Name: Bangayan, Trizia G.

Date: 12/08/2022
Section: BSBA 2-1 Activity #8: RIZAL

1. Describe the first novel of Jose Rizal.

 Noli Me Tangere was Rizal's first novel which tackled the society and
government in the Philippines during the Spanish colonization.

2. How was San Diego described in the novel?

 San Diego - as the epitome of the Philippines.

3. What were the two books Rizal read while he was in Europe?

 The book of Harriet Beecher Stone entitled “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” which
described the abuses experienced by the Africans under their American
masters and the book written by Eugene Sue entitled “The Wandering
Jew.”

4. How were the following Characters symbolized in the novel?

A. Juan Crisostomo Ibarra:

• A gentlemen who studied in Europe, full of idealism and dream to contribute

change in the society by the establishment of a school.
• He was the son of Don Rafael Ibarra and the lover of Maria Clara.

• He was also a picture of a son who wanted justice for his father who died
because of injustice and abuse of others in their power.

B. Don Rafael Ibarra:

• Padre Damaso envied him and plotted different things against Don Rafael. He
was imprisoned because he helped a child under the abuse of a Spaniard. Padre
Damaso ordered that his remains should be thrown in the river.

C. Elias:

• He was a rebel in the novel. He became friends with Crisostomo when the latter
saved him from the crocodile who attacked them. He symbolized the less
fortunate Filipinos who thought that uprising could be a means in ending their
poverty and abuse in the society.

D. Maria Clara:

• She symbolized a Filipina who came from a good education, modest, faithful,
reserved and conservative.

E. Sisa:

• The mother of Crispin and Basilio. Sakristan Mayor accused Crispin that he got
seven silver coins of the church. Crispin was punished and later on died in the
hands of Sakristan Mayor. Sisa symbolized a mother who would do everything for
the sake of her children.

F. Kapitan Tiago:

• He was Don Anastacio de los Santos and one of the richest men in San Diego. He
was known as the father of Maria Clara and his house was often the venue for the
gatherings in the town. He symbolized the Filipinos who were passive and thought
of their welfare first.

G. Padre Damaso:

• The real father of Maria Clara. He symbolized the abusive leaders of the church
and society.

H. Doña Victorina:

• She symbolized the Filipinos who would give up their principles and identities as
a Filipino just to be part of the higher society.

I. Doña Patrocinio:

• She had an elicit love affair with the Alferez. She symbolized the Filipina who
always prayed and joined the activities in the church just to hide her bad
attitudes.
J. Pilosopo Tasio:

• He was considered insane in the novel because of his intelligence and his
assertiveness in speaking his mind. Crisostomo Ibarra often referred to him for
truth and knowledge. He symbolized a Filipino who was intelligent and spoke for
his principles.

5. Give a brief summary of the novel.

• He learned about the death of his father because of sickness inside the prison.
Padre Damaso who had negative remarks about him because he practiced the
behavior that he learned from Europe. Señor Guevarra, a friend of his father, told
Crisostomo about the misfortune that his father suffered. He also learned about
the story of Sisa who became insane because of the search for her two sons who
were abused by the Sakristan Mayor. Crisostomo also dove into the water and
saved Elias. Elias saved Crisostomo from the plan of assassination against him.
The search for justice and his good intention of building school for the poor led
Padre Damaso to hate Crisostomo so he always delivered negative comments and
criticism to Crisostomo during his homily. Padre Damaso was her true father.
Crisostomo went to the cemetery to bury the body of Elias and in the same place
there was Basilio who also buried the body of her Mother Sisa. It was only Basilio
who knew the truth about Crisostomo.

6. Give the contributions of the following characters in the novel.

A. Dr. Maximo Viola:

• Dr. Maximo Viola - who lent those Rizal an amount of 200 pesos.
B. Ferdinand Blumentritt:

• Ferdinand Blumentritt commended Jose Rizal because according to him, the

novel was written from the heart. According to Ferdinand, possessed a gift in
writing and his novel could be a source of enlightenment of the people of his
country.

C. Padre Francisco Sanchez:

• Padre Francisco Sanchez commended the literary skills of Jose Rizal which was
evident in the novel, however he also suggested to Rizal that he should include
the good qualities of the priest in his novel. But still Padre Sanchez defended the
novel against the public.

D. Antonio Regidor:

• Antonio Regidor considered Noli Me Tangere as superior and could be

compared to the novel Don Quijote. According to him, the novel was a literary
piece but based on the actual observations of the writer.

E. Gobernadorcillo:

• The friars criticized the novel because the Gobernadorcillo in the country had
the petition to the Governor General to remove the friars. So the friars brought
the novel into censorship and they succeeded because the committee declared
the novel as anti-church and so ordered the ban of the novel and the
imprisonment of the people who had copies of the book.