Noli Me Tangere
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Noli Me Tangere is a novel written by Jose Rizal, one of the national heroes of the Philippines.
Published in 1887, it criticized the colonial rule Spain had over the Philippines during the time. Its
sequel is El Filibusterismo.
Contents
1Summary
2Major Characters
3Trivia
4References
Summary
At the end of October, presumably in 1881, the wealthy Capitan Tiago hosts a dinner at his house.
[1]
He then introduces Crisostomo Ibarra to his guests, who has recently returned from his studies in
Europe. As Ibarra greets Padre Damaso, he is shocked when Damaso denies ever having been
friends with his late father, Don Rafael.[2] During the dinner, Damaso belittles Ibarra's studies abroad,
embarrassing him and causing him to leave the party.[3]
Walking to Plaza Binondo, Ibarra is approached by Lieutenant Guevarra, who informs him that his
father was imprisoned for accidentally killing a Spanish tax collector and died while incarcerated,
having also been branded a filibuster for subscribing to the newspaper El Correo de Ultramar.[4] At
his hotel, Ibarra is troubled thinking about his father's death. Meanwhile, Maria Clara, Capitan
Tiago's daughter and Ibarra's fiancee, arrives at the party.[5] The narration then explains the history of
Capitan Tiago, who had agreed with Don Rafael to marry their children.[6]
Later on, Ibarra visits Maria Clara and speaks with her in private, and the two prove their love for
each other by showing that they have saved mementos from each other.[7] As Ibarra later rides
through Manila in his carriage, he is bothered by the lack of progress in the country. [8] Padre Damaso
then speaks to Capitan Tiago, angrily objecting to Ibarra and Maria Clara's marriage; Capitan Tiago
reluctantly agrees.[9]
It is explained that the town of San Diego in Laguna produces various crops, situated along Laguna
Lake as well as beside a forest owned by Ibarra's grandfather Don Saturnino. [10] The narration then
goes to the two prominent figures of San Diego, the parish priest Padre Salvi and the alferez of the
Guardia Civil.[11]
Two gravediggers converse at San Diego's cemetery, one of them explaining that he was ordered by
a previous parish priest to dig up Don Rafael's body and bury it in the Chinese cemetery; because it
was raining at the time, he instead dumped it in the river.[12] On All Saints' Day, Ibarra and a servant
arrive at the cemetery, searching for Don Rafael's body. Ibarra asks the gravedigger and, given the
story, angrily leaves. At the cemetery gate, Ibarra runs into the town's new parish priest, Padre Salvi,
and attacks him, demanding an answer for the transfer; Salvi reveals that Damaso was responsible.
[13]
Meanwhile, the sage Pilosopo Tasio leaves the cemetery, having been unable to find the skull of his
dead wife. He sees the young sacristans, the brothers Basilio and Crispin, and then discusses the
concept of purgatory with Don Filipo.[14] Inside the church, Basilio and Crispin are worried due to
Crispin being accused of stealing two gold pieces by the sacristan mayor and not being allowed to
leave.[15] At their home, the boys' mother Sisa prepares their dinner and is shocked when only Basilio
arrives home later that night,[16] the boy telling her that Crispin stayed behind at the church. That
night, Basilio dreams of his brother being beaten and killed by the sacristan mayor and Padre Salvi.
[17]
The following day, Sisa travels to the church and tries to convince Padre Salvi to release Crispin,
only to find out from a sacristan that Crispin is not at the church and that the Guardia Civil are
searching for her two sons.[18] Elsewhere, Ibarra, wanting to start a school in the town, converses with
the schoolmaster about their obstacles in doing so.[19]
At a meeting at the town hall, Don Filipo's proposal regarding the fiesta is ultimately rejected in favor
of the curate's.[20] Meanwhile, Sisa arrives home and is arrested by the Guardia Civil to get her sons
to surrender. Publicly humiliated, Sisa begins going insane.[21] Later on, Ibarra invites both Maria
Clara and Padre Salvi to a picnic in the woods; both accept, Salvi doing so to prove he has no ill
feelings.[22]
Ibarra, Maria Clara and their friends then go fishing on the lake. When the boat's pilot, Elias,
discovers a crocodile in the fishing nets, he jumps into the lake; Ibarra follows him and ends up
saving his life.[23] On the way to the picnic, Padre Salvi watches Maria Clara and her friends bathe.
The guardia civil later arrives in search of Elias, who is actually a fugitive being pursued for attacking
both the alferez and Padre Damaso.[24]
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