Appraise important characters in the novel and what they represent.
Examine the present Philippine situation through the examples mentioned in the Noli.
Pilosopo Tasyo's Quote
"Ang bayan po'y di dumaraing dahil siya'y pipi, di tumitinang dahil natutulog. Subali't darating ang panahong malalantad ito sa inyo at mapapakinggan ang kanyang mga panaghoy. Pagsapit ng araw na ito,… sasambulat sa lahat ng dako ang mga naipong luha; himutok at buntong- hiningang matagal na panahong kinimkim sa puso ng bayan."
Translation: "The country does not lament because it is mute, it does not stir because it is asleep. But the time will come when it will be revealed to you and its lamentations will be heard. When that day comes,… the tears that have been accumulated will burst forth in all directions; sighs and groans that have long been hidden in the heart of the country."
Noli Me Tangere
English title: Touch Me Not
Filipino title: Huwag Mo Akong Salingin
The novel was cut short because it should have been written by several authors including Rizal. However, those people don’t have any interest in writing, thus, Rizal wrote the novel himself.
Translated into Filipino, French, German, Chinese, and other Philippine dialects.
Best known English translation:
Charles Derbyshire (1912)
Leon Maria Guerrero (1961)
Rizal almost burned the manuscript because of losing hope to publish it.
Maximo Viola
Hailed as the savior of Noli.
Loaned Rizal 300.00 pesos to publish the novel.
Vincente Blasco Ibanez
Became Rizal’s editor and consultant.
Making of Noli Me Tangere
January 2, 1884: Rizal proposed the writings of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos in Madrid.
End of 1884: Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about one-half of it.
1885: Rizal went to Paris after completing his studies in the Central University of Madrid and continued writing the novel, finishing one half of the second half.
Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany.
April-June, 1886: He wrote the last few chapters of the Noli in Wilhelmsfeld.
February, 1886: Rizal made the final revisions on the manuscript of the Noli in Berlin.
Elias and Salome
Deleted chapter of the novel to save printing expenses.
February 21, 1887: the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing
Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action- Gesselschaft:
A printing shop which charged the lowest rate, that is, 300 pesos for 2,000 copies of the novel
March 21, 1887: the Noli Me Tangere came off the press
Cover of Noli Me Tangere
Represents the nation and the women, victims of the social cancer
One of the causes of the cancer is symbolized in the friar’s feet, outsized in relation to the woman’s head
Guard’s helmet and the iron chains and the teacher’s whip and the alferez’s scourge:
The other aggravating causes of oppression and discrimination
Bamboo stands at the backdrop:
These are the people, forever in the background of their own country’s history
There are a cross, a maze, flowers and thorny plants, a flame:
These are indicative of the religious policy, the misdirected ardor, the people strangled as a result of these all
Crisostomo Ibarra
Full name: Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin
A Filipino who studied in Europe for 7 years.
The love interest of Maria Clara.
Son of the deceased Don Rafael Ibarra.
Said to be the representation of Rizal himself.
Maria Clara
Full name: María Clara de los Santos
Ibarra's sweetheart
The illegitimate daughter of Father Dámaso and Pía Alba.
Representation of Filipina women; Leonor Rivera
Elias
Ibarra's mysterious friend, a master boater, also a fugitive.
He was referred to at one point as "the pilot".
He wants to revolutionize his country.
An outlaw and vagabond revolutionary who resents the power the Catholic church and Spanish government have over the Philippines.
After Ibarra saves his life from a vicious crocodile, Elías swears to protect the young man from his enemies
Sisa, Basilio, and Crispín
Sisa:
The mother of Basilio and Crispín, who went insane after losing her sons.
Basilio:
The elder son of Sisa.
Crispín:
The younger son of Sisa who died from the punishment from the soldiers from the false accusation of stealing an amount of money.
Father Dámaso
Full name: Dámaso Verdolagas
Franciscan friar and María Clara's biological father.
Father Dámaso is an arrogant and pedantic priest who, despite having lived amongst Filipinos.
A shameless loudmouth, he is unafraid of slandering nonreligious citizens who he thinks undermine his power.
Kapitan Tiago
Full name: Don Santiago de los Santos
The known father of María Clara but not the real one; lives in Binondo.
A Filipino socialite and well-respected member of the country’s wealthy elite.
Close with high-ranking clergy.
Captain Tiago is one of the richest property owners in Manila and San Diego.
He is concerned with making sure his daughter, María Clara, marries an affluent man with ample social capital, which is one of the reasons he so quickly abandons his support of Ibarra when the friars disgrace the young man’s name
Padre Salví
Full name: Bernardo Salví
A secret admirer of María Clara.
Pilosopo Tasyo
Full name: Don Anastasio
Portrayed in the novel as a pessimist, cynic, and mad by his neighbors.
Representation of Paciano
Summary
The young and idealistic Juan Crisostomo Ibarra returns home after seven years in Europe.
The wealthy mestizo, like his father Don Rafael endeavors for reform primarily in the area of education in order to eliminate poverty and improve the lives of his countrymen.
Upon learning about his father’s demise and the denial of a Catholic burial for his father, Ibarra was provoked to hit Padre Damaso which eventually lead to his excommunication.
The excommunication was later rescinded upon the intervention of the Governor General.
Excommunication:
The action of officially excluding someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church.
Padre Salvi, Ibarra’s mortal enemy accused Ibarra of insurrection.
Ibarra’s letter to his beloved Maria Clara was used against him.
She was compelled to give Ibarra’s letter in exchange for the letters of her mother before she was born.
Insurrection:
A violent uprising against an authority or government.
Ibarra was able to speak with Maria Clara about the letters and thereafter forgave her.
Ibarra was captured and imprisoned but was able to escape the prison with Elias, who also experienced injustice with the authorities.
Ibarra and Elias flee to the lake and were chased by the Guardia Civil.
One was shot and the other survives.
Upon hearing the news, Maria Clara believed that Ibarra was dead; she entered the nunnery instead of marrying Alfonso Linares.
The fatally wounded Elias found the child Basilio and his dead mother Sisa.
Sisa was driven to insanity when she learned that her children were implicated for theft by the sacristan mayor.
Elias instructed Basilio to dig for his and Sisa’s graves and there is a buried treasure which he can use for his education.
Analysis
Noli is a romantic novel
It is a “work of the heart”—a book of feeling”
It has freshness, color, humor, lightness, and wit
It contains 64 chapters
The melancholic fate of Maria Clara and the insanity of Sisa characterized the country’s pitiful state, which was once beautiful, turned miserable.
The injustice and abuse of power of the Friars depicts the ugly side of the Catholic church and its clergy.
Forced Labor imposed to the Filipinos showed the inequality before the law and it robs them their labor rights.
Oligarchy was clearly seen as haciendas were owned by the Friars making them the riches landlords.
Guardia Civils become infamous for their rampant abuses such as maltreating innocent people, raping women, and etc.
Analysis: Social Awakening
The content of the novels of Rizal can be still relevant and relatable up to the present time.
The story and characters mirrors some people in our society.
It also taught us to fight for our rights and freedom.
Analysis: Education
In secondary and tertiary education, Noli and El Fili became part of the things we should study; which is good for us to know our history and appreciate our hero.
But sadly, many youths didn't appreciate those precious novels.
Some see it as an additional burden for their school works.
Evaluation Questions
To compare today, what are the injustices that we can see at present caused by the abuse of power and social standing? Enumerate.
What makes us similar to Sisa who lost her insanity after grieving about her lost? Give a particular situation that we can associate to such circumstance.
If your lover have betrayed you because of his/her personal life reason, just like Maria Clara and Ibarra, would you also forgive?
Among the three, who do you think is the most pitiful one? Basilio, Crispin or Sisa? Why?