The Noli Me Tangere free essay sample

The  Noli Me Tangere  by Jose P. Rizal, national hero of the Philippines, is the novel with the greatest impact on Filipino political thinking in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the widest influence on contemporary fiction, drama, opera, dance and film. Its popularity was rooted in its reflection of the times in which it was written, and has continued because of the characters Rizal created, set in situations that still ring true today. Rizal finished the Noli in 1887, and published 2,000 copies in Berlin. Many thousands more have since circulated, in the original Spanish, and in translations into German, French, Chinese, English, Filipino, and other Philippine languages. Chapter 1 (A Social Gathering) On the month of October, Capitan 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 Capitan Tiago. Friar Damaso, Friar Salvi, Lt. 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. Many other guests come, most of them uninvited. Before the evening meal, people talk among themselves and discuss different issues of interest. Chapter 2 (Crisostomo Ibarra) Captain Tiago introduces Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, whose clothes clearly depicted he was in grief. Ibarra is the main character in the story, who has just returned to the Philippines from 7 years of studying in Europe. Crisostomo warmly greets Friar Damaso who has a good friend of his father, Don Rafael; however the friar denies the existence of this close relationship. Lt. Guevarra approaches Ibarra and welcomes him, adding, I hope your fate will be much better than your fathers. Chapter 3 (The Dinner) The guests gather at the dining table. Friar Damaso and Friar Sibyla both rush for the seat at the head of the table. The rest of the seats are occupied, and Crisostomo Ibarra notices Captain Tiago is not seated in any of them. Ibarra offers the Captain his seat, but the latter refuses. This is the time Ibarra realizes that the dinner was in fact arranged in  his honor. Friar Damaso is enraged when Ibarra is served the meaty part of the chicken at dinner, while his was the skinny neck. Soon after, Ibarra leaves the scene without waiting for the arrival of his love interest, Maria Clara. Chapter 4 (Cabesang Tales) Cabesang Tales cultivates a piece of land with his father and his family. Because of having to endure hard work and manual labor under the sun, Taless wife and eldest daughter die. At the time of harvest, some men representing a certain religious order lay claim to the land and demand from Tales an annual payment of rent. Having no other choice, Tales accepts the agreement. However, year after year the rent keeps going up in incredible increments and Tales decides he has had enough. He brings the issue up in court, demanding that the religious order provide proof of their ownership of the land. Tales loses the case. Time passes and he is kidnapped by bandits demanding ransom for his neck. In the attempt to gather up enough money to pay for the release of her father, Juli (Taless daughter) borrows money from Hermana Penchang and works for the woman as a servant in order to pay the debt. Chapter 5 (A Star in a Dark Night) Crisostomo Ibarra settles in Fonda de Lala and appreciates from a distance the lively singing and noise around Captain Tiagos house, which could be seen from the hotel window. He ruminates about his poor fathers death, and how life must have been extremely excruciating for him in prison. Meanwhile, at the Captains house, Maria Clara arrives. Friar Damaso shows great appreciation for the lady. Also in this chapter mentions a character of a young Franciscan friar by the name of Salvi, parish priest of the town of San Diego. Chapter 6 (Captain Tiago) Captain Tiago and his wife, Dona Pia, have been childless for years. After consulting Friar Damaso of their predicament, the priest advised them to attend holy mass at the town of Ubando. Shortly after, Pia was with child. However, she had become sickly and troubled for the entire duration of her pregnancy. She died after giving birth to a daughter, Maria Clara. The child was raised by Isabel, Tiagos sister. Friar Damaso became her godfather when she was christened. Maria Clara and Crisostomo Ibarra became childhood friends. Chapter 7 (An Idyll on an Azotea) Crisostomo Ibarra finally finds time to have a private talk with Maria Clara at the azotea of Captain Tiagos house. This is their first time to meet personally in seven years. They exchange thoughts, and prove to each other that neither of them had forgotten their love. Chapter 8 (Recollections) From Captain Tiagos house, after a heartwarming conversation with Maria Clara, Ibarra continues on his way to the town of San Diego. In all of the places he passes through he notices no change in them since he left seven years ago. Chapter 9 (Local Affairs) Crisostomo Ibarra comes across the carriage carrying Friar Damaso. Along the way the priest also bumps into Maria Clara and her Aunt Isabel, who were headed to the nunnery to fetch the maidens things. Friar Damaso tells Captain Tiago something of utmost importance. Meanwhile, in Intramuros, Friar Sibyla is deep in conversation with an old Dominican priest inflicted with a serious illness. Chapter 10 (The Town) This chapter describes in detail 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 are sold at a very cheap price to the Chinese buyers. Like most towns, San Diego has a legend around it. There used to be an old Spaniard who came to the town and bought the whole mountain area, using jewelry and clothes to pay for the land. It also goes deeper into the roots of the main antagonist, Crisostomo Ibarra. Chapter 11 (The Rulers) This chapter describes the powerful people in the town of San Diego. Here are the characters that may be said to be in positions of power: (1) Don Rafael Ibarra, (2) Captain Tiago, (3) The town captain, (4) Friar Salvi, (5) The sacristan mayor, (6) The alferez, (7) Dona Consolacion. Chapter 12 (All Saints) Burial practices and rituals in the town of San Diego are described in detail. There is also a very long conversation between a gravedigger and Tasyo the Philosopher. Chapter 13 (Signs of Storm) Ibarra visits his late fathers grave. He finds out from the gravedigger that the parish priest had ordered to dig up his fathers remains, which were subsequently thrown into the river. Ibarra leaves, furious. On his way he meets Friar Salvi, the head priest, at whom he shoots verbal attacks and forces to kneel before him for disrespecting Don Rafaels grave. The priest eventually admits that it was not him but the parish priest before him, Friar Damaso, who was responsible for the shameful act. Chapter 14 (Lunatic or Sage) Tasyo the Philosopher wandered aimlessly from the cemetery. He had had a talk with the town captain, whom he bombarded with superstitious teachings of religion. He had also met the two brothers, Basilio and Crispin, who could not go back home after the sacristan mayor denied them the freedom to leave the cathedral before eight in the evening. On his way Tasyo passed by the home of Don Felipo, whom the latter shared with his wife Doray. Both men discussed the issue of purgatory. Chapter 15 (The Sacristans) Despite the storm, the two sacristan brothers Basilio and Crispin had to go up the bell tower of the cathedral to ring the bells at eight in the evening. Both boys talk about the parish priests lost silver. Crispin, the younger one, was blamed for having allegedly stolen the money. The boy was tortured by the priest and the sacristan mayor. Basilio luckily escaped. Chapter 16 (Sisa) Sisa patiently waited for her two boys to come home. She had already prepared supper. But instead of Basilio and Crispin it was her husband, a drunkard and a gambler, who walked through the door. He ate all the food, leaving nothing for his sons. He went on a rampage, and left telling his wife that if the boys ever brought home some money she should leave some for him. Minutes later Basilio arrived, out of breath and bleeding. Chapter 17 (Basilio) Basilio, drenched in blood, falls into his mothers arms. He tells his mother that Crispin, his little brother, was left at the convent by order of the sacristan mayor. Neither of them had supper. Basilio dozed off and dreamed that the priest and the sacristan mayor had killed Crispin. Chapter 18 (Souls in Torment) The day sparks up with rumors that Friar Salvi is ill. It is All Souls Day, and the streets are filled with people talking about plenary indulgence and all other religious practices and beliefs relating to the holiday. Sisa makes her way to the convent to fetch her son Crispin. She is told that the boy is not there; that the little thief had stolen even more from them, and then made a run for it. Sisa breaks down in tears. Chapter 19 (A Schoolmasters Difficulties) The teacher in the town of San Diego accompanies Ibarra to the place where Don Rafaels body was found, and there Ibarra pays respects to the memory of his father. The schoolteacher mentions to Crisostomo the great help the late Don Rafael gave in enlivening childrens education in San Diego. The story moves Ibarra, and so he decides to build a school for the kids. This, he says, will do great honor and justice to the memory of his father. Chapter 20 (The Meeting in the Town Hall) From the riverside, Ibarra makes his way to the town hall. There people are deciding on the type of celebrations that must be held and organized during the town feast. The older citizens are inclined to having a grand and cheerful celebration. The youth, with the leadership of Don Felipo, are against it.