Republic of the Philippines

PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY

Camarines Sur

Name: Mark Anthony A. Clavecilla

Course and Section: BSCE 1A

Assessment

1. Enumerate those important characters in the novel and their representation in reality, as per as/with Dr.
Jose P. Rizal’s life is in concern.
- Crisostomo Ibarra exemplified the vision that Jose Rizal had aimed for the youth of the Philippines during
his time. Others attribute Ibarra as Rizal’s reflection of himself.
- Maria Clara symbolizes the purity and innocence of a sheltered native woman during the time of Spanish
occupation. She does not value material things that were abundantly bestowed upon her by admirers and
family alike but holds in high esteem her parents’ honor and the promise she had given to her sweetheart.
- Padre Damaso symbolizes the Spanish friars of Rizal's time and is a comment on the Spanish control of
the Philippines
- Elias represents the common Filipino who is not only aware of the injustices done to their countrymen but
would also like to deliver them from their oppressors. He is said to be the personification of Andres
Bonifacio.
- Pilosopo Tasio symbolizes the learned Filipinos who had once embraced the culture of the Spanish
regime. They eventually became disenchanted when they return to the Philippines and observe the stark
contrast their countrymen receive from their colonizers. The more they turn to learning, the more they
become eccentric to the masses they seek to enlighten.
- Padre Salvi Symbolizes the lecherous friars of Rizal's time
- Capitan Tiago was a typical character during the time of Jose Rizal. He is a rich native-born Filipino who
rubbed elbows with the powers that be during that time. He symbolizes the rich Filipinos who oppress their
fellow countrymen in exchange for the influence and the riches that they might gain from their powerful
associations.
- Donya Concolacion symbolizes the Filipinos in society who are ashamed of their race and nationality
- Doña Victorina symbolizes those who have a distorted view of their identity. Everything that is indigenous
is inferior and everything foreign as superior. It is the comedic form of ‘’colonial mentality’’
- Don Tiburcio is a caricature of ignorant Spaniards who wreak havoc in the provinces during the colonial
era. His countrymen condone his actions for they do not want him to become a burden to them.

2. What do you think is/are the deepest reason/s of Rizal in writing the novel?
- I think the deepest reason of this novel of Rizal is to awaken the heart and eyes of the Filipino from the
tyranny of the Spaniards. To spread the spirit of nationalism and start to fight for our freedom

3. How this novel influenced Filipinos before and today, with regards to our social and political
discernment?
- This novel influenced the Filipinos during the time of the Spanish rule by constantly relating to their
present situation that eventually fully awaken them from the bad governance of the Spanish. And as of
present we certainly know what is the right way on how to govern and we are all aware of the anomalies
because of the past experiences that the Filipinos suffer. Through time our knowledge about social and
political factors become vast and extensive that will eventually benefit the future generations.

Page |1