NOLI ME TANGERE by Dr.

Jose Rizal

Literary Form and Style

 “Noli Me Tangere” is Rizal’s first novel written in Spanish prose. It was used to
expose the Spanish authorities’ hypocrisy and to expose them to the Filipinos they
had been abusing.
 It was written in Spanish and published in 1887 but during present day it is
commonly read in Tagalog or English.
 The theme used in the novel were Colonialism, Religion, and Power. It
demonstrates how the Catholic church was able to dominate and rule the
Philippines as a result of Spain's colonization.
 The novel's setting is in the Philippines in the late nineteenth century.
 Noli Me Tangere is a work of fiction and combines melodrama, satire, and
Philippine history. For all its picaresque digressions, the plot is pure melodrama.
 Every character in Noli Me Tangere has a role that depicts different roles in
Philippine society to fight for the freedom of the country.

Characters Of Noli Me Tangere

 Juan Crisostomo Ibarra – The only son of Don Rafael Ibarra, the richest person
in San Diego. He studied in Europe for 7 years, and is the sweetheart of Maria
Clara. He represents Jose Rizal.
 Maria Clara – She is the girlfriend of Ibarra. She is the daughter of Kapitan
Tiyago and Doña Pia Alba, but biologically, her father is Padre Damaso. Maria
Clara symbolizes Filipino women.
 Sisa – Mother of Basilio and Crispin. She has a drunkard for a husband. In the
novel Sisa portrays a loving mother, and it could be assumed that Rizal likened
her to his own mother. Sisa is being maltreated by the Spaniards; similarly, our
country is being abused by the Spaniards.
 Doña Pia Alba – She is the mother of Maria Clara and the wife of Kapitan
Tiyago. She symbolizes our country, which ceaselessly gives in to foreign power.
 Capitan Tiago – The father of Maria Clara. He is sometimes lovable and
annoying. He is biased and is only obedient to those who are higher in rank than
him. Capitan Tiago represents the rich Filipinos who oppress their fellow
countrymen in exchange for the influence and the riches that they might gain from
their powerful associations.
 Fray Damaso – The first parish priest in San Diego and is very abusive. He
symbolizes the Spanish friars of Rizal’s time.
 Fray Salvi – Franciscan parish priest of San Diego. Fray Salvi represents the
clergy during the time who disguise the yearnings of the flesh under the authority
of the Church to get what they want.
 Doña Victorina – Her fanatical adulation of the Spaniards leads her to imitate the
very actions and attitudes of the Spanish women. She symbolizes the Filipinos in
our society who are ashamed of their own race and nationality.
 Doña Consolacion – She is a Filipina married to a Spaniard. Her very actions and
way of dressing will lead people to think that she is prostitute. Doña Consolacion
symbolizes the Filipinos in our society who are ashamed of their own race and
nationality.
 Elias – He believes that justice can be obtained only through revolution – reforms
simply won’t do. He symbolizes the very root of the Filipino culture before the
coming of the Spaniards, which remained strong and unbroken by the Spanish
culture.
 Pilosopong Tasyo – He is a wise man. He embodies the intelligent people, who
never left the country but instead educated themselves in a religious institution.
 Don Rafael Ibarra - Ibarra's father, who has died before the novel's opening
pages.
 Don Tiburcio - came to the Philippines as a customs officer, but was dismissed
upon his arrival. represented the ignorant Spaniards whose foolishness the other
Spaniards tolerated, often resulting in disastrous consequences for the natives.
 Basilio - was a young boy living in San Diego and the older brother of Crispin.
 Crispin - Crispin was a young boy living in San Diego and one of the sacristans
of its church alongside his brother Basilio. He represented the innocent who was
wrongly accused of crimes they did not commit.
 Salome - a young girl living in San Diego and the sweetheart of Elias.
 Padre Sibyla - is a Dominican friar who is the curate of Binondo and had been a
former professor at San Juan de Letran college. Symbolizes the liberal friar but
would rather stay in the background rather than incur the wrath of other priests in
power.
 Alferez - Dona Consolascion’s husband Shares rivalry with the priest, particularly
Padre Salvi and frequently has violent fights with his wife Represented the
officials of the state who frequently had power struggles with Church officials.
 Alfonso Linares - A young and smart Spanish lawyer. Meek and shy. Padre
Damaso wanted Maria Clara to marry him but she refused. Alfonso Linares
represented the young Spaniards who came to the Philippines hoping for a better
life than in their motherland.
 Gobernador General - He occupies the second most powerful rank in the
colonial government, second only to the king Supported Ibarra against Padre
Damaso Represented the typical Governor Generals of the Philippines who would
often disdain the power that the friars had.
Plot Summary
"Noli Me Tangere" is a 19th-century novel by Jose Rizal that depicts the religious
hypocrisy and corruption that persecutes a socialite in the Philippines. Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y
Magsalin, the main character in Rizal's novel, has returned to the Philippines after seven years of
studying in Europe. He is first surrounded by wonderful friends, a gorgeous fiancée, and a
supportive upper class, but he is tormented by a priest named Father Damaso, a loud-mouthed
priest whom Ibarra knew since childhood and has a grudge against Ibarra's late father. Ibarra
discovers the tragic circumstances of his father's death that Damaso had Don Rafael's corpse
removed and thrown in a lake, as well as the history behind the Friar Dámaso Vardolagas' hatred
for him. Ibarra is imprisoned as Father Salvi blamed him for the attack that happened in the
military camp in which Father Salvi has secretly started.

As a result of the religious authorities' persistent hatred, Ibarra is convicted, loses his
friends and reputation, and is nearly assassinated. But, Elias, a person saved by Ibarra, arrives
and frees Ibarra from prison, and the two escaped aboard a boat. Ibarra climbs onto Clara's
balcony and bids her farewell before leaving town. As they travel, another boat attacks the men
while they are talking. Elias chooses to jump off the boat as a diversion while Ibarra continues
rowing. Elias invites Ibarra to meet him in San Diego on Christmas Eve, where Ibarra's
grandfather is buried with the family money. Elias dives into the sea and is pursued by the
attackers until they see blood in the water and conclude Elias is dead. Ibarra is deflated,
disillusioned, and weak by the end of the novel. His town's bright future was ruined, and he now
finds himself surrounded by corruption and loss.
Message
“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. The novel is full of symbolism and real-life events that set the tone for the rest of
the book and opened the eyes of the Filipino people during the Spanish colonization to start the
revolution and overthrow the Spanish colonizers. It promotes nationalism and accepting change
in oneself. We must patronize our country by abiding by the law, supporting Philippine culture,
and attaining the country's genuine goal by helping one another in improving the country.

Social Significance
Nationalism and Catalyst of Change
 This novel sparked national consciousness and empowered people to be the change they
desired.
 It laid the path to achieving independence and it made its mark as Filipinos fought against
the colonizers, finally gaining freedom.
Become Good Role Model
 Filipinos who are agents of change can also instill a strong sense of nationalism in future
generations.
 helped Filipinos understand what nationalism means as well as being the motivation for
change.

Group A Members:
Ytang, Nekkie Joy R. Gil, Charlotte
Eguna, Niña R. Melendez, Fritz
Sanchez, Alexander Ray B. Monterona, Geprel
Bongbonga, Joyce Ann Ardiza, Diana Mae
Oclaret, Gielyn
Rosell, Shella Mae
Mosqueda, Apple
Cortes, Beverly Razen
Tiogangco, Kimberly
Aberion, Marguerite V.
Villacampa, Rei