Summary of Noli me Tangere

Noli me Tangere’s story begins with Capitan Tiago where he gives a reception or dinner
at his house in Calle Anloague (now juan luna street) this reception was given in honor to
Crisostomo Ibarra, the son of Capitan Tiago’s Friend Don Rafael Ibarra and a Fiance of
Maria Clara. He was a young and rich Filipino who had just returned after seven years of
study in Europe.

One of the guests during the reception was Padre Damaso, a Fat Friar who had been
parish priest for 20 years in San Diego (Calamba), Ibarra’s native town. Padre Sibyla, a
Dominican parish priest of Binondo; Senior Guevera, a kind lieutenant of the Guardia
Civil; Don Tiburcio de Espadana, a bogus Spanish physician, often criticized by his wife
Dona Victorina; and several ladies.

When Ibarra arrived, he made a favorable impression among the guests except Padre
Damaso, who was rude to him. Ibarra introduced himself to the ladies with a german
custom. One of the dishes served was chicken tinola, Padre Damaso was in a bad mood
because he got a bony neck and a hard wing of the chicken tinola. During the dinner
conversation centered on Ibarra’s studies and travels abroad, he tried to discredit Ibarra’s
remarks. but Ibarra Brushed off the insult and took no offense.

After dinner Ibarra left capitan tiago’s house to return to his hotel, but before leaving
lieutenant Guevarra revealed to him the incidents preceding death of his father Don Rafel
Ibarra. According to the Lieutenant, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being heretic.
On hearing the sad story of his father, Ibarra thanked the lind Spanish lieutenant.

The following morning, Ibarra went to see Maria Clara, his fiancé. After the romantic
reunion Ibarra went to San diego to visit the grave of his father (it was all saint’s day) but
he find out from the grave digger that the grave of his father was removed by order of the
Spanish priest to be buried in the Chinese cemetery, but the corpse was heavy and it was
a dark rainy night so the grave digger threw the corpse into the lake.

After learning of the terrible incident that happened to his father’s corpse, Ibarra was
angered so he left the cemetery. On the way, he met Padre Salvi, a Franciscan parish
priest of San diego. He immediately asked and demanded redress for desecrating his
father’s mortal remains but Padre salvi told him that he was not the parish priest that time,
it was padre Damaso who was responsible for it.

On the other hand, the story of Sisa, Basilio and Crispin was taking place. Sisa was
formerly a rich girl but became poor because she married a gambler and a wastrel. She
became crazy or mentally ill because she lost her two boys, Basilio and Crispin. These
boys were sacristanes in the church working to support the poor mother but Crispin was
accused by the brutal sacristan of stealing money from the priest, he was then tortured
and died. Basilio, with his brother’s dying cries ringing in his ears, escaped. But the two
boys did not return home, Sisa looked for them with great sorrow and became insane.
Going back to Ibarra, instead of seeking revenge he tries to follow his father’s footsteps
of peace wherein he was almost killed during the laying of the cornerstone. At the
sumptuous dinner that night, the arrogant Padre damaso speaking in front of many guest
insulted the memory of Ibarra’s father the reason why Ibarra jumped from his seat and
knocked down the friar with his fist and seized a sharp knife, he would have killed the friar
if Maria Clara did not intervene.

As a result of attacking padre Damaso his engagement to Maria Clara was broken and
he was excommunicated. Until Ibarra’s enemies engineered an attack on the barracks of
the Guardia Civil, at the same time waning the alferez to alert his men that night deceiving
the attackers by telling them that the mastermind was Ibarra. Ibarra was blamed for the
Catastrophe.

Elias Ibarra’s friend went to prison and helped Ibarra escape after learning of his friend’s
arrest. He burned all the papers that might incriminate his friend and set Ibarra’s house
on fire. They jumped into a “banca” loaded with grass. Ibarra stopped at the house of
Capitan Tiago to say goodbye to Maria Clara. He forgave Maria Clara for giving up his
letters to her to the Spanish authorities then Maria revealed that his letters were
exchanged with the letters from her late mother, Pia Alba and learned that his real father
was Padre Damaso.

After saying goodbye to Maria Clara, Ibarra returned to the Banca and they paddled up
the Pasig river toward Laguna de bay but a boat with guardian civil on board went after
them. Elias told Ibarra to hide under the grass as the Police boat was after them. Elias
then jumped off the Banca and swam swiftly toward the shore, getting the attention of the
soldiers in order for Ibarra to escape. The soldiers fired at Ibarra who was hit and sank
and the soldiers think they killed the fleeing Ibarra. Thus, Ibarra was able to escape.

The seriously wounded Elias reached the shore and staggered into the forest. He met
Basilio who was weeping over his mother’s dead body (sisa) he told Basilio to make a
pyre to burn their bodies.

Elias looked toward the east and murmured “I die without seeing the dawn brightens over
my native land! you who have it to see, welcome it- and forget not those who have fallen
during the night!”

Maria Clara, entered the Santa Clara nunnery. Padre Salvi left the parish of San Diego
and became a chaplain of the nunnery. Padre Damaso was transferred to a remote
province but was found dead in his bedroom. Capitan Tiago, the former genial host and
generous patron of the church became an opium addict and a human wreck. Dona
Victorina had taken to wearing eye glasses because of a poor eyesight. Linares died of
dysentery. Alferez was promoted major and returned to Spain leaving behind his mistress,
Dona Consolacion.

It ended where Maria Clara was an unhappy nun in Santa Clara- forever lost to the world.
Symbolism of characters in Noli Me Tangere

1. Juan Crisostomo Ibarra – Patriotic, educated Filipino, Civic-minded, liberty-minded.

(Rizal himself)

- Civic-minded, liberty-minded and patriotic, he desired the

- education of his peopl

2. Elias – represented the Filipino masses in the novel. Vendicator from the injustices of
the Spaniards. (Rizal Himself)

3. Maria Clara – represented Filipino womanhood trained in a convent and immersed in

education basically religious in orientation. ( Maria Clara as Leonora Rivera)

- Purity and innocence of Filipino Women

4. Don Rafael Ibarra - He was used by Rizal in the Noli to symbolize an affluent landlord
with social conscience.

5. Sisa – symbolizes the country and the way it was abused by Spaniards. To illustrate
the typical characteristics of Filipino mothers, willing to defend her children from all forms
of injustice and accusations.

6. Capitan Tiago – Rich filipino’s who oppress their fellow countymen, A greedy and
selfish political personnel, whose wealth was derived from his involvement in the illegal
opium trade; It represent the subservient Filipino to the authorities to protect his personal
and business interest.

7. Dona Victorina - symbolize colonial mentality among Filipinos during his time.

8. Dona Patrocinio –She symbolized the mentality of the Guardia Civil imprudent, vulgar,
cruel, and quarrelsome.

9. Pilosopo Tasyo – represented Rizal’s epitome of a philosopher; be a sage by the

educated and a weird or lunatic by those who did not know him. (Paciano)

10.School Master of San Diego – symbolized the intellectual dissatisfaction in Filipino

society during Rizal’s time.

11. Padre Damaso- Domineering Friar, represents the Spanish government, arrogant,
immortal, and anti-filipino.

12. Basilio and Crispin- The crisotomo brothers of Hagony

Inspiration of his Novel: “ Uncle Tom;s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe’s which
portrays the brutalities of American slave owners and the pathetic conditions of the
unfortunate negro slaves. This inspired him to make a novel that would depict the miseries
of his people under the lash of Spanish tyrants. The title was inspired from the Gospel of
St. John (Chapter 20, verses 13-17) that signify “do not touch me”

According to the cover of the book:

cross – symbolizes sufferings,

Pomelo blossoms and laurel (crown during Greek Olympics)- Honor and fidelity.

Silhouette of a Filipina- Maria Clara

Burning torch- rage and passion

Sunflowers- Enlightenment (a new beginning)

Bamboo stalks that were cut down but grew back- resilience of the Filipino

A man in a cassock and a hairy foot- priests using religion in a dirty way

Chains- slavery

Wimp- cruelties

Helmet of the guardia civil- arrogance of those in authority