NOLI ME TANGERE
RIZAL 101
Q. If you are to choose a symbol
that would best represent one
current problem of the Philippines
(be it political, social, economic,
etc.), what would it be?
• Greatly influenced by Harriet Beecher Stowe’s
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Rizal wanted to publish a
book that would play a crucial role in the
political history of the country. He planned on
revealing the kind of society that the Philippines
had under the Spanish colonial rule.
• It was completed in Berlin, Germany at the end
of 1886 and at the onset of 1887, the final draft
was ready for publication.
• While he was conscientiously finishing the final draft of the
Noli, he had apprehensions that it might not be published.
For one, he had insufficient money to have it printed.
• Fortunately, Rizal’s friend from a rich family of San Miguel,
Bulacan arrived in Berlin to invite him on a Europe Tour. Dr.
Maximo Viola wanted Rizal to accompany him on his tour
but upon learning Rizal’s dilemma, he was kind enough to
delay the tour and insisted on lending Rizal P300 to publish
the Noli.
• Rizal even made some adjustments in the novel to save on
the printing costs and deleted Chapter 25 entitled “Elias and
Salome”.
• Some attests say that the novel was officially off the
press on March 29, 1887 but there were also
accounts that showed that Rizal was already sending
a copy of the novel to Blumentritt on March 21.
• Because of Viola’s generosity, he was dubbed in the
Philippine history as the “Savior of the Noli”.
• Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere was written in Spanish and
published in 1887. Basing it from experience, the
conventions of the 19th century novel and the ideals of
European liberalism, Rizal was able to expose the real-life
scenario under the Spanish colonial rule — the abuses
and inequalities of many Spanish Catholic friars and
government officials during his time.
• With 63 chapters and an epilogue, Rizal was only 26 years
old when the Noli was published. He was studying medicine
that time at the Universidad Central de Madrid.
• The Noli was dedicated to the country whose miseries and
sorrows were brought to light in an attempt to awaken its
people to the truths concerning the ills of the society during
that time.
• The title Noli Me Tangere is a
Latin phrase which mean
“Touch Me Not”.
• It is not originally conceived by
Rizal, for he admitted taking it
from the Bible.
• The novel Noli Me Tangere contains
63 chapters and an epilogue.
• The Noli , was a true strory of
Philippine conditions during the last
decades of Spanish rule.
• The places, the characters, and the
situations really existed.
• Many appreciate the Noli for its
narrative that takes the readers
through the eyes of its characters,
on a journey of love and
deception, struggles and triumphs;
and in the process, presents
pressing questions about power
and social inequalities.
01
Plot of Noli Me
Tangere
Plot of Noli Me Tangere
The story of the Noli Me Tangere
followed the life of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra after he
returned to the Philippines from studying in
Europe. The novel opened with Capitan Tiago
preparing a homecoming gathering for the young
ilustrado.
But not everything was fine and dandy for Ibarra.
Upon his return, he learned about the ills that
plagued his town as well as the abuses of the
friars to which his late father fell victim to. Ibarra
found an antagonist in Padre Damaso, the former
curate of San Diego who ordered that the corpse
of his father be exhumed and reburied in the
Chinese cemetery.
Plot of Noli Me Tangere
Despite these personal travails, Ibarra
persevered to fulfill the plan of building a school
in San Diego, staying true to his belief
that education was crucial for his nation’s
progress. Ibarra almost got killed had it not for
Elias, a boatman, who saved him. Elias also
previously cautioned Ibarra about his actions that
could anger the friars.
Plot of Noli Me Tangere
Here, another confrontation occurred between
Ibarra and Damaso who attended the luncheon
uninvited. In a fit of anger Ibarra took a knife
against Damaso’s neck and threatened to slit his
throat as he told everyone of the abuses committed
by Damaso and the
desecration he did to Ibarra’s father.
Maria Clara calmed Ibarra and
prevented him from killing the friar Damaso, in an
act of revenge, persuaded Capitan Tiago, the
father of Maria Clara, to not allow his daughter to
marry Ibarra.
Plot of Noli Me Tangere
After some time, a revolt was blamed on
Ibarra, which caused his incarceration. With the
help of Elias, he escaped and went to see Maria
Clara who was soon marrying the man her father
chose for her. In a heartbreaking confrontation,
Ibarra and Maria Clara exchanged accusations and
in the process, it was revealed that Damaso was
the true father of Maria Clara.
Plot of Noli Me Tangere
As turmoil and confusion engulfed the
town, Maria Clara thought Ibarra had been killed.
This caused her endless grief. She asked to be
confined to a nunnery lest she take her own life. It
was later revealed that Ibarra was not dead and that
Elias was the one fatally shot. In the latter
passages, the dying Elias was waiting for Ibarra but
instead, met and talked to the young Basilio.
Plot of Noli Me Tangere
He instructed the orphaned boy (his
mother Sisa, who became insane looking for her
young sons, had died) to find the treasure of Ibarra
buried in the cemetery and use it to get an
education. He reminded Basilio to never lose hope
and if one day, freedom and progress would come
to his country, to not forget those who labored in
the night.
Within this general contour of the
narrative, Rizal wove a complex story and
subplots. Reading through the novel, different
characters and their corresponding stories
unfolded as told through the voice of an unseen
narrator. Truly, the pages of the Noli reflected the
lives of people living in the complicated world of
colonial Philippines.
01
Characters of
Noli Me
Tangere
• Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra - A wealthy young mestizo who has just returned
to the Philippines after seven years of studying in Europe, Ibarra is
sophisticated, highly esteemed, and very idealistic.
• María Clara - A woman of high social standing, she is the adoptive
daughter of Capitan Tiago and goddaughter to the vile Fr.
Damaso.
• Father Damaso - An old, power-hungry, and shamelessly corrupt Spanish
priest who has lived among the native Filipinos for nearly two decades; in
spite of having spent all that time among them the years have done nothing
to endear him or develop any sympathy for his “flock.”
• Elías - A mysterious character, Elias is a man on the run from the law---a
wandering insurgent---resentful of both the Spanish colonial government
and the Catholic Church, he crosses paths with the more temperate
Crisostomo Ibarra when he bravely saves his life from a marauding
crocodile.
• Don Rafael Ibarra Crisostomo - Ibarra’s father is posthumously
mentioned in the novel.
• Crispín - A young lad studying to be a church caretaker, he together with
his brother Basilio, ceaselessly work to send support money for their
beleaguered mother, Sisa.
• Basilio - Eldest of Sisa’ brood, he, like his younger brother are sextons in
training. Basilio makes a desperate run for their home the night Crispín is
dragged away.
• Father Salví - A younger, more cunning Spanish priest who assumes
control over Fr. Damaso’s post as friar curate of San Diego.
• Captain Tiago - (Don Santiago de los Santos) Capitan Tiago is a rarity in
that he is a wealthy native-born Filipino socialite.
02
Noli Me Tangere
Symbols
• Noli Me Tangere intends to depict the real conditions of the
Filipino life under the Spanish rule.
• Mainly because of the rampant corrupt acts of the Spanish
officials and friars, the way of living of the Filipinos during that
time had been backward, anti-intellectual and anti-progressive, up
to the point that the country was not in any way catching up on the
developments of the so-called Age of Enlightenment.
• The Schoolhouse - More than just an edifice for learning the schoolhouse
has become a symbol of empowerment and freedom.
• Capitan Tiago is represents the rich Filipinos who opted to be allies (as in
‘tuta’) of Spanish officials and friars just to preserve their wealth and political
position.
• Elias and Ibarra - The two characters Elias and Ibarra symbolize the
two contrasting means by which political reforms are to be achieved.
• Elias, the mysterious insurgent, who represents political reforms
achieved through bloody revolution and his polar opposite, Ibarra, who
represents political reforms achieved through civil discussions.
• Maria Clara - symbolizes the nation of the Philippines under Spanish rule.
• Crisostomo Ibarra - He represents the small group of Filipinos who had
a chance to study abroad and dreamt of improving the country. Like Jose
Rizal, Ibarra wanted education for Filipino children, hence his plan to
construct a public school in San Diego.
• Father Damaso - This Spanish friar corresponds to wicked but ironically
respected priests. His character is a reflection of the then rampant
covert fathering of illegitimate children by friars.
• Sisa and her sons Crispin and Basilio - They epitomize a Filipino family
oppressed by the Spanish authorities.
• Don Rafael Ibarra - As Ibarra’s father, he symbolized a rich landlord with
a social conscience.
• Crisostomo Ibarra - He represents the small group of Filipinos who had
a chance to study abroad and dreamt of improving the country. Like Jose
Rizal, Ibarra wanted education for Filipino children, hence his plan to
construct a public school in San Diego.
• Father Damaso - This Spanish friar corresponds to wicked but ironically
respected priests. His character is a reflection of the then rampant
covert fathering of illegitimate children by friars.
• Sisa and her sons Crispin and Basilio - They epitomize a Filipino family
oppressed by the Spanish authorities.
• Don Rafael Ibarra - As Ibarra’s father, he symbolized a rich landlord with
a social conscience.
• Doña Victorina - She represents some ambitious Filipinas who wanted
to be classified as Spanish, hence the putting on of heavy make-up.
She despised everything Filipino and imitated what was Spanish — an
embodiment of a social climber and colonial mentality.
Indeed, the novel’s characters represent the various kinds of people
inhabiting the country during the period of Rizal’s life.
Do you still see these characters in the present time?
Silhouette of a
Filipina
● It was a popular belief
that the silhouette of the
woman in the cover of
Noli Me Tangere, is the
unfortunate Maria Clara,
Crisostomo Ibarra’s lover.
Helmet in a
Cassock with Hairy
Feet
● This symbol at the lower
part of the cover is to be a
representation for priests
using religion in dirty way,
specifically Padre
Damaso.
Whip/Cord
● The cruelties present in
the novel best explains
the symbol Rizal used
in the cover.
Bambo Stalks
● It represents
Filipino resiliency.
A Length of Chain
● Rizal’s representation
of slavery and
imprisonment.
Cross
● It was representation of
suffering and death. It
also represents
Catholic faith.
Burning Torch
● It refers to Olympic torch,
it means the beginning of
the defense of honor and
start of proving
themselves worthy and
victory. It also represents
rage and passion.
Pomelo Blossoms and
Laurel Leaves
● They represent faith, honor
and fidelity which are the
values Rizal aspire to be
embodied by Filipinos.
Pomelos are used to scent
their air commonly during
prayers and cleaning rituals.
The laurel leaves also
known as bay leaves, are
used as crowns during the
Ancient Greek Olympics.
Sunflowers
● A unique behaviour in
sunflower, known as
phototropism, is a motif that has
appeared in many ancient
myths and is viewed as symbol
of loyalty and constancy. The
sunflower’s petals have been
likened to bright yellow rays of
sunshine, which evoke feelings
of warmth and happiness.
Rizal’s Signature
● It shows that Rizal experienced
and witnessed the ills and
abuses that happened during
his time.
