In the patriotic novel Noli Me Tangere, Jose Rizal shaped the minds

and opened the eyes of his fellow Filipinos to the abuse they
suffered at the hands of tyrannical Spanish authorities. He proved
that the pen is mightier than the sword. He symbolically painted a
portrait quite similar to the conditions of the Philippines during that
time.
"Noli me tangere" is a Latin phrase that Rizal took from the Bible,
meaning "Touch me not." In John 20:13-17, the newly-risen Christ
says to Mary Magdalene: "Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to
my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them I ascend unto
my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God."
It has also been noted by French writer D. Blumenstihl that "Noli me
tangere" was a name used by ophthalmologists for cancer of the
eyelids. That as an ophthalmologist himself Rizal was influenced by
this fact is suggested in his dedication, "To My Country":
"Recorded in the history of human sufferings is a cancer of so
malignant a character that the least touch irritates it and awakens
in it the sharpest pains. Thus, how many times, when in the midst of
modern civilizations I have wished to call thee before me, now to
accompany me in memories, now to compare thee with other
countries, hath thy dear image presented itself showing a social
cancer like to that other!"

Touch me not was taken from Christs words. In a letter to Felix

Hidalgo, Rizal however made a mistake in attributing the quotation
to the Gospel of Luke, for it was in fact recorded in John 20:17:
Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.
Juan Crisstomo Ibarra y Magsalin, commonly referred to the novel
as Ibarra or Crisstomo, is the protagonist in the story. Son of a
Filipino businessman, Don Rafael Ibarra, he studied in Europe for
seven years. Ibarra is also Mara Clara's fianc. Several sources
claim that Ibarra is also Rizal's reflection: both studied in Europe
and both persons believe in the same ideas.
Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, the main character, is a young
illustrado who has been studying in Europe for 7 years according
to the wishes of his father. Influenced by his father, his studies
and his observations of other countries, he has developed
patriotic and progressive ideas which he wishes to put into action
in his country. He is very much like Rizal himself. Quoted as
saying that to achieve liberation, they need the "catuiran ng
lakas" , or the use of force.

Mara Clara de los Santos is Ibarra's faithful, pure and

modest sweetheart. She is the portrait of an ideal woman,
partly drawn perhaps from Rizal's love Leonor Rivera.

Padre Dmaso was once a good friend of Ibarra's father. He

was, until the start of the novel, the domineering and
condescending curate of San Diego, where the property of the
Ibarra family is located, and continues to be a powerful figure
in San Diego. Biological father of Mara Clara, as he takes
advantage of Doa Pia, mother of Mara Clara and wife of
Capitn Tiago

Padre Salv is the new parish priest of San Diego, who lusts
after Maria Clara.

As shown by this excerpt, the alternate English title, The Social

Cancer, is taken from the book's dedication.
The author fittingly dedicated the novel to the country of his people
whose miseries and sorrows he brought to light in an attempt to
awaken them to the truths concerning the ills of their society.
Paradoxically though, the novel was originally written in Spanish,
the language of the colonizers and the educated at that time.
Published in early 1887 in Europe, the novel is now commonly called
by its shortened name Noli; its English translation is usually titled
Touch Me not and The Social Cancer. The Latin title which means

Elas, a common laborer whose family has suffered much,

dreams of revolution. He may be said to represent another
side of Rizal.

Pilosopong Tasio is an old man who received an excellent

education in his youth but was persuaded into discontinuing
his studies, which he was told would lead him away from his
faith. The character is based on Rizal's older brother, Paciano.

Padre Sibyla is a Dominican friar who is the curate of

Binondo. His character is a stark contrast to that of Padre
Damaso.
The Social Gathering

Sisa is the mother of two young boys who disappear. With her
mother love, her grief and her frustration, she is thought to
represent the suffering motherland.

Crispn- brother of Basilio. Dies at the hands of the "sacristan

mayor" and Padre Salv.

Capitan Santiago delos santos/ capitan tiago hosts a dinner in his

house at Calle Anloague. While waiting for the meal to be served
the gusets converse with one another. The gathering was attended
by Padre Damaso, Fray Sybila, Lieutenant Guevarra, Dona Victorina,
Don Tiburcio.

Basilio- brother of Crispn and son of Sisa and Pedro. Last

person to see Elas alive.

Capitn Santiago de los Santos - also known as Capitan

Tiago, he accepts Mara Clara as his own daughter.

Doa Victorina is a native woman who desperately tries to

look like a Spaniard. She was so determined to marry a
Spaniard that she was willing to settle, late in life, for a
toothless stuttering man. She convinces him to pretend to be
a doctor to raise their status and society.

Don Tiburcio is a former customs official who pretended to

be a prestigious medical doctor in town as his bread and
butter. He is the lame, stuttering husband of Doa Victorina.

Doa Consolacin is the muse of the cuartel. She is the

violent wife of the Alferez and has treated Sisa cruelly.

Alfonso Linares is the godson of Padre Damaso and a distant

cousin of Don Tiburcio from Spain. He is hard pressed to be
Maria Clara's fiance instead of Ibarra.

Caputan tiago enters the sala and introduces Crisostomo to the

guests. He informs them that Crisostomo was the son of the late
Don Rafael and he recently arrived from his studies in Europe.
Crisostomo is puzzled when Padre Damaso, whom he thought was a
friend of his father, arrogantly denies that he was a friend of Don
Rafael.

At dinner over tinola the conversation of the guest centers on

Crisostomos travels to several countries. Padre Damaso belittles
Ibarras trips saying what he had learned can be learned even
without leaving the country. Embarassed Ibarra excuses himself
from the guests and leaves even after Capitan Tiago informs him
that Maria Clara will come.

While walking in the plaza binondo, he was approached by Lt.

Guevarra to whom he express crying that he himself doesnt know
how his father died. The lt. narrates to him that Don Rafael was
imprisoned because killed the spanish tax collector. (tell the true

story) Don Rafael died in the cell miserably. Don Rafael was curate
of being heretic and filibuster because of his non participation in
mass and confession.
HERETIC A person who holds controversial opinions, especially one
who publicly dissents from the officially accepted dogma of the
Roman Catholic Church.
FILIBUSTER
the use of irregular or obstructive tactics by a member of a legislativ
e assembly to prevent the adoption of ameasure generally favored o
r to force a decision against the will of the majority.

Crisostomo visits Maria Clara at Calle Anloague. They speak

privately at the azotea about the years that they havent seen each
other. Ibarra strives to prove his love for maria clara by showing her
the old leaves that had been given by the girl seven years earlier,
while he had gone swimming with his mother. Maria claea in return
reads old letter written by Crisostomo before leaving for abroad.

Crisostomo and a servant arrived at the cemetery to look for his

fathers grave. After failing to locate the grave his servant asks the
gravedigger for help. The gravedigger replies that he had dug up
the body of the don and plan to rebury it in the chines cemetery as
instructed by Padre Damaso. Since it was raining he threw the body
into the river. After hearing the account Crisostomo leaves, at the
cemetery gate he meets Padre Salvi and attacks the curate whom
he mistakes Fr. Damaso

Ibarra and Maria Clara together with their friends go fishing at the
lake. To entertain them andeng plays the harp while Maria Clara
sings a sad love song. In one of the fish cages the men discover that

the fishing nets have entangled a crocodile. Elias, followed by Ibarra

jumps into the lake successfully killed the crocodile.

Padre Salvi passes near stream while going to the picnic organized
by Ibarra. He hears some voices behind a tree and spies on Maria
Clara and her friends while the bathe. After the alfere leaves the
picnin the guardia civil arrives at the picnic, looking for elias the
boatman who had thrown the alferez into a mudhole and had
assaulted Padre Damaso.

Ibarra consults tasio abt the school building that he plans to build.
The sage advises Ibarra not to pursue his project else he incur the
ire of the friars and other government officials who would do
everything in their power to ruin him.

SERMON: AFTER RECEIVING EDUCATION in manila and Europe are

now contented in kissing the hands of a friar and not offering him
the honor due him. HE also declares that these individuals would
get what they deserve and that God would punish them for wicked
acts. Elias approaches him and warns him that his life in danger.

Ibarra the alcalde and others go to the site of the proposed school
to lay the cornerstone of the building. The alcalde throws some
mortar on the stone followed by the curate and alferez. When its
ibarras turn the derrick suddenly falls apart dropping the heavy
block of stone. Fortunately Ibarras unhurt the only casualty being
the yellowish man who operates the machine.

Enimies want to ruin him because of his education and beliefs Elias
says many people would want him dead. He also says hes just
returning the favor.