NOLI ME TANGERE (CHARACTER DESCRIPTION)

Crisóstomo Ibarra

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, DonRafael Ibarra, he studied in Europe for seven years. Ibarra is also María
Clara's fiancé. Several sources claim that Ibarra is also Rizal's reflection: both studied in Europe
and both persons believe in the same ideas. Upon his return, Ibarra requested the local
government of San Diego to construct a public school to promote education in the town.

Maria Clara

Maria Clara de los Santos y Alba, commonly referred to as Maria Clara, is Ibarra’s
Childhood sweatheart and fiancée. She is the daughter of Capitan Tiago and Doña Pia Alba. The
poor child only grew under the guidance and supervision of Tia Isabel and Capitan Tiago's
cousin.

In the later parts of the novel, Maria Clara discovers that her biological father is not
Capitan Tiago, but the San Diego's former curate and her known godfather Padre Damaso
instead.

Padre Damaso

He 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 Maria Clara and an enemy of Crisostomo’s father, Rafael
Ibarra. Later, he and Maria Clara had bitter arguments whether she would marry Alfonso
Linares or go to a convent. At the end of the novel, he is again re-assigned to a distant town and
is found dead one day.

Capitan Tiago

Don Santiago de Los Santos, known by his nickname Capitan Tiago is a Filipino
Businessman and the cabeza de Barangay or head of the barangay of the town of San Diego. In
the novel, it is said that Capitan Tiago is the richest man in the region of Binondo and He
possessed real properties in Pampanga and Laguna de Bay and He is also to be a good Catholic,
friend of the Spanish Government and was considered as a Spanish by Colonialists.
Pilosopo Tasyo

Don Anastacio, commonly known as Pilosopo Tasyo is one of the most important
characters in Noli. On the one hand, he is referred to as a philosopher because his ideas were
accurate with the minds of the townspeople. On the other hand, if his ideas were against the
thinking of the majority, he was considered the Imbecile Tacio (or Tasyong Sintu-sinto) or
Lunatic Tacio (Tasyong Baliw).
Pilosopo Tacio was born into a wealthy Filipino family. His mother let him be formally
educated, then rudely ordered him to stop. She feared Tasyo would become "too educated"
and lose his faith and devotion to religion. His mother gave him two choices: either go into the
priesthood or stop his education. Tasyo chose the latter because he had a girlfriend that time.
Soon enough, they married and after a year, Tasyo widowed while his mother also died. Most
of his time was taken up in reading and buying books that all his properties were lost and he
became poor.

Alfonso Linares

Alfonso Linares is described as a young, well dressed and educated Spaniard. He is a

young but dishonest lawyer, is the godson of Padre Damaso's brother in-law, Carlicos, and is a
distant cousin of Don Tiburcio in Madrid. He is one of the smartest in the family and is said to
have dined with minor royalties in Spain. He is rather shy but was able to endure Ibarra's stare
disrespectfully.

Alfonso Linares was introduced in the latter part of the novel as a substitute to cover up
Doña Victorina's failure to have a child. The de Espadañas have paid for his journey to San
Diego so that he could get a job and have a family. When Padre Damaso learns about it, he
favored him over Juan Crisostomo Ibarra as Maria Clara's fiance.

Padre Bernardo Salvi

Padre Bernardo Salvi is a Franciscan curate of San Diego, secretly harbouring lust for
Maria Clara. He is described to be very thin and sickly. It is also hinted that his last name, “Salvi”
is the shorter form of “Salvi” meaning salvation, or “Salvi” is short for “Salvage” meaning bad
hinting to the fact that he is willing to killing an innocent child, Crispin, just to get his money
back, though there was not enough evidence that it was Crispin who has stolen his 2 onzas.
Padre Fernardo Sibyla

He is a Dominican friar who is the curate of Binondo and had been a former professor
at San Juan de Letran College. Padre Sibyla is different to Padre Damaso. He weighs his words
and speaks little. He is often cool and intelligent, especially when correcting the other friar. He
respects etiquette and does not mind giving away the seat of honor in the party at Calle
Anloague to the lieutenant, who declined.

Narcisa

Narcisa is married to the man named Pedro and the mother of Basilio and Crispín. She
depicts how Filipino mothers love their children undeniably.
After days when Crispin was held captive by Mang Tasyo, the owner of the sacristy, she
was arrested, locked up in the jail. Weeks later, she was pardoned by the town Alferez and was
released. However, when she returned home, Basilio was also gone. When she found Crispin's
clothes soaked with blood, she grew crazy as she continues to find her children. At the end of
the novel, Basilio grievously mourns for his mother as he found her lying dead under the tree.

Crispin

Crispin is Sisa’s seven-year-old son. An altar boy, he was unjustly accused of stealing
money from the church. After failing to force Crispin to return the money he allegedly stole,
Father Salvi and the head sacristan killed him.

Basilio

Basilio is Sisa’s ten-year-old son. An acolyte tasked to ring the church bells for the
Angelus, he faced the dread of losing his younger brother and failing his mother into insanity.

Don Tiburcio de Espanada

Don Tiburcio is an old limping Spaniard who practices quack medicine in the town of San
Diego. He is the husband of Doña Victorina. He was introduced as one of the invited guests
of Capitan Tiago in the latter's welcome party for Juan Crisostomo Ibarra. He was known for
charging overpriced fees for his medical treatment.

But Don Tiburcio's life turned around when he learned of Doña Victorina's desire for a
Spanish husband. When they married, his wife had furnished him carriages, new clothes, and
false teeth. Eventually, his wife had him pretend to be a doctor despite the fact that his only
experience was equivalent to that of a housekeeper. He collected exorbitant fees and was even
hired to be Maria Clara's personal physician. Although he prescribed the same cure, the girl's
condition seem to have improved. When Doña Consolacion confronted Doña Victorina, Don
Tiburcio would not do anything for fear of the alferez and earned him the wrath of his wife. In
the end, he lost his practice and became his wife's lapdog.

Doña Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña

She is an ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as Spanish and mimics Spanish ladies
by putting on heavy make-up.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.

Dona Consolacion

Doña Consolacíon once a laundry woman who worked for the town Alferez. She
became wealthy after marrying a Spanish husband. Despite that they are rivals with Donya
Victorina, they are somewhat common.

Don Rafael Ibarra

He is father of Crisostomo Ibarra. Though he is the richest man in San Diego, he is also
the most virtous and generous.

Padre Manuel Martin

He is the linguistic curate of a nearby town, who says the sermon during San Diego’s
Fiesta
Dona Pia Alba
He is the wife of Capitan Tiago and mother of Maria Clara. She died giving birth to her.
In reality, She was raped by Padre Damaso so she could bear a child.
Gobernador Heneral

Unnamed person in the novel, he is the most powerful official in the Philippines. He is
the most powerful official in the Philippines. He has great disdains against the friars and corrupt
officials, and sympathizes Ibarra.

Tiniente Guevara

He is a close friend of Don Rafael Ibarra. He reveals to Crisostomo how Don Rafael
Ibarra’s death came about.

Tia Isabel
 She is Capitan Tiago’s cousin, who raised Maria Clara.

Elias

Elias is Ibarra’s mysterious friend and ally. Elias made his appearance as a pilot during a
picnic of Ibarra and Maria Clara and her friends. He wants to revolutionize the country and to
be freed from Spanish oppression.

Don Filipo Lino

He is A close relative of Ibarra and a Filibuster. He is also the vice mayor of the town of
San diego, leader of the liberals.

Captain Pablo

He is the Leader of the tulisanes (bandits), whose family was destroyed because of the
Spaniards.

Tarcilo and Bruno

Tarcilo and Bruno is pair of brothers whose father was killed by the Spaniards.

Pedro

He is the abusive husband of Sisa who loves cockfighting.

El hombre Amarillo

El hombre Amarillo also known as Tandang Madilaw is one of Crisostomo Ibarra’s

would-be assassins. He is not named in the novel, and only described as such. In the Novel, He
carved the cornerstone for Ibarra’s school. Instead of killing Ibarra, he was killed by his
cornerstone.

Lucas

He is the brother of the Taong Madilaw. He planned a revolution against the

government with Ibarra as the leader after he was turned down by Ibarra. He was said to have a
scar on his left cheek. He would later be killed by the Sacristan Mayor.

Inday, Andeng and Victoria

Maria Clara’s other friends.

Reference : Noli Me Tangere (Touch me Not) ,Harold Augenbraum, Peguin Books,2006