(SUMMARY) This time, we will try to go through the novel, and analyze it thoroughly, but before that, here’s a

summary of Noli Me Tangere.

There is a saying that, “Literature is a mirror of our culture”. And so, at this moment we will try to analyze the
characters in Noli Me Tangere that depicts different roles in Philippine society to fight for the freedom of the
country.

(CHARACTERS) Starting with Juan Crisostomo Ibarra Y Magsalin. He is a wealthy young mestizo who has
just returned to the Philippines after seven years of studying in Europe, Ibarra is sophisticated, highly esteemed, and
very idealistic. He was also the son of Don Rafael, one the wealthiest businessmen in San Diego. In the novel He
symbolizes the idealism of the privileged youth, and a reflection of Dr. Jose Rizal himself.

Next, Maria Clara. A woman of high social standing, she is thought to be the daughter of Capitan Tiago and
goddaughter of Father Dámaso, but she is actually the biological daughter of Father Dámaso, the product of a
scandalous relationship between the old priest and Capitan Tiago’s wife. In the novel, she symbolizes the purity and
innocence of a sheltered native woman during the time of Spanish occupation.

Next, Elias. A mysterious character, He is a man on the run from the law who resents both the Spanish colonial
government and the Catholic Church. He crosses paths with the more temperate Ibarra when Ibarra bravely saves
him from a crocodile. In the story, 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

Next on the list is, Father Damaso. He is best known as a notorious character who speaks with harsh words and has
been a cruel priest during his stay in the town. He is the real father of María Clara and an enemy of Crisóstomo's
father, Rafael Ibarra. He symbolizes the state of Philippine society under Spanish colonial rule or the Spanish friars
during Rizal’s time.

Father Salvi. A younger, more cunning Spanish priest who assumes control over Father Damaso’s post as friar
curate of San Diego. He is in many regards more dangerous that his precursor as he is a more gifted strategist who
uses his religious role for political influence as well as personal vendettas. He represents the rotten state of the
clergy during Spanish occupation.

Next is Captain Tiago. A Filipino businessman and the cabeza de barangay or head of barangay of the town of San
Diego. He is also the known father of María Clara. In the story, 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.

For the other characters, here is Old Tasio. An old man who previously studied philosophy and is believed to be
crazy by most of the community. Don Rafael Ibarra. The deceased father of Crisóstomo Ibarra. Next, Crispin, A
young boy studying to be a church caretaker, He and his brother Basilio work unceasely to send support money to
their insane mother, Sisa. And lastly, La Doctora Victorina De Los Reyes De Espadana. A socialite and friend of
Capitan Tiago. She along with her husband Don Tiburcio sought to associate themselves with the influential figures
of San Diego in order to gain further social status.

Enough with the characters, let us now try to identify the symbols that are prevailing in the story.

(SYMBOLISM) The School, Ibarra's attempt to build a school in his community illustrates his political views,
particularly his belief about the power of education. The school thus symbolizes empowerment through education,
which is unavailable to most Filipinos—the story of Crispín and Basilio shows the reader the types of children who
would be advantaged by a new, secular school.

Night and Dawn, In his final words, Elías likens the dark time before freedom and equality come to the Philippines
to the night. Some people, including himself, will die before they can see the dawn. Night symbolizes the time of
corruption, chaos, and confusion, while dawn represents a new, happier time. Just as dawn begins a new day, Elías
hopes that a new era will dawn on the Philippines.

Cemeteries and burials. Cemeteries and burials appear often in the novel, most prominently in the form of Don
Rafael Ibarra's lack of a proper final resting place, which is considered so disgraceful. People who are without a
final resting place are repeatedly associated with shame, such as the multiple suicides in the novel, the bandit who is
decapitated in Elías's story, and Lucas, who is implied to be killed by Father Salví. At the end of the novel, Sisa and
Elías die in a cemetery, and Elías emphasizes the importance of building a proper funeral pyre to honor them to
young Basilio.

Next on the list is The Cancer. The title of the novel, Noli Me Tángere, alludes to a cancer that is so deadly and
powerful that no one dares touch the sores associated with it. Similarly, the novel explores a "social cancer" (as its
original English translation phrased it) that eats at the Philippines, but is seen as too dangerous to talk about.

And lastly, Maria Clara. Ibarra directly likens María Clara to his nation, the Philippines, as a whole, and she can be
interpreted as an embodiment of the country. Like the Philippine people in general at the time, she is typically
passive and reluctant to rebel against the society she was raised in, despite clearly seeing its flaws. Yet by the end of
the novel, María Clara has found the courage to stand up for herself and resist the plans to marry her off to a man
she doesn't love. This change in her character can be seen as a change Rizal anticipated in his people as the
Philippines headed towards rebellion and war.

This time, we will discuss the central message of the literary work.

(THEME) First on the list is Freedom from Spain. “Noli Me Tangere mirrors its creator’s persistence in attaining
freedom from the Spaniards. True enough, as Rizal aimed to redeem the country and its people by exposing the
barbarity, greed, cruelty and ignorance of the Spanish colonizers, his work reflected the struggles of the Tagalogs —
being the first to project such a bold account of living in the 1800s in the Philippines.

Social Climber. Representing the various classes of society during the late 1800s in the Philippines, Jose Rizal
includes personalities such as Doña Victorina and Capitan Tiago. These characters, indeed, show how people tend to
associate with higher classes of society, specifically the Spaniards and the illustrados (“learned” ones) and mestizos.
Capitan Tiago, in this instance, portrays this character as he gives friars lumps of money as ecclesiastical donations
and even invites the parish curate at his home every dinner.

Abusive Power. The author depicts the Filipinos suffering abuse from civil guards, friars and other government
officials. Using their power to mistreat civilians. The same goes with Government officials who make use of their
power to control those whom they believe would be detrimental to the Spanish rule.

Family Devotion. Never forgetting the positive qualities of the Filipinos, Jose Rizal still highlights devotion to
one’s family through Crisostomo Ibarra, Maria Clara and Sisa. With the death of Don Rafael, Ibarra’s father,
Crisostomo traces all means to seek for justice. This is also true with Maria Clara, an obedient daughter to Capitan
Tiago. Sisa, on the other hand, definitely shows her devotion to her family by doing everything to serve her family.

Self sacrifice. Just as Jose Rizal sacrificed himself for his country, “Noli Me Tangere” also conveys this message all
throughout its text. Starting off with Sisa’s never-ending sacrifices for her children, she withstands her husband’s
beatings and even takes on the journey of finding her sons, thereby showing her real love as a mother.

Patriotism. Another very evident theme in the novel turns out to be patriotism. Portrayed by Crisostomo Ibarra and
Elias, these two men earnestly desire for independence from the oppressors. Although different in their means for
seeking reform, they both profess their goals.

Religion. Religion takes many forms in Noli Me Tángere. Most obviously, Catholicism is visible in the organized
system of the church and its hierarchy. Yet even the clergy often do not truly believe in their religious ideals—Father
Salví, for example, is lustful despite being a priest, and he seems to care about his position only because of the
power it gives him.

Although The novel is a fictional work, Dr. Jose Rizal still account all the real-life events that took place during the
Spanish regine, such as:

Colonialism, Religion, and Power. José Rizal’s political novel Noli Me Tangere examines how Spain’s
colonization of the Philippines allowed the Catholic church to dominate and rule the region. Rizal shows the
shocking extent to which the Catholic friars have commandeered the country’s politics and culture, manipulating the
lives of Filipino citizens in an attempt to assert authority and influence. Thus, Rizal illustrates the Catholic priests’
corruption and their unchecked power, which doesn’t stem from actual religious zeal, but rather from a love of
supremacy that colonization has enabled and encouraged.

Depivation of Education. San Diego’s friars are fearful of education’s power to liberate natives from the church’s
control. Because of this a lot of the Filipinos were ignorant and blinded of the evil-doings of the friars in the
Philippines. In this manner, Rizal shows that, education could lead to positive change in the Philippines.

Isolation. One of the primary ways characters in Noli Me Tangere are disempowered is through isolation: political
isolation, religious isolation. Politically, all of the characters are isolated from Spain, the governing body that
controls the Philippines. While the friars take advantage of this remoteness, the townspeople suffer. Religiously, he
fact that the friars are supposedly in the Philippines to spread religion, they often keep the townspeople from fully
integrating into Spain’s Catholic tradition.

(IMPACT) When the novel succeeded in uncovering the truth, Rizal somewhat achieved his mission, though the
original intention were only reforms for the betterment of the Philippine society. The circulation of the book made a
spark in the heart of the people who had been suffering from the cruel hands of their abusive leaders. The novel
brought enlightenment and showed the naked truth of the society. It unmasked the hypocrisy, corruption, and
tyranny that hide under the cloak of religion, and it also served as a catalyst for social awakening.

If there is one thing that the book is trying to teach us today, I believe it is about exposing the truth. Gone are the
days that we are silence with fear, miseducated , and even blinded with lies of the past. In this very democratic
nation and with the advent of technology, every citizen is ought to take part of the change by staying educated, and
educating people with the truth as well. We should not repeat the mistakes of the past. And so, exercise your votes
wisely for the upcoming presidential elections, by choosing the suitable representative of every citizen that is able,
competent and effective in progressing our country.
and that would be all for the Noli Me Tangere.