Noli Me Tangere (English) Chapters 1-10
Noli Me Tangere (English) Chapters 1-10
Noli Me Tangere (English) Chapters 1-10
Chapters 1-10
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Chapter 1: A Feast
On the month of October, Kapitan Tiago (whose whole name is Don Santiago de los
Santos) is organizing a luxurious feast. It will be held in his home, which is located in the
town of San Diego; more specifically, in Anloage Street.
The guests arrive that evening, greeted by Tiya Isabel, the cousin of Kapitan Tiago. Padre
Damaso, Padre Salvi, Tenyente Guevarra (captain of the civil guard), and a foreigner with
red hair from another country are some of the important guests that come to the
gathering. There is a heated discussion amongst them regarding the ethics of the Filipino
culture, Tobacco monopoly, and the Spaniards' harsh insults against the Filipinos. It was
also revealed that Padre Damaso has been serving as a priest of San Diego for 20
years.
Tenyente Guevarra and Padre Damaso gets into an argument, and Padre Salvi has to
calm his fellow priest.
Some other prominent figures arrive, such as Don Tiburcio and his wife, Donya Victorina.
Analysis:
In this chapter, Rizal illustrates the typical Filipino culture of inviting one's self to a party,
regardless of one's presence in said party being known or not by the host. Because of
this, the host always has to prepare a lot more, causing hardships for most rich people.
Kapitan Tiago's house symbolizes the Philippines - both are known to be very hospitable.
Everyone is welcome to come and visit, especially foreigners.
This chapter also shows the conflict between The Church and The State. Padre Damaso
symbolizes The Church, while Tenyente Guevarra symbolizes The State..
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was prepared in his honor when he is served the meatiest part of the tinola (A well-known
Filipino dish). This enrages Padre Damaso even more, and the padre starts to taunt Ibarra
with his haughty and bitter comments. Ibarra simply remains calm.
A while later, Ibarra stands up to leave. Kapitan Tiago halts him, informing the young man
that the love of his life, Maria Clara, will be arriving soon. Ibarra, however, takes his leave,
but promises to come back again the next day.
Analysis:
Padre Damaso's insults to Ibarra only show the Spaniards' disapproval in educating
Filipino youths outside of the country, just so that they can keep the Filipinos "naive," and
they can stay in power.
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Chapter 4: The Heretic and the Filibuster
Ibarra is now walking the streets of San Diego when Tenyente Guevarra catches up with
him. The Tenyente warns him to be careful, or else he will end up like his father. Surprised,
Ibarra immediately questions Tenyente Guevarra about the fate of his father.
The Tenyente goes on to tell Ibarra that although his father Don Rafael was one of the
wealthiest and most respected men in the town, there were many Spaniards and priests
who were angry at Don Rafael. A few months after Ibarra had left for Europe, Don Rafael
and Padre Damaso had a big conflict. Don Rafael's enemies ganged up on him,
accusing him of killing a tax collector, being a heretic and filibuster, insulting the priests
behind their backs, and many more. He was convicted and placed behind bars.
Tenyente Guevarra tried to help by getting Don Rafael a good lawyer. When Don Rafael
was about to be set free (the lawyer won the case), he died inside his prison cell due to
the sickness he had developed during his captivity.
Tenyente Guevarra ends there, telling Ibarra that Kapitan Tiago will continue the rest of
the story next time. Ibarra rides a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) to his temporary
residence, Fonda de Lala.
Notes:
Heretic - someone who does not believe in God or has betrayed Him and the
Roman Catholic Church. Don Rafael was convicted of this because he was
Kapitan Tiago is a rich and therefore, influential person in the town of San Diego. He is
friends with those who have positions in the government, and the priests as well. He thinks
of himself as a true Spaniard, and not a Filipino.
As a child, he was not sent to school by his father. He was a helper of a Domican priest,
who also became his teacher. When his dad and teacher died, he became a
businessman. Donya Pia Alba, a beautiful young woman from Santa Cruz, became his wife,
and the two worked at their business (selling sugar and other products) until they
eventually became rich.
The couple also became friends with Don Rafael, the father of Crisostomo Ibarra.
When Tiago and Pia were married for six years, they couldn't bear any children. They tried
many different superstitious methods until finally Padre Damaso advised them to go to a
holy mass and procession at the town of Ubando. Pia Alba became pregnant, and
Maria Clara was thus born. Pia died right after Maria Clara was born because she was
already too sickly to begin with. Tiya Isabel, Tiago's sister, took care of Maria Clara
together with Tiago. Padre Damaso also became Maria Clara's christened godfather.
Maria Clara and Crisostomo Ibarra became childhood friends.
Analysis:
Tiago represents the wealthy Filipinos back in the Spanish time who had the "colonial
mentality" - they accepted the Spanish's conquering of the country, and even saw
themselves as Spaniards. They were friends with the Spanish authorities as well.
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Chapter 7: Rendezvous on the Terrace
Maria Clara and Tiya Isabel attends early morning church, but comes back home right
after.
Maria Clara is sewing when she hears a car outside, followed by the voice of Ibarra. In a
panic, she goes to her room, where Tiya Isabel helps her freshen up and makes her look
presentable before she faces Ibarra.
Ibarra and Maria Clara then has a romantic reunion by the terrace. Maria Clara asks him
if he's forgotten her because of the many girls he might have met abroad, and Ibarra
answers that he can never forget her, for she is always on his mind.
Maria Clara then brings out a letter than Ibarra had given her before he left for Europe.
She reads this out loud, and it states Don Rafael's reason for sending Ibarra to another
country: he wanted Ibarra to learn about life from other places so that he may serve the
Philippines one day. After Maria Clara reads the letter, Ibarra remembers that he has
something important to do.
Analysis:
Rizal illustrates true love in this chapter. Maria Clara and Ibarra, though apart for so long,
still remember their love for each other, and have even kept mementos from each other in
the past.
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Chapter 8: Recollections
As Ibarra is riding a kalesa, he observes that many things around the town had not
changed, even after all these years. He passes a few Talisay trees that he remembers from
the past, and the street vendors by the streets.
He passes the carriage of Padre Damaso, who doesn't seem to have noticed him.
Ibarra also passes by the sea, and it is then he recalls that across the vast sea is Europe,
whose countries never stop growing and developing.
Analysis:
This chapter represents the Philippines, who in the long period of Spanish colonization,
never changed, just as San Diego, the fictional town, had not changed since Ibarra had
last been there.
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Chapter 9: Local Affairs
In front of Kapitan Tiago's house is a carriage, where Tiya Isabel and Maria Clara are
sitting in, about to leave for the Beaterio. Padre Damaso, who came to talk to Kapitan
Tiago, comes across them before he enters the house to look for Kapitan Tiago. With a
sense or urgency, the Padre and Kapitan Tiago enter a room, the door firmly shut, in order
to be able to talk privately.
The scene perspective changes to Padre Sibyla who is hastily making his way to the
Dominican convent known as Puerta de Isabel II. He enters the convent and enters the
room of a sickly priest of a much higher rank compared to he. Sibyla tells the sickly priest of
Padre Damaso and Ibarra's encounter with each other the night before. The two talk more
about Ibarra, Maria Clara, and Kapitan Tiago, revealing that Ibarra and Maria Clara
have an arranged marriage with one another, as promised by Kapitan Tiago and Don
Rafael, the couple's parents, a long time ago.
Back to Padre Damaso. He exits the room with Kapitan Tiago, warning Tiago to never
again keep secrets from him, for he is Maria Clara's godfather. When the Padre exits,
Tiago, who looks worried and conflicted, blows out the candles he had previously lighted,
praying for Ibarra's safe journey.
Notes:
Why is Damaso angry? - he found out about the arrange marriage, and he told
Kapitan Tiago to cancel it immediately.
Tiago's blowing of the candles - it was a tradition back then to light candles
whenever praying for someone's safe journey. However, since Damaso had ordered
the cancellation of Ibarra and Maria Clara's marriage, Tiago's blowing out the
candles may symbolize his obedience to the Padre's command.
Analysis:
Rizal shows us in the chapter that the Spaniards back then only thought of their desires
and self interests. That's why any Filipino who got in the way, must be very wary and
careful, or else something bad might happen.
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Chapter 10: San Diego
This chapter describes the town of San Diego.
The town of San Diego has a lot of flat plains and mountains, making farming its primary
business. However, because of the Filipino farmers' ignorance, the products they produce