NOLI ME TANGERE: Symbols, Major Characters, 5 W's

 SYMBOLS FOUND IN THE COVER OF NOLI ME TANGERE:

·  Upper Triangle- Represents Rizal’s past life and everything he saw and experience during the Spanish colonization.

·  Silhouette of a Filipina- Believed to be Maria Clara or as the motherland who witnessed and experienced the history of the country.

·    Cross or Crucifix- Symbolizes sufferings and death and represents the Catholic faith as it rises above motherland and Filipinos. It represents dominance and it says earlier sufferings because Filipinos suffered and being tortured during the Spanish colonization.

·  Laurel Leaves- They represents faith, honor and fidelity, which are the values Rizal aspires to be embodied by Filipinos. Laurel leaves are used as crowns during Greek Olympics honoring the best.

·   Burning Torch- Pertains to the awakening of Filipino consciousness that with this symbol may Filipino people will know what they are doing, that they may not remain as slave forever.

·   Sunflower- -It symbolizes a new beginning that in every end of the rainbow there is always a new start, new sunrise and a new day to start again and to stand tall. It is also compared to the happiness of which appears to be always bowing down.

·    Lower Triangle-Represents Rizal’s current situation.

·   Feet- It symbolizes the power of the friars wherein without friars, Filipinos cannot stand on their own.

·   Shoes-It represents wealth and also the footprints left by friars in teaching Catholicism, they also symbolize wealth because before Spanish are dominant that if you don’t abide with their rules something bad will happen to you.

·   Hairy Legs- Symbolizes the wrong teachings of Spanish and the legend of the wolf wherein the wolf shape shifts just how the friars hide their true nature, true color and true character.

·    Helmet of a Guardia Civil- It represents the arrogance of those in authority, wherein during the time of Spanish Guardia Civil are to be respected and all their orders must be followed.

·     Whip- It represents the abuses and cruelties done by the Spaniards and friars. Before Filipinos are treated like an animal wherein they are being pushed to do work in their own country without being paid.

·      Flogs ( Suplina)- It is used for self-flagellation and just like the whip, this also symbolizes the  cruelties of the Guardia Civil.

·   Chain- Symbolizes slavery and imprisonment. Filipinos are imprisoned in their own country, though they are staying in the country but everything they do is for the good of friars.

·     Rizal’s Signature- It shows that Rizal experienced and witnessed the ills and abuses that happened during his time.

·    Bamboo Stalks-It represents Filipino resiliency and despite the sufferings. Filipinos can still stand tall and firm and are ready to face new challenges.

 

MAJOR CHARACTERS:

·         Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin - commonly referred to the novel as Ibarra or Crisóstomo, is the protagonist in the story. Son of a Filipino businessman, Don Rafael Ibarra, he studied in Europe for seven years.

·         María Clara de los Santos y Alba - commonly referred to as María Clara, is Ibarra's fiancée. She was raised by Capitán Tiago, San Diego's cabeza de barangay and is the most beautiful and widely celebrated girl in San Diego.

·         Don Santiago de los Santos - known by his nickname Tiago and political title Capitán Tiago is 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.

·         Doña Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña - commonly known as Doña Victorina, is an ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as a Spanish and mimics Spanish ladies by putting on heavy make-up. The novel narrates Doña Victorina's younger days: she had lots of admirers, but she did not choose any of them because nobody was a Spaniard. Later on, she met and married Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, an official of the customs bureau who is about ten years her junior.

·         Dámaso Verdolagas - or Padre Dámaso is a Franciscan friar and the former parish curate of San Diego. 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.

·         Pilosopo Tasyo - is another major character in the story. Seeking for reforms from the government, he expresses his ideals in paper written in a cryptographic alphabet similar from hieroglyphs and Coptic figures hoping "that the future generations may be able to decipher it" and realized the abuse and oppression done by the conquerors.

·         Sisa - is the deranged mother of Basilio and Crispín. Described as beautiful and young, although she loves her children very much, she cannot protect them from the beatings of her husband, Pedro.

·         Crispín - is Sisa's 7-year-old son. An altar boy, he was unjustly accused of stealing money from the church. After failing to force Crispín to return the money he allegedly stole, Father Salví and the head sacristan killed him. It is not directly stated that he was killed, but the dream of Basilio suggests that Crispín died during his encounter with Padre Salvi and his minion.

·         Basilio - is Sisa's 10-year-old son. An acolyte tasked to ring the church bells for the Angelus, he faced the dread of losing his younger brother and the descent of his mother into insanity. At the end of the novel, Elías wished Basilio to bury him by burning in exchange of chest of gold located on his death ground.

 

5 W’S

What? Noli Me Tangere ( Touch Me Not)

When? Published in the year 1887 at the age of 26

Where? Berlin, Germany

Who? To Motherland

Why? To expose the inequities of the Spanish Catholic priests and the ruling government