noli me tangere moral lesson essay

What are the moral lessons of Noli Me Tangere?

Noli me Tangere: Noli me tangere or touch me not... was the most controversial novel of Rizal aside from the predicaments he encountered just to publish this novel. He did it to ridicule the friars and let the Filipinos be awoke of the oppression and learn to fight. It contained all the immoralities of the spaniards. So I think the lessons we can get from it is learn how to fight in a peaceful manner, fighting doesnt need a bolos, a sumpit or lantakas but it can also be possible using your pen, your wisdom. As a Filipino we should learn to be united in deeds avoiding the et empera policy that the spanish brought to us. ------Ranie Esponilla

Some of the moral lessons in "Noli Me Tangere" include the importance of seeking justice, fighting against oppression and corruption, standing up for what is right, and the consequences of greed and abuse of power. It also emphasizes the value of education, love for country, and the need for unity among Filipinos in the face of adversity.

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What are the moral lessons of noli me tangere novel?

"Noli Me Tangere" (translation:T "Touch Me Not") is a novel by Jose Rizal. There are several moral lessons conveyed in this story. One is not to try to be someone you aren't and be self-sacrificing.

What are the moral lessons of Noli you Tangere chap22?

In Chapter 22 of Noli Me Tangere, the moral lessons include the dangers of succumbing to pride and anger as seen through the character of Crisostomo Ibarra, the consequences of harboring vengeance and seeking revenge, and the importance of seeking justice through peaceful means rather than resorting to violence. Additionally, it highlights the corrupt nature of power and authority and the importance of standing up against injustice.

What is the moral lesson of kabanata 9 of noli me tangere?

In Chapter 9 of Noli Me Tangere, the moral lesson is about the importance of seeking justice and standing up against oppression. It highlights the reality of corruption and abuse of power in society, urging people to take a stand against injustice and fight for what is right.

What is the moral lesson of kabanata 39 of noli you tangere?

In Chapter 39 of "Noli Me Tangere," the moral lesson is about the power of forgiveness and redemption. Through the character of Elias, who forgives his brother despite the betrayal and hardship he faced, the novel emphasizes the importance of letting go of hatred and seeking reconciliation for inner peace and spiritual growth.

What is the moral lesson of chapter 39 of noli you tangere?

Chapter 39 of "Noli Me Tangere" by Jose Rizal highlights the theme of forgiveness. The moral lesson can be seen in the actions of the characters, particularly Maria Clara and her ability to forgive those who have wronged her. The chapter serves as a reminder of the power of forgiveness in overcoming hatred and moving towards reconciliation.

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• Noli Me Tangere

Noli Me Tangere Essay: How to Write Reflection Paper

By: Angelina Grin

Writing a reflection of Noli Me Tangere, on one of the most acclaimed Filipino works, can be taunting. Especially in the case of Noli Me Tangere, a book that served as an eye-opening work to many from the day it was released and is being used even nowadays to instill nationalism in young Filipinos.

About José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere

Rafael ibarra, teniente guevarra, maria clara de los santos, kapitan tiago or capitan tiago, basilio and crispin, padre damaso verdolagas, padre salvi bernardo, padre sibyla hernando, doña victorina, alfonso linares, independence.

Translated from Latin to English as ”Touch Me Not,” this famous Philippine literature piece by José Rizal was written in 1887 and made a radical change in the Philippines’ history.

The story’s protagonist is Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, who returned home from a seven-year stay in Europe. He’s brimming with ideas of improving his country and helping his fellow Filipinos but was confronted by the Catholic Church and the Spanish government. Not only were his ideas and plans questioned by the friars and the Spaniards, but also by his fellow citizens who were naive about the cruelty and abuse of the regime.

The novel criticized the happenings in the country that was then under the Spaniards. It has a sequel titled El Filibusterismo, alternatively known as The Reign of the Greed and The Subversive or The Subversion.

Important Characters in the Novel

Rafael Ibarra is Crisostomo’s father. His death was the reason for his son to come back to the Philippines. Don Rafael died in prison because of Padre Damaso’s accusations of heresy and subversion.

A lieutenant of the Guardia Civil and Don Rafael’s friend. Crisostomo learned of his father’s death from him. Teniente Guevarra respects both father and son for their moral compass, even if it means going against the church.

She’s the love interest of Crisostomo, who ends up going to a nunnery when she refuses to marry Alfonso Linares. Maria Clara symbolizes the Philippines.

Don Santiago De Los Santos is the father of Maria Clara and is an influential businessman in San Diego. Kapitan Tiago finds it hard to follow the friars’ orders because he betrothed his daughter to Crisostomo.

After Crisostomo saved him from a crocodile, he swore to protect the young man. He’s a fugitive who wears disguises and discovers plots against the protagonist, and does what he can to stop them from happening.

She’s the mother of Basilio and Crispin, who had gone insane when her children went missing. A once beautiful lady who endured a tragic life, Sisa symbolizes the suffering of the Motherland from the colonizers.

Sisa’s sons represent the Filipino children who are victims of ignorance, poverty, and the Spanish authorities’ cruelty.

He’s the former curate of San Diego and is the birth father of Maria Clara through raping Doña Pia Alba. An arrogant and cruel priest, he did his best to stop Maria Clara from marrying Crisostomo.

A prominent figure in the town of San Diego, along with the alferez of the Guardia Civil. He’s been lusting over Maria Clara and is a deceptive priest.

Crisostomo’s former teacher and the parish priest of Binondo, Manila. He’s aware of the cruelty of the other friars but doesn’t do anything about it.

The wife of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, a quack doctor. She’s an ambitious Filipina who looks down at her fellow Filipinos.

A young Spanish lawyer who Padre Damaso wanted Maria Clara to marry.

Main Ideas of the Novel

To write an A+ reflection about Noli Me Tangere , you must be aware of the main ideas it conveys.

Rizal firmly believed that education is important in fighting off oppression. Filipinos’ ignorance and naivety made them easy to be manipulated and targeted for cruelty.

Education paved the way for Crisostomo to build a school for the youth and to be heard by other influential people. However, even with his good intention, Crisostomo was undoubtedly still unaware of just how grave the oppression his fellow Filipinos faced until Elias showed it to him.

Another highly educated character in the novel was Tasio. Although having acquired education, he was ousted by society because of different ideals.

The novel indicated how power was abused and how people would do anything to get it. Noli Me Tangere also showed that not all who are in prison are sinners, like Don Rafael, who was instead a victim of those in power.

The tug of power between the church and the government is also obvious in the novel. A reality the Philippines faced when it was under the Spaniard’s rule.

Religion is a significant topic in the novel because, despite its divine presentation, it was used to control others and profit off other people’s weaknesses.

The Spaniards and friars used Catholicism to instill hierarchy and took advantage of the Filipinos through their faith and ignorance, even if they themselves didn’t carry out the teachings.

Padre Damaso held a revered position as a former curate and was looked up to by people who take their religion seriously. But he raped Doña Pia Alba and sent Don Rafael to prison for his personal vendetta.

Padre Salvi, although a priest, lusted after Maria Clara and didn’t respect his priesthood. He only became a priest to hold power, not to save souls.

Capitan Tiago pretends to be a devoted Catholic by being close to the friars but actually just does it to have more connections and power.

On the other hand, there are also those who are serious about their faith yet aware of the unreasonable demands of the church. Don Rafael, Crisostomo, and Elias have strong faith.

Filipinos are known for their filial piety, a family value that’s still alive in their culture. Because of this, sons and daughters respect their parents and often feel obligated to do as they are told. Sometimes, even at the cost of their own happiness.

The story started with Don Rafael’s death, making Crisostomo go back to honor him through building a school.

Maria Clara also honors her family through being the model Filipina and taking their advice, even almost marrying someone she doesn’t love to make her family happy.

Basilio’s first thought was to come back to his mother, Sisa, when he was shot at by the Guardia Civil.

The protagonist of Noli Me Tangere went through many sacrifices as he believed they are all for a better future for his country and countrymen.

Literature is a mirror of culture, and Rizal penned just what he had hoped his fellow Filipinos would do for the Philippines to be free - sacrifice.

One of the most intriguing lines in the novel is ”Sacrifice today for a useful tomorrow,” found in Crisostomo’s letter to Maria Clara before he went away to study in Europe.

Sacrifice was also seen through Elias, who died while trying to fight for his countrymen. Through Crisostomo talking to Basilio, Rizal reminded every reader to never forget those who fell and sacrificed themselves for the Filipino people and their country.

After its publication, Noli Me Tangere sparked Filipino nationalism that ultimately led to the Philippine Revolution in 1896.

The novel incited Filipinos’ desire for independence. Rizal hoped that there would be a revolution without the shedding of blood and for his country to gain independence. But Noli Me Tangere did the opposite and instead incited a revolution that ended with the Spaniards ceding sovereignty of the Philippines to another colonizer, the United States.

Did the revolution start because Filipinos realized the cruelty they were living in or simply because the others were joining it? The real intention of others who joined the revolution was put into the spotlight when using the novel as a reason to revolt. Were they doing it for the Philippines or because they admire Rizal?

This criticism highlights most of the Filipino revolutionists’ failure to have an education. Asking whether they actually knew what they were fighting for and not only because they needed to survive.

Because of the portrayal of how Catholicism was used in the novel, many questioned if Rizal had any hidden agenda.

In some of his letters to Fr. Pablo Pastells, a Jesuit teacher, during his exile, Rizal delved into “what little has been left to me by the shipwreck of faith.” Rizal believed in God but was no longer a practicing Catholic during his time.

Because of this, some see Noli Me Tangere as Rizal’s way of destroying their faith and that its intention is not solely for the Philippines to fight back but to dismantle Catholicism as well.

José Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” is a novel that not only sparked discussions but also urged the Filipino society to take action in the fight for independence. While some supported it, others criticized the author’s intentions. While the symbolism of the novel is a field to explore, one thing is clear: José Rizal’s masterpiece has become a turning point in the history of the Philippines.

To craft an effective "Noli Me Tangere" reaction paper, it's essential to follow a structured approach. Begin by reading the novel thoroughly and taking detailed notes on key themes, characters, and notable passages that resonate with you. Identify the central issues and conflicts portrayed by Rizal, such as the oppression of the Filipino people under colonial rule, social inequality, and the struggle for justice.

Develop a clear thesis statement that encapsulates your overall reaction to the novel. This statement will serve as the guiding thread throughout your essay, helping you maintain a focused and coherent argument. When discussing specific passages or events from the novel, provide context and analysis to support your points. Consider how Rizal's narrative techniques, symbolism, and character development contribute to the overall impact of the story. Lastly, draw connections between the themes and messages of the novel and contemporary issues, demonstrating the enduring relevance of Rizal's work in today's society. By adhering to these steps, you can create a thoughtful and compelling reaction paper that engages with the novel's complexities and its lasting impact.

By composing a personal reflection essay, you can immerse yourself in this literary masterpiece and better understand how its themes relate to your life and current events. Using the guidelines in this article, you can write a powerful “Noli Me Tangere” reflection essay that does justice to the novel by delving into its deep themes and demonstrating its continued relevance.

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I enjoyed reading the article, and I think it gave me some useful insights on how to write a reflection essay about the novel. However, I wish the article had examples of reflection essays from other students. It would have been nice to see how they applied everything that the article suggested.

I think this article was a great introduction to the novel. It covered the main message and significance of it, as well as the main plot and characters. It’s just enough to know what is noli me tangere all about..

Great 👍 Thank you

Dr Rizal’s noble intention never attracted the indigenous people of the idea he was promoting, it did however attracted those Filipino meztisos who were insulates vying for the same birth rights as those of the peninsulars, thus, the revolution, the indigenous were along for the ride not understanding what they were fighting for. It hasn’t change, get a good look at the political structure, do the Filipino know what is at stake when they cast their vote? Up to this day I have yet to see a Filipino who truly love the Philippines. Even the revolutionary leaders of the time never really love the country, if he did, Emilio Aguinaldo that is he would have never sold out the country for P400,000.00 and leave in exile, hence, the pact agreed upon between the revolutionary at Buan-na-Bato and the Spaniards never materialized. Compare that with Venezuela’s Simon Bolivar who was offered the same deal as Emilio, Simon chose to continue to fight the Spaniards, ended up liberating six countries from Spanish rule.

Joseph M Calderon Jr

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Literature Review Blog

Philippine Literature: Understanding The Message Behind Noli Me Tangere

April 16, 2022 June 7, 2022

Noli Me Tangere, one of the most well-known Filipino novels, is a work of fiction written by Jose Rizal. It was first published in 1887 and it is considered to be the most important novel in Philippine literature. It tells the story of two friends: Juan Crisostomo Ibarra and Elias who are both from wealthy families.

The novel was written in Spanish and English for different audiences. The Spanish version was meant for Spaniards residing in the Philippines while the English version was meant for an international audience. Noli Me Tangere has been translated into over 20 languages and it has been adapted into films and TV series as well as musicals.

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An Analysis of Noli Me Tangere and what it says about Philippine Culture

Noli Me Tangere is a novel by Jose Rizal that is considered an important part of Filipino culture. Its main theme is the oppression of the Filipino people by Spanish colonialists. It also touches on many other themes such as class struggle, education, and religion.

We can see how much this novel has impacted Philippine culture when we look at how it has influenced literature in the country to this day. The book has given rise to many films, TV series, and even comics that have been made in its likeness.

Hidden messages in noli me tangere

Noli Me Tangere is translated to “Touch Me Not” in English. It was published in Berlin, Germany in 1887. This novel was written by Jose Rizal as a response to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines and its brutal treatment of Filipinos.

This novel is about Crisostomo Ibarra who returns from his studies abroad, but he has an accident on his way home and goes into hiding for seven years before he can return to his family again. The novel is a chronicle of the life and times of Ibarra from his birth to death, including his struggles and dreams, his intense friendships as well as the ways he reconciles with society. The novel is not linear. The first six chapters are told in chronological order, but chapter 7 is set in 1892 and tells the story of Ibarra’s youth. You can read a summary of the novel here – Noli Me Tangere Buod 2022.

Noli me Tangere is also considered one of the most important novels in Filipino literature because it paved the way for Philippine independence from Spain and America.

The Mechanism Behind Noli Me Tangere’s Success as a Novel in Philippine History

Noli Me Tangere served as a catalyst for the Philippine Revolution against Spain. The novel is considered as a masterpiece of Filipino literature and has been translated into many languages.

The novel was able to spark the revolution because it was written in Filipino, which was then the national language of the Philippines. This made it accessible to more people who could understand and relate to its message, which encouraged them to take action against Spain’s colonial rule over them.

Understanding the Themes of the Filipino Novel "Noli Me Tangere"

• Celine Bernadette Francisco
• Categories : Literature study guides and chapter summaries
• Tags : Homework help & study guides

Freedom From Spain

“Noli Me Tangere,” the first novel written by the Philippine’s national hero Jose Rizal, mirrors its creator’s persistence in attaining freedom from the Spaniards. True enough, as Rizal aimed to redeem the country and its people by exposing the barbarity, greed, cruelty and ignorance of the Spanish colonizers, his work reflected the struggles of the Tagalogs — being the first to project such a bold account of living in the 1800s in the Philippines. Likewise, as “Noli Me Tangere” portrays the different aspects of gaining independence, Jose Rizal focuses on social climbers, abusive power, family devotion, self sacrifice, and purity and faithfulness.

Social Climbers

Representing the various classes of society during the late 1800s in the Philippines, Jose Rizal includes personalities such as Doña Victorina and Capitan Tiago. These characters, indeed, show how people tend to associate with higher classes of society, specifically the Spaniards and the illustrados (“learned” ones) and mestizos . Capitan Tiago, in this instance, portrays this character as he gives friars lumps of money as ecclesiastical donations and even invites the parish curate at his home every dinner. Aside from that, he also supports the government’s tax increases, leading to his title of gobernadorcillo , the highest post a non-Spaniard can attain.

Meanwhile, Doña Victorina’s character in the novel shows an obsession in becoming Spanish. She does this by covering her face with too much makeup, dressing just like Spanish women, speaking Spanish (though incorrectly), and basically promotes the “colonial mentality” as she prefers being just like a Spaniard when in fact she is a Filipino.

Abusive Power

Having been colonized by Spaniards since the 1500s, the author depicts the Filipinos suffering abuse from civil guards, friars and other government officials. Using their power to mistreat civilians, the civil guards harass them because of simple causes, such as not rendering the customary salute, not being able to show identification cards, etc. The same goes with friars who commercialize religion through simony and plenary indulgence. Government officials, likewise, make use of their power to control those whom they believe would be detrimental to the Spanish rule. Just as Crisostomo Ibarra, the main character in the novel, experiences this through the death of his father (Don Rafael), this theme in “Noli Me Tangere” comes to life.

Family Devotion

Never forgetting the positive qualities of the Filipinos, Jose Rizal still highlights devotion to one’s family through Crisostomo Ibarra, Maria Clara and Sisa. With the death of Don Rafael, Ibarra’s father, Crisostomo traces all means to seek for justice. This is also true with Maria Clara, an obedient daughter to Capitan Tiago. Consenting to her father’s request that she marry a Spaniard (as requested by Padre Damaso), Maria Clara adheres to this (but gets very ill afterward). Sisa, on the other hand, definitely shows her devotion to her family by doing everything to serve her family. Considering her children (Basilio and Crispin) as her treasures, she endures the trials she goes through just to keep them secure.

Self Sacrifice

Just as Jose Rizal sacrificed himself for his country, “Noli Me Tangere” also conveys this message all throughout its text. Starting off with Sisa’s never-ending sacrifices for her children, she withstands her husband’s beatings and even takes on the journey of finding her sons, thereby showing her real love as a mother.

Purity and Faithfulness

Maria Clara portrays purity and faithfulness as she remains true to her love for Crisostomo Ibarra. Even though she is engaged to a Spaniard, she still does not submit herself to him because of her undying love for Ibarra. Thus, she prefers to become a nun and hence dies afterward when Padre Salvi rapes her.

Another very evident theme in the novel turns out to be patriotism. Portrayed by Crisostomo Ibarra and Elias, these two men earnestly desire for independence from the oppressors. Although different in their means for seeking reform, they both profess their goals.

Since Elias resolves for a revolt against the Spaniards, he finds all means to lead a revolution against the friars, civil guards and government officials. Believing that God will bring forth justice over Filipinos depicts patriotism by all means.

All in all, “Noli Me Tangere” shall forever remain as one of the most powerful tools the Philippines has ever had to spread awareness on the “social cancer” and to fight for independence. As Jose Rizal used various themes to spread the word regarding the battle against abusive power, injustice, false religious claims and other inappropriate dealings with innocent people, the cause Rizal started more than a hundred years ago shall endure.

Gagelonia, Pedro A. Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings. National Bookstore, Inc., 1974.

Jose Rizal University. “Noli Me Tangere: Mga Tauhan”, https://www.joserizal.ph/no02.html

Image Credit : Jose Rizal on a Mug by Michael Francis McCarthy under CC BY 2.0

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Noli Me Tangere: Jose Rizal's Call for Filipino Nationalism

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Rizal's Expose of Corrupt Friars and their Influence

Exploring the Chapters of "Noli Me Tangere"

Noli me tangere as a charter for nationalism, conclusion: a literary beacon for filipino identity.

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Noli Me Tángere

42 pages • 1 hour read

Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not)

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-6

Chapters 7-12

Chapters 13-18

Chapters 19-24

Chapters 25-30

Chapters 31-36

Chapters 37-42

Chapters 43-48

Chapters 49-54

Chapters 55-60

Chapters 61-63

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Summary and Study Guide

Noli Me Tángere (1887)—which translates to “Touch Me Not” in Latin—is a novel written by Filipino writer José Rizal. The novel tells the story of Don Crisóstomo Ibarra , a young man of Filipino and Spanish descent who returns to the Philippines after a seven-year trip to Europe. Upon his return, and because he is now old enough to better understand the world, Ibarra sees the oppression wrought on the Indigenous population by Spanish colonialism. As Ibarra attempts to do something about this, he finds himself confronting forces that view him as a direct threat to their power—and who will do whatever it takes to retain it. A sequel to the novel, El Filibusterismo , was published in 1891.

Noli Me Tángere is predominantly narrated in the third person, with occasional shifts to first-person plural. The narrative follows a generally linear plot with occasional shifts that provide historical context . It also tends toward the satirical, especially when the narrator describes members of the wealthy ruling class. At times, the novel depicts the brutality of oppression realistically, hence it is sometimes graphic.

This guide is based on the Kindle edition of the novel, translated by Harold Augenbraum and published by Penguin Books in 2006.

Content warning: This guide contains references to violence, which is depicted in the source text. 

Plot Summary

Noli Me Tángere begins at a dinner party hosted by Captain Don Santiago (Tiago), a wealthy resident of Manila. Guests assembled at the party include other members of the upper class as well as friars of both the Dominican and Franciscan orders. During dinner, Don Crisóstomo Ibarra arrives—the party being his first stop post-returning from Europe. He is there to visit his fiancée María-Clara , Santiago’s daughter. However, the celebratory atmosphere soon turns tense as one of the friars, Father Dámaso , becomes angry at Ibarra’s arrival. After the party, Ibarra learns that his father, Don Rafael, died while in prison and Father Dámaso had his corpse exhumed and removed from the Christian cemetery (i.e., dumped into a river). The dramatic tension between Ibarra and Dámaso forms the central conflict.

As Ibarra reacclimates himself to his homeland, he looks to apply his progressive ideals to make life better for the citizens of San Diego. After meeting with a school teacher, Ibarra’s first act is to build a school. While he gains support from the local government, the religious order within the town views the project with suspicion. They begin to see Ibarra as a threat to their power—with Dámaso in particular seeing him as a rival who must be put in his place.

Ibarra and María-Clara’s relationship dates back to childhood. However, Dámaso is the godfather of María-Clara and opposes the marriage. He wishes to drive the two apart and eventually achieves. He arrives uninvited to a dinner party hosted by Ibarra and dishonors the memory of his late father, which baits the latter into retaliation. Ibarra physically attacks Dámaso, holding him at knife point and threatening to kill him. María-Clara intervenes and prevents Ibarra from completing the deed, but the damage is done. As punishment for the assault, Ibarra is excommunicated and thus, the couple’s engagement is annulled.

The Captain General, the King’s representative in the Philippines, intercedes on Ibarra’s behalf. Once again, Dámaso and his colleague Father Salví are disgruntled and see the Captain General’s respect for Ibarra as a threat to their power. Salví’s role in the novel becomes more prominent after this incident, as he works on a scheme to take down Ibarra once and for all.

Ibarra befriends Elías , a fellow Filipino who is involved with a subversive group planning an uprising. Because Elías is knowledgeable of the town’s underground, he is able to warn Ibarra of the attempts to have him framed and killed. Their friendship is unusual as they are not of the same class, but they have mutual respect for each other—and this respect enables them to strengthen their alliance.

Through no fault of his own, Ibarra’s life is turned upside down by the same forces that claimed the life of his father. As the novel comes to a close, the progress that Ibarra advocated for is put on hold. However, Dámaso suffers a private defeat as María-Clara holds a secret against him, one that would destroy his reputation in town. Dámaso is eventually moved out of San Diego and with him out of the way, the possibility of reform is made more possible than ever.

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Noli Me Tangere

Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase that means “Touch Me Not”. In this novel, Rizal described in detail the sufferings of his countrymen under the Spanish rule.

Jose Rizal wrote the first sections of his novel Noli Me Tangere in 1884 in Madrid, Spain when he was still studying medicine. Rizal continued with this novel in Paris, France after he finished his medicine course. Jose Rizal finished the last sections of the novel in Berlin, Germany. Rizal drew his inspiration in writing Noli Me Tangere from a book entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin which was authored by Harriet Beacher Stowe. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is about the life of  Negro slaves under the hands of powerful white Americans. The book centered on the sufferings, maltreatment and hardships experienced by the Negro slaves and compared the sad plight of the slaves with the unfair treatment experienced by his countrymen under the Spanish rule.

Jose Rizal first thought of gathering the written experiences of his countrymen against the Spanish rule and compile it with his thoughts to complete the book but later changed his mind and wrote the book just by himself. Rizal also consulted his friend Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt on the issues he tackled in the book and the need to write about those issues.

Touch Me Not

Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase that means “ Touch Me Not.”  This phrase is mentioned in the Bible in the book of St. John the Baptist.

Rizal described the state of the country under the Spaniards as a disgrace, which provided more hardships to the life of the Filipinos. The detailed story about the sufferings of his countrymen were meant to awaken the Filipinos to the truth that was adversely affecting the society and which had not been talked about by the people most probably due to fear with the ruling Spaniards.

Ibarra and Elias

The main character of Rizal’s epic novel is Crisostomo Ibarra, a lad who studied in Europe. Ibarra’s wish was to build a school to ensure the bright future of the youth of his hometown. Ibarra was helped by a pilot and farmer named Elias who opened the eyes of Crisostomo Ibarra to know more of his country and its present problems.

Kapitan Tiyago, Maria Clara and Padre Damaso

Also one of the most important characters of the novel was Kapitan Tiyago who was described as a businessman who hails from Binondo. He was the step father of Maria Clara who was the conservative girlfriend of Crisostomo Ibarra. Maria Clara is the lady who also hails from the town of San Diego and was a child borne out of an affair between the Dona Pia Alba and Padre Damaso. Padre Damaso is a Franciscan priest who served for a long time as the head priest of the town of San Diego. He was replaced by Padre Salvi who had a secret admiration for Maria Clara.

Other Characters

The other characters of Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere are Sisa, Basilio, Crispin, Pilosopo Tasyo, Alperes, Dona Victorina, Dona Consolacion, Kapitan Basilio, Don Saturnino, Don Rafael Ibarra, Mang Pablo, Dona Pia, Lucas, Linares, Don Filipo, Tarsilo at Bruno, Kapitana Maria, Padre Sibyla, Albino, Tinyente Guevarra, Iday, Sinang, Victoria at Andeng.

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Noli Me Tangere

By josé rizal, noli me tangere summary and analysis of chapters 13-16.

Ibarra arrives at the cemetery, in search of his father’s grave. However, upon arriving where he thinks his father is buried, he can’t find a cross marking the grave. He talks to a gravedigger, who says that he burned the cross because the head priest told him to, and that he was also told to dig up the body and bury it in the Chinese cemetery instead. Feeling that it was “better to drown than to be with the Chinese,” the gravedigger threw the corpse into the water. Ibarra is furious and leaves the cemetery. As he’s leaving, he runs into Father Salví and angrily asks what he’s done with his father, but Father Salví explains that it was his predecessor, Father Dámaso, who made the orders.

We are introduced to Tasio, an old man who had been a philosophy student whose mother convinced him to abandon his education because she feared he would forget God. Soon after leaving school to be married, both Tasio’s wife and mother died, and he soon returned to his books and neglected the rest of his life. Tasio is known politely as Don Anatasio or Tasio the Philosopher, but most people call him Tasio the Madman. Tasio runs into the mayor, who he tells that he is hoping for lightning to kill people and destroy houses since he has been trying with no success to convince villagers to purchase lightning rods for a decade. Suddenly, lightning flashes, scaring the mayor. Tasio laughs and says that “you are all worthy of the name of your patron saint in this case” in Castilian. Later, he speaks to the deputy mayor and his wife, who bring up his late wife and suggest he doesn’t believe in purgatory. In response, Tasio says that purgatory existed even before the coming of Jesus, and that its long existence proves the truth of Christian philosophy, since even Zoroaster wrote about it. Yet despite his long digression, Tasio questions the idea of eternal damnation.

As the storm continues, the narrative shifts to two young sextons, brothers Crispín and Basilio, who discuss their poverty and difficult work. Because Crispín is accused of stealing from the church, they are in debt to their employer, lowering the already meager salary they earn. Suddenly, the chief sexton interrupts them, fining Basilio for not tolling the bells properly and ordering Crispín to remain at the church until what he stole comes back. Despite the boys’ pleas, the chief sexton forcibly separates them.

An hour away from town, Basilio and Crispín’s mother Sisa lives. Her husband is a gambler who abuses her and provides nothing for the family. She waits eagerly for her sons’ return and prepares the best dinner possible for them, but her husband arrives and eats much of the food, not even caring to see his sons.

The gravedigger’s lack of guilt for digging up Ibarra’s father’s corpse illustrates the extent of the power of the church—he doesn’t even think to question the orders he receives from the head priest because the priest holds so much authority. Ibarra is the first person in the novel to challenge this authority when he aggressively confronts Father Salví. Ibarra is likely able to get away with this action in part because of his high social status, while disobeying the clergy would be unthinkable for the less-fortunate gravedigger. Yet Ibarra’s actions are still extraordinary, even among people who outsiders might expect to have power over figures like Father Salví.

Tasio is an odd figure in the narrative, a person of some prominence (though he’s often ridiculed, he’s a staple of the town) who is not clearly aligned with either the church or the government. His claim that the new church tower will attract lightning indicates his disapproval of what he sees as frivolous spending by the church that doesn’t truly align with the ideals of piety. In San Diego, priests sell indulgences, which are said to reduce the amount of time a soul spends in purgatory, on All Souls’ Day. This practice again demonstrates the corruption of the church, since the clergy members take advantage of the townspeople’s piety for their own financial benefit. Tasio disapproves of this practice, as well as the government’s allowance of it, indicating that he has his own private understanding of spirituality, like the elder Ibarra. Though he disagrees with many of the practices of organized Catholicism, he is deeply knowledgeable about the religion, as shown by his digression into the history of purgatory.

The church’s lack of concern for the best interests of the townspeople is again shown through the story of Basilio and Crispín, who must endanger themselves by climbing up the tower in the midst of a storm because of their poverty. The false accusations of stealing against Crispín also underscore this theme. Furthermore, Crispín points out that these allegations make him wish he did steal, alluding to the idea that harsh regulations and laws can create criminals out of otherwise innocent people, a theme that will come up again later in the novel.

The boys are punished for pointing out the town’s curfew (which prevents them from walking the streets to return home), which indicates that the people who suffer most from the power struggle between the ensign and Father Salví are not the authorities themselves, but innocent people like the young boys. In this manner, Rizal illustrates how the system governing a town like San Diego is rigged against vulnerable people like the brothers.

Sisa is a thoroughly tragic figure, living in extreme poverty, separated from her young sons, and abused by her husband. She is one of few characters who are fully left out of the power dynamics of San Diego—her only allies are her sons, who hold little power.

Noli Me Tangere Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Noli Me Tangere is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What do the guards take from Sisa? * 1 point a. a cow b. her sons c. a hen d. a horse

Rushing home, Sisa found Basilio missing and was arrested by the Guardia Civil in order to get her sons to surrender.

Binanggit ni Don Rafael sa kanyang huling ipinadalang liham sa kanyang anak na nag-aaral noon sa Europa na huwag itong mag-alala at magtaka kung hindi na raw ito makakasulat sa kanya dahil magiging abala ito sa mga gawain. Ano ang tunay na dahilan kung

I'm sorry, you will need to post your question in English.

Bakit pinuntahan ni Elias SI crisostomo ibarra sa kanyang laboratoryo

Pumunta si Elias kay Ibarra para balaan siya na may pakana laban sa kanyang buhay.

Study Guide for Noli Me Tangere

Noli Me Tangere study guide contains a biography of José Rizal, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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Noli Me Tangere

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Noli Me Tangere takes place in the Philippines during the time of Spanish colonization. In the opening scene, a wealthy and influential Filipino man named Captain Tiago hosts a dinner party to welcome Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin back to the Philippines. Ibarra has spent the last seven years studying in Europe. In talking to the various guests at Captain Tiago’s dinner party, he discovers that his father, Don Rafael , recently died, though he doesn’t know why or how. During the dinner, Father Dámaso , a loud-mouthed friar Ibarra has known since childhood, stands up and insults Ibarra, disparaging him for having traveled to Europe to pursue an education he could have obtained in the Philippines. In response, Ibarra swallows his pride and refrains from directing insults at the half-drunk friar. Instead, he leaves the dinner early, ignoring Captain Tiago’s plea that he stay a little longer in order to see his fiancée (and Captain Tiago’s daughter), María Clara .

On his way home, Ibarra walks with Señor Guevara , a lieutenant of the Civil Guard, Spain’s colonial armed forces that police the Philippines. The lieutenant explains that a few months after Ibarra left, Father Dámaso accused Don Rafael of not going to confession. Don Rafael was a very powerful man, which meant he had many enemies in both the Spanish government and in the church. The lieutenant tells Ibarra that one day Don Rafael came upon a government tax collector beating a boy in the street. When Rafael interfered, he accidentally pushed the man too hard, causing the tax collector to hit his head on a rock. This injury eventually led to the man’s death, and Ibarra’s father was thrown in jail and accused of subversion and heresy. At this point, Father Dámaso heaped new accusations on him and everybody abandoned him. By the time he was finally proven innocent, Guevara explains, Don Rafael had already died in prison.

Ibarra goes to his hometown, San Diego, where the unfortunate events of his father’s death took place. Since Captain Tiago owns multiple properties there, María Clara also relocates to San Diego. November is approaching, a time the town celebrates with a large festival. This festival is surrounded by various religious holidays, such as All Souls’ Day, which commemorates dead people in purgatory waiting for their souls to be cleansed before ascending to heaven. Taking advantage of this, San Diego’s priests implore the villagers to purchase indulgences, which they claim shorten the length of time a soul must languish in purgatory. Ibarra quickly sees that the power of the Catholic friars in the Philippines has greatly increased since he left for Europe, a fact made clear by their control over even governmental officials. For instance, Father Salví , San Diego’s new priest, is constantly at odds with the military ensign in charge of the village’s faction of the Civil Guard. Salví uses his important religious position to spite the ensign, fining the man for missing church services and delivering purposefully boring sermons when he does attend.

The friars interfere with other elements of everyday life in San Diego too, which Ibarra learns after speaking with the schoolmaster . The schoolmaster tells him that Father Dámaso actively meddles with his educational techniques by demanding that he teach only in the country’s native language, Tagalog, instead of instructing the children to speak Spanish. Dámaso also insists that the schoolmaster beat the children, creating a hostile environment that doesn’t lend itself to productive learning. Hearing this, Ibarra decides to build a secular school in San Diego, a project his father dreamed about before his death. On the advice of the town’s old philosopher, Tasio , Ibarra presents his ideas to the town’s religious and civic leaders, making it seem as if he wants them to be involved with the school, even though he plans to ignore their influence after it is built.

Meanwhile, two poor boys named Crispín and Basilio study to be sextons, or people who take care of the church. They do so in order to financially help their mother, Sisa , but Crispín is unfairly accused of theft and thus must work constantly with his brother to pay off the absurd amounts the chief sexton claims that Crispín owes the church. When he protests this injustice one night, Crispín is hauled away and severely beaten. Scared for his brother’s life, Basilio searches him out before running home during a storm and waiting in vain with his mother for Crispín to appear. This never materializes, and the next day Basilio goes back into town. Frightened, Sisa looks for both her boys and is told that the Civil Guard has been ordered to arrest them for theft, though nobody can find them. She herself is arrested and then released, at which point she searches throughout the night for her boys, working herself into permanent insanity and destitution as she wanders the town and the surrounding woods.

Visiting the Catholic cemetery, Ibarra speaks to a gravedigger and learns that, upon Father Dámaso’s orders, he dug up Don Rafael’s body. Although the friar had instructed the gravedigger to take Rafael’s body to the Chinese cemetery—a less respected cemetery—the gravedigger threw Don Rafael into the lake, thinking it a more honorable resting place.

Ibarra and the town’s influential religious and government leaders decide to celebrate the new school on the same day as the town’s fiesta. The church makes plans to bless the new educational building (though it is not yet completed) directly after a long sermon by Father Dámaso. During this sermon, a mysterious figure approaches Ibarra. His name is Elías , a man whose life Ibarra recently saved on an eventful fishing trip. Elías tells Ibarra that there is a plan to kill him during the school’s benediction ceremony, warning him not to walk beneath a certain large stone suspended by a pulley system. Ibarra ignores this advice, and sure enough, the stone hurdles toward him. Luckily Elías takes action and covertly puts the criminal—the man plotting against Ibarra—in the way of the stone, killing him instead of Ibarra. The festivities go on, but Ibarra now knows he has enemies.

That night, during a celebratory dinner hosted by Ibarra, Father Dámaso arrives uninvited. All of San Diego’s most respected individuals are in attendance, including the governor and the town’s other friars. Dámaso loudly insults the school and its architecture while also making callous remarks about “indios,” a racial slur for native Filipinos. He flippantly speaks about how “indios” abandon their country because they think they’re superior, traveling to Europe instead. “In this life the fathers of such vipers are punished,” he says. “They die in jail, eh, eh, or rather, they have no place…” When Ibarra hears Dámaso make this crude reference to his father’s unfair death, he jumps up and pins the priest down, holding a knife in his free hand and publicly accusing Dámaso of exhuming his father’s body. Ibarra says he won’t kill Dámaso, but his actions say otherwise, and as he lifts the knife to bury it in the friar’s body, María Clara snatches it from his hand.

In the aftermath of this scandalous event, Ibarra is excommunicated from the church. Captain Tiago proves himself a spineless socialite by calling off the wedding between Ibarra and María Clara, instead betrothing his daughter to Linares , a young man from Spain. Linares is the nephew of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña , a fraudulent doctor who treats María Clara for a sudden illness that incapacitates her for several days after the incident between Ibarra and Father Dámaso. Meanwhile, the Captain General —the topmost government official representing Spain—visits San Diego. The friars implore him to punish Ibarra, but because his priorities are more civic than religious and because he supports Ibarra’s mission to build a school, he pulls strings to have the young man’s excommunication lifted.

While Ibarra continues his project, Father Salví makes arrangements with a man named Lucas , the brother of the man hired to kill Ibarra with the large stone. Because his brother died, Lucas wants revenge on Ibarra. Father Salví—who secretly loves María Clara and who believes Ibarra is a heretic—hatches a plot with Lucas to frame Ibarra. With Lucas’s help, he organizes a band of rebels to attack the Civil Guard’s military barracks, telling them that Ibarra is the ringleader. Hours before the attack takes place, Father Salví rushes to the ensign and warns him of the plan, making sure to request that the ensign let it be known that he—Salví—was the one to save the town by discovering the plot and issuing a warning.

The attack goes according to Salví and Lucas’s plan, and Ibarra is arrested. He is imprisoned and found guilty, a verdict based on an ambiguous line in a letter he sent to María Clara. Once again Elías comes to the rescue, breaking him out of prison and taking him away in a boat. Before they leave town, Ibarra stops at María Clara’s house, climbs onto her patio, and says goodbye to her. She explains that she only parted with his letter—which led to his guilty sentencing—because she was blackmailed. Apparently, a man came to her and told her that her real father is Fray Dámaso, not Captain Tiago. The man threatened to spread this information if she didn’t give him Ibarra’s letter. Feeling that she must protect Captain Tiago’s honor and the memory of her deceased mother, she handed over Ibarra’s letter. Nonetheless, she tells Ibarra that she will always love him and that she is deeply sorry for having betrayed him.

After saying goodbye to María Clara, Ibarra gets into Elías’s boat. As the two men row into the night, they continue a heated discussion they’ve already begun about the nature of revolution and reform, debating the merits of working within a corrupt system to change it rather than overthrowing the system completely. As they talk, they realize they’re being chased by another boat. Elías tries to out-row their pursuers, but quickly realizes they’ll eventually catch up. As bullets whip by, he tells Ibarra to row, deciding to jump off the boat to confuse the people behind them. Before diving, he tells Ibarra to meet him on Christmas Eve in the woods near San Diego, where Ibarra’s grandfather is buried with the family’s riches. When Elías plunges into the water, the boat follows him instead of Ibarra. Elías throws them off by diving deep into the water, only surfacing periodically. Soon, though, the people chasing him don’t see him come back up. They even think they see a bit of blood in the water.

Back in San Diego, Father Dámaso visits María Clara, who tells him she can’t marry Linares because she doesn’t love him. She references a newspaper, which falsely reported that Ibarra was found dead on the banks of the lake. She tells the friar that this news has given her no reason to live and, as such, she can’t go through with the wedding, instead deciding to enter a convent.

On Christmas Eve, the young Basilio wanders forth from a cabin in the woods, where he’s been living with a kind family ever since the Civil Guard started looking for him. He goes into San Diego in search of Sisa, his mother. When he finds her, she doesn’t recognize him and runs away, leading him back to the woods, where she goes to the old tomb that contains Ibarra’s grandfather. Once he finally catches up to his mother, though, Basilio faints. Seeing finally that he is her son, Sisa covers him with kisses. When Basilio wakes up, he finds that she has died by his side. At that moment, Elías appears. He is wounded, and seeing that Ibarra has not arrived, he tells Basilio he is about to die, instructing the boy to burn his and Sisa’s bodies on a pyre. Looking up at the sky, he utters his final words: “I die without seeing dawn’s light shining on my country…You, who will see it, welcome it for me…don’t forget those who fell during the nighttime.” The book ends without mention of Ibarra’s fate.

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