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Reflective Essay On NOLI ME TANGERE
Reflective Essay On NOLI ME TANGERE
CRITIQUE
Plot Summary:
“Noli Me Tangere” revolves around a young Filipino who has come home after finishing
his study in Europe. He is Crisostomo Ibarra, son of a wealthy landowner, Don Rafael Ibarra,
who has died in prison as the result between a conflict with a parish curate named Padre Damaso.
Crisostomo Ibarra is engaged to Maria Clara, the supposed daughter of Don Santiago de los
Ibarra desires to contribute to the development of his people. He aims to make education
accessible to more townspeople. With the support of a Franciscan, Friar Damaso’s successor
named Padre Salvi who has a secret admiration to Maria Clara, Ibarra established a public
school. At the laying of cornerstone of the new school, a suspicious accident aims to end Ibarra’s
life. But the feast continues until dinner where Fr. Damaso speaks ill-y to Ibarra’s father. Ibarra
loses his control and is about to kill the friar but prevented by Maria Clara. Ibarra is
excommunicated and without knowing, Captain Tiago was forced to break the engagement
because of his fears to the friars. Tiago also agree on Maria Clara’s marriage with Linares, a
Spaniard provided by Padre Damaso. Obedient to her father’s command and influenced by her
mysterious dread of Padre Salvi, Maria Clara consents to this arrangement, but becomes
seriously ill, only to be saved by medicines sent secretly by Ibarra administered by Sinang.
brought by Padre Salvi’s agents to ruin Ibarra. He is warned by Elias but refuses to make his
escape to see Maria Clara first. But when the outbreak occurs, he is arrested as the mastermind
On the evening in Captain’s Tiago Manila house celebrating his daughter’s engagement,
Ibarra escapes from prison and succeeds in seeing Maria Clara alone. Ibarra tells Maria Clara
how he feels that she has betrayed her but when she explained that she gave the letters in
exchange of her mother’s letters, he had already forgiven her. She swears to Ibarra that she’s
Elias helps Ibarra to escape through a banka in the lake where Elias jumps of the boat and
mislead the civil guards. Elias is shot and leaps into the water. The civil guards thought they shot
Ibarra when they saw traces of blood in the water. News spread about the death of Ibarra. When
Maria knew about it, she was sad and began weeping. She asks Friar Damaso to grant her
Elias appears at the tombs of Ibarras on Christmas Eve only to find Basilio beside the
corpse of his mother, Sisa. Elias orders Basilio to cremate his body and her mother’s body.
CHARACTERS
Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin- Son of Filipino businessman, Don Rafael Ibarra. He
Maria Clara- Crisostomo Ibarra’s fiancé, she is the most beautiful and widely celebrated
Don Santiago Delos Santos “Capitan Tiago”- He is considered one of the most hospitable
Friar Damaso Vardolagas- A Franciscan friar and the former parish curate of San Diego.
He is known as notorious character that speaks with harsh words and has been a cruel
Friar Bernardo Salvi- He is the curate of San Diego and the secret admirer of Maria Clara.
Don Anastacio- He is known as Pilosopong Tacio. He is pessimist, wise and intelligent man.
Don Tiburcio Espanada- He is a false doctor and the Spanish husband of Dona Victorina.
Dona Consolacion- She is the wife of Alferez and passes herself off as a Peninsulares. She
Crispin- The younger son of Sisa and died because of being punished from the soldiers. He
is accused of stealing an amount of money in the convent where he works with Basilio as a
sacristan
REFLECTION
The novel shows the inhumane acts, the oppression against the Filipino people during the
time of Spaniards. It is an eye-opener to the people of what is truly going on with our country. It
showed abuse of power, selfishness, and sorrow. It reveals the truth of the Spaniards’
wickedness. It also described love, love for the country and family. Ibarra still helped despite of
the cruelty he has been through. Sisa showed the essence of family love. She did everything to
find her children though she didn’t see them in her last breath. The novel also depicted
forgiveness and sacrifice. The story tells that violence doesn’t end a war. Mahatma Gandhi said
that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and
murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. That despite
Ibarra’s father was the richest man in the province. He was loved and respected
but envied by some. He was in good terms with the priests and the people but troubles
started when Father Damaso accused him of not going to confession. Padre Damaso was
alluding Don Rafael. Don Rafael was also accused of killing someone. It was stated that
an ex-artillery man has the job of collecting duties on vehicles. Since he can’t read and
write, he was despised and derided. The people are making fun of him. He lost his
patience and hit one of the schoolboys. That time Don Rafael happened to pass by, some
people said that Don Rafael hit the collector and died minutes later. And that he was
accused of being a subversive and heretic. He was sent to jail and died alone with no one
to attend to.
This chapter shows that even if you show goodness, people will judge and envy
you. People tend to make false say against you. People won’t allow you to be on top
because of selfishness. We only want success for ourselves. The chapter also depicted
bullying. Nowadays, bullying is rampant that sometimes it will lead to suicide. Why do
people bully? It is because we can’t accept the differences we have. The society became
our standard of morality. We follow norms and trends even if it’s unusual to us. That’s
someone out there is backstabbing me. I have been dragged down also and that made me
have.
Sisa is the mother of Crispin and Basilio. She is unfortunate for marrying an
irresponsible husband. Because of this only Sisa is working and taking care of the boys.
She was even forced to sell all her jewelries she possesses when she’s still a maiden to
provide food for family. Despite her husband’s attitude she still understands and tolerates
him. To her, husband is her God and angels are her children. Sisa was patiently waiting
for her boys to come home but her husband arrive drunk and ate almost all the food she
prepared for her children. Her husband asked for some money if the boys will ever bring
home money. All she could do is cry and cook the food again for her children. Basilio
She is a model of a loving mother. She would do everything for the welfare of her
family. Despite of her husband’s attitude, she still loves him and tolerates his vices. I
think that it’s too much to be a martyr of love. It might affect roles in the family. His
drunkard, and other vices they’re involved. This affects the family as the foundation of
society. This would make the children think that vices are good.
It was 10th of November and the streets of San Diego were bedazzled with
colourful decorations. There were fireworks and bands playing in the streets. The houses
served varieties of delicious foods. A stage of comedy show was fixed in Binondo’s
plaza. Ibarra was busy working the plans for the new schoolhouse. In his project, a lot of
rich people offered help but rejected it since it’s not for the church. By that, Ibarra
became the role model of the children the person they want to be when they grow up.
What Tacio has said is true. Two-faced people are real existing. For example,
politicians during campaigns are very good with people. They promised the development
of the country. They promised betterment. They would always say, prioritize first the
poor but what happened? When they won, they forget everything. They stole the people’s
money. Corruption is one of the Philippines worst problems. Politicians were very
comforting to people when cameras are flashing. But in the real world, some of them
were the instigator of drugs. They were the ones who brought pest in the society.
The society is the environment where one’s personality is nurture. What will
happen to our young generation if corruption, drugs, and crimes will continue to happen?