Jessa P.

Orcullo BSPH-2B

A Reflection about Noli Me Tangere

Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere is without a doubt a masterpiece of literature. In

fact, Dr. Rizal's work is a social and political societal commentary, it seems to me as I go
more into the novel's plot and plotline. The story depicts the sociopolitical climate and
conflicts that existed in the Philippines both then and now. The characters in the book
have a lot in common with people living in today's society. The book and the movie are
both intriguing to read or see. To accurately depict each happening in the society in the
Philippines, the author painstakingly chose the characters and traits for them. Especially
the characters of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin and María Clara de los Santos y
Alba as the main characters of the novel who reflect our Filipino values.
Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin or commonly known as Crisostomo Ibarra 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. The
priests of San Diego all view him with great wariness on account of his highly liberal
education and connections. His father, the equally idealistic Don Rafael, was labeled a
subversive and a heretic by the corrupt priesthood and incarcerated, ultimately leading
to his death. Ibarra hopes to create a school in San Diego in order to carry out his
father's dreams and ideals, but he becomes entangled in conflicts with the church and is
forced to flee San Diego as a result of a conspiracy led by the scheming Father Salví. In
contrast to his more radical friend Elías, Ibarra generally wants to work within systems
to reform the Philippines, rather than overthrow them, but he shifts towards Elías's
beliefs as the novel progresses.
The characteristics of Crisostomo Ibarra depicting Filipino values include family
devotion. Never forgetting the positive qualities of Filipinos, Jose Rizal still highlights
devotion to one’s family through Crisostomo Ibarra. With the death of Don Rafael,
Ibarra’s father, Crisostomo traces all means to seek justice. Another is self-sacrifice,
purity and faithfulness, and patriotism. This are very evident through out the story and
also it this characteristics are to us Filipinos.
 On the other hand, María Clara de los Santos y Alba or also kown as Maria Clara
is a woman of high social standing, she is thought to be the daughter of Capitan Tiago
and the goddaughter of Father Dámaso. She is actually the biological daughter of
Father Dámaso, the product of a scandalous relationship between the old priest and
Capitan Tiago’s wife. María Clara grew up alongside Ibarra and planned to marry him,
but Father Dámaso disapproved of the union. After Ibarra is excommunicated from the
church, her guardians set her up to be wed to Linares, a wealthy young man of Spanish
descent, and she tries to go along with the plan to avoid hurting her father, the
weak-willed Capitan Tiago. When Ibarra is put on trial for sedition, she is coerced into
surrendering the letters Ibarra has sent her as evidence of his guilt. Ultimately, when
she hears of Ibarra's apparent death, she refuses to marry Linares and joins a convent.
Rizal's characterization of Maria Clara embodied his admiration and adoration for
the women of his generation. Maria Clara was regarded as the embodiment of true
Filipina beauty and character. She is veiled with great politeness and grace in her
wording and movement of her delicate, but fragile body. However, just
as Maria Clara was, women today have been victims of violence, obscurantism, and
carnal lust by members of the church and those in positions of authority. Another
woman introduced in the first chapter of the novel is Doña Victorina de Los Reyes de
Espadaa, or simply Doña Victoria throughout the novel. Unlike the feat of Maria Clara,
Doña Victorina is a more mendicant form of a Filipino of that time. She is notable for
pretending to be a genuine Spanish mestiza, and she does so by putting heavy
makeup on her face in an attempt to dismally mimic Spanish women. She even
belittled other Filipinos because of their native ways by telling them to be like her, a
woman with true "Spanish sophistication". I can identify with the character of Doña
Victoria and her likeness can still be seen today. There are Filipinos who are willing to
give up their Filipino identities in return for a more comfortable life in other foreign lands.
As I conclude this reaction paper for Dr. J. Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere, I must
admit that Dr. J. Rizal was successful, if not triumphant, in his goal of influencing and
educating his readers about the current socio-political scenario of their times. Rizal was
able to address and attack society's weaknesses and cancers, both old and new, in his
novel. Because of this writing, many people were moved and their consciousness was
raised to levels not realized by the colonial masters. Thus, rewriting history and even
sparking a revolution in the name of national identity. As a matter of opinion, I believe
the Noli Me Tangere can be regarded as a Bible of the true state of society. Noli Me
Tangere, demonstrates stories and passages that still currently exist, much less that it
lays out the problem and corrupt system of our present Philippine society and also
reflects our Filipino values, especially in the characters of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y
Magsalin and María Clara de los Santos y Alba as the main characters of the novel.