
the miseries of his people under the lash of Spanish tyrants.
• Maximo Viola was Rizal’s friend that arrived in Berlin to loan him the
needed funds to publish the novel.
• To save money, he deleted certain passages in the manuscript,
including a whole chapter entitled "Elias and Salome".
• Berliner Buchdruckerei-Action-Gesellschaft was the printing shop that
charged the lowest rate, and that was 300 pesos for 2 copies of the
novel.
• On March 21, 1887, the Noli Me Tangere came off the press.
• It contained 63 chapters and an epilogue.
• The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means "Touch Me
Not"
• The words "do not touch me" were taken from St. Luke's Gospel.
However, Rizal made a mistake: it should be St. John's Gospel,
Chapter 20 verses 13-17.
• Jose Rizal dedicated this novel to the Philippines – or what he
considered as "To My Fatherland".
• The novel was credited with the awakening of nationalism among the
Filipinos of Rizal’s time during the last decades of Spanish rule.  
SYMBOLISMS
• Cross: Sufferings.
• Pomelo Blossoms and Laurel Leaves: Honor and Fidelity.
• Silhouette of a Filipina: Maria Clara
• Burning Torch: Rage and Passion.
• Sunflowers: Enlightenment especially the youth.
• Bamboo stalks that were cut down but grew back: Resilience.
• Friar’s feet: symbolized one of the causes of the cancer.
• Iron Chains: Slavery
NATIONALISM AMONG THE
CHARACTERS
• Alfonso Linares- a young and smart lawyer. He is meek and shy. Represented the
young Spaniards who came to the Philippines hoping for a better life than in their
motherland.
• Alferez- Doña Consolascion’s husband. He had a rivalry with the priest, particularly
Padre Salvi and frequently had violent fights with his wife. It represents the officials of
the state who frequently had power struggles with church officials.
• Tasio- or known as Filisopo Tasyo as Rizal’s elder Brother, Paciano. He was a pessimist
and he symbolizes the learned Filipinos.
• Padre Hernando Sibyla - is a Dominican friar. He is the curate of Binondo. He is often
kind and intelligent, especially when correcting the other friar, Padre Damaso, of the
latter’s ostentatiousness. He is aware of the injustices done to the natives but would
not do anything to change it, as all he cares about is getting his congregation in power.
 SYNOPSIS OF
CHAPTER STORIES
CHAPTER 1: THE SOCIAL GATHERING
• It is about a wealthy Binondo resident, Don Santiago de los Santos
(Capitan Tiago), who throws a last-minute dinner party at Calle
Anloague.
• While waiting for the meals to be served, the guests converse with
one another.  
• In these conversations, it introduces some of the novel’s characters,
such as Padre Damaso, Padre Sibyla, Lieutenant Guevara, Laruja, Doña
Victorina, and Don Tiburcio.
CHAPTER 2: CRISOSTOMO IBARRA
• Capitan Tiago introduced Juan Crisostomo Ibarra to his guests.
• Crisostomo was the only son of the late Don Rafael Ibarra, and he had
recently arrived from his studies in Europe.  
• Crisostomo was puzzled when Padre Damaso, whom he thought was
a friend of his father, arrogantly denied that he was ever a friend of
Don Rafael Ibarra.
CHAPTER 3: THE DINNER
• This chapter focused on the dinner.
• The conversations between the guests centered on Crisostomo’s
travels to several countries. Padre Damaso belittles Ibarra’s trips,
saying that what he has learned from them can be learned even
without leaving the country.  
• Crisostomo was embarrassed and excused himself from the guests
and left, even after Capitan Tiago informed him that Maria Clara was
coming to dinner.
CHAPTER 4: HERETIC AND FILIBUSTER
• Lieutenant Guevara approached him while Crisostomo was walking
towards Plaza Binondo, and Ibarra expressed regret that he did not
know how his father died.
• The Lieutenant narrated the event to him, told him that Don Rafael
Ibarra was imprisoned for killing a Spanish tax collector, for not going
to confession, and for subscribing to the newspaper El Correo
Ultramar.  
• He also mentioned that Don Rafael was branded as a heretic, a
filibuster, and a subversive.  Because of these accusations, he died
while in prison.
CHAPTER 5: A STAR IN A DARK NIGHT
• Ibarra was troubled by the visions of his father being unjustly
imprisoned and dying without seeing him.
• He imagined the anguish and grief suffered by his father while he
went to Europe to study and travel.
• Meanwhile, Maria Clara arrived in the house of Capitan Tiago, and is
admired by all the guests, especially Padre Damaso.
CHAPTER 6: CAPITAN TIAGO
• Capitan Tiago was one of the richest landowners in Binondo,
Pampanga and Laguna. He sustained zacate, monopolized the opium
business, and signed a contract for feeding the prisoners in the Bilibid
prison.  
• Since he had no child with his wife, Doña Pia, Padre Damaso advised
the Doña to attend the mass at Obando.  
• Eventually, she conceives a child, whom they name Maria Clara, in
honor of the Virgin of Salambao and Sta. Clara.
• Capitan Tiago and the late Don Rafael later agreed to arrange the
marriage of their children.
CHAPTER 7: AN IDYL ON AN AZOTEA
• Crisostomo Ibarra visited Maria Clara at Calle Anloague.
• They speak privately at the azotea about the years they have not seen
each other.
• Ibarra strove to prove his love for Maria Clara by showing her the old
leaves that had been given by Maria Clara seven years ago.
• Maria Clara, in turn, reads an old letter written by Ibarra before
departing for abroad.
CHAPTER 8: RECOLLECTIONS
• Recollection of memories of Crisostomo Ibarra as he went through the
busiest district of Manila.
• He observed that the country’s condition remained unchanged from
where he left it seven years ago.
• He observed no progress achieved and reforms implemented by the
government.
• He noticed that the roads have not been paved and that the Puente de
Barcas has been destroyed by neglect.
• Fond memories are brought back after seeing the Arroceros Cigar
factory, the Botanical Garden, and the Bagumbayan.
CHAPTER 9: LOCAL AFFAIRS
• It featured the three conversations between Padre Damaso and
Capitan Tiago, between Padre Sibyla and an unmanned priest, and
between the Governor-General and his men.
• Padre Damaso wanted to stop the marriage planned for the lovers.
• Padre Sibyla and an unnamed priest discussed the dangerous
implication to the country of Crisostomo Ibarra’s foreign education.  
• The Governor-General revealed to his men that he was unhappy with
the situation in the Philippines.
CHAPTER 10: THE TOWN
• It featured San Diego, a town along the Laguna Lake, that produced
sugar, rice, coffee, and fruit which were sold to Chinese merchants.
• Aside from its meadows and paddy fields, the town had a forest with
old trees and tropical vegetation that had been purchased by a
Spaniard who was the great grandfather of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra.
CHAPTER 11: THE RULERS
• There were two people ruling the town of San Diego: Padre Salvi and
the Alferez of the Guardia Civil.
• Padre Salvi was more inclined to impose fines on his subordinates.
• Alferez has a wife named Doña Consolacion. Because of his bad
marriage to the doña, he was frequently drunk and compelled his
soldiers to drill under the hot sun.
CHAPTER 12: ALL SAINTS
• Two gravediggers conversed in the San Diego Cemetery.
• One of them mentioned that he was ordered by a curate to dig up the
body of a person buried in the cemetery, and to rebury it in the
Chinese cemetery.  
• Unfortunately, since it was raining, he just dumped the body into the
river.  
• Tasio the sage arrived at the cemetery, unsuccessfully searching for
the skull of his dead wife.