NOLI

• Noli Me Tangere


  Novel written by Jose Rizal that exposes the hardships Filipinos go through and the corruption of the local government and clergy
• Basilio


  Crispin's older brother, also a church helper. When Crispin is taken away, Basilio rushes home but can't find him. The next day, he searches for his brother but can't find him. When the Civil Guard comes looking for them, Basilio runs away into the forest to hide. He stays with a kind family until Christmas Eve. When he finally finds his mother, Sisa, he realizes she's gone crazy with grief and doesn't recognize him. He follows her into the woods, where she briefly becomes lucid before dying of shock.
• Sisa


  The mother of Crispin and Basilio, who work as church helpers. She loses her mind when her sons disappear. She is poor and married to a cruel, drunk man, but she is close to her sons. She roams the city in torn clothes with messy hair, calling out for her sons. She forgets about them until she eventually finds Basilio.
• The story of the Noli Me Tangere

  1. Followed the life of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra after he returned to the Philippines from studying in Europe

  2. Ibarra was shown to be rekindling links with his betrothed Maria Clara

  3. Ibarra learned about the ills that plagued his town as well as the abuses of the friars to which his late father fell victim to

  4. Ibarra found an antagonist in Padre Damaso, the former curate of San Diego who ordered that the corpse of his father be exhumed and reburied in the Chinese cemetery

  5. Ibarra persevered to fulfill the plan of building a school in San Diego, staying true to his belief that education was crucial for his nation's progress

  6. Ibarra almost got killed, had it not been for Elias, a boatman, who saved him

  7. Ibarra organized a luncheon where another confrontation occurred between Ibarra and Damaso

  8. Damaso persuaded Capitan Tiago, the father of Maria Clara, to not allow his daughter to marry Ibarra

  9. A revolt was blamed on Ibarra, which caused his incarceration

  10. With the help of Elias, Ibarra escaped and went to see Maria Clara who was soon marrying the man her father chose for her

  11. In a heartbreaking confrontation, Ibarra and Maria Clara exchanged accusations and it was revealed that Damaso was the true father of Maria Clara

  12. As turmoil and confusion engulfed the town, Maria Clara thought Ibarra had been killed, causing her endless grief

  13. It was later revealed that Ibarra was not dead and that Elias was the one fatally shot

  14. The dying Elias met and talked to the young Basilio, instructing him to find the treasure of Ibarra buried in the cemetery and use it to get an education.
• Symbolism on the novel's cover

  • Filipina silhouette - Motherland (the Philippines)
  • Bay leaves - Honor and Fidelity
  • Cross - The authority of the Catholic faith over the land
  • Burning Torch - The awakening of Filipinos
  • Sunflower - New beginnings
  • 1887 - Publishing year of the novel
  • Bamboo - Resilience of the Filipinos
  • Chain and whip - Slavery and tyranny of the Spaniards
  • Helmet - The arrogance of authority
  • Hairy legs - The shapeshifting werewolf symbolizing the friars
• Themes of the novel

  • Freedom from Spain
  • Social Climbers
  • Abusive Power
  • Family Devotion
  • Purity and Faithfulness
  • Patriotism
• The novel's effect on society

  1. Offended the Spanish Regime and Clergy in the Philippines, causing the book to be banned from circulation in 1887

  2. Received negative reactions from critics like Vicente Barrantes and Fr. Jose Rodriguez, but also positive support from Marcelo H. del Pilar, Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt, and Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor

  3. As the novel was written in Spanish, the first people that will understand the contents are the Spaniards in power, who attempted to censor it

  4. When the novel was banned, more attention was drawn to it due to people's natural curiosity, leading to an awakening of Filipino awareness about the corruption and injustices perpetuated by the friars

  5. The novel inspired many Filipinos to dream of a better country, leading to the Philippine revolution.
• Noli Me Tangere is a very influential novel, written by Rizal that intends to expose the readers to the corruption that happens in the Philippines, and it achieved that.