Summary of Rizal’s Novel Noli Me Tangere

After seven years of study in Europe, Crisostomo Ibarra returned to the Philippines. Hev was
given a welcome party by Capitan Tiago, the father of Maria Clara. Maria Clara is Crisostomo’s
childhood sweetheart. Though numerous guests warmly welcomed him, Padre Damaso
immediately showed coldness and rudeness, much to the surprise of unsuspecting Crisostomo.

On the way back to his hotel, he was approached by Lt. Guevarra. The soldier told Crisostomo
that his father, Don Rafael Ibarra, died while trying to help a boy who was being punished by a
tax collector. Don Rafael accidentally pushed the tax collector who fell and hit his head on a
stone. Don Rafael suffered and died inside the prison cell. Later, he was buried in a chinese
cemetery. Crisostomo found out that his father’s body is missing because those who were
ordered to remove Don Rafael’s body from the grave threw it into the river. Crisostomo was so
shocked and hurt by what he heard.

Crisostomo visited his sweetheart Maria Clara the following day. Though the meeting proved to
be romantic and sweet for the lovers, Crisostomo’s heart was still burdened by what he heard
about his father. Crisostomo was determined to find out the truth about his father’s death. He
went to San Diego to investigate. From the grave digger, he learned how his father’s remains
were disrespected. Upon seeing the present parish priest of San Diego, Crisostomo, blinded by
fury, collared the priest and demanded justice. Cowardly, Padre Salvi told him that he was not
the parish priest of San Diego when his father died. Padre Salvi even told him that it was all the
doings of Padre Damaso. Crisostomo met Pilosopo tasyo whose line of thinking was different
and advanced for his generation; thus, to some, he is “lunatic.”

The most affecting part in the novel was the story of Sisa. She was a rich girl-turned-poor after
marrying Pedro, who was not only a gambler but an irresponsible husband and father to their
children. Sisa became insane when she lost her two sons, Crispin and Basilio. Crispin died from
the hands of a heartless Sacristan Mayor, and Basilio disappeared not fully comprehending what
happened to him, to his brother, and to his mother.

Meanwhile, Maria Clara, together with Capitan Tiago and Tia Isabel, arrived in San Diego for a
planned picnic. Crisostomo was there to be with Maria Clara. Girlfriends of Maria Clara also
came to join them. They were Sinang, Neneng, Victoria, and Iday. The boatman was a young
man named Elias.

The cheery picnic was disrupted by the crocodile incident. Elias tried to save the life of everyone
in the boat by diving into the water to kill the crocodile. But when Crisostomo saw that Elias’s
life was already in danger, he too, jumped into the river to save Elias. After the incident, the
frightened atmosphere of the day was temporarily forgotten when Maria Clara played the harp
and sang the “Song of Maria Clara.” It was followed by a sumptuous meal enjoyed by everyone.
Later, Crisostomo and Captain Tiago played chess while the girls played the “Wheel of chance.”
The happy mood of the day was once again disrupted when Padre Salvi Snatched the book and
detroyed it. He reprimanded everyone because he said that it is a sin to play such kind of game.
At the same tome, the guardia civil arrived to arrest Elias because he assaulted Padre Damaso.
But before he was arrested, Elias uietly sneaked away and successfully avoided the arresting
officers.

The following day, Crisostomo consulted Pilosopo Tasyo about his plan to put up a school in
San Diego. The laying of the cornerstone coincided with the celebration of the town fiesta.
Though the old sage was pessimistic, Crisostomo was determined to make it work.

And while everyone in San Diego was happily celebrating the town’s fiesta, Elias discreetly
warned Crisostomo about the plot against his life. It was when Crisostomo was about to lay the
cornerstone for the schoolhouse, a suspicious Yellow Man was spotted by Elias. Elias’s presence
of mind and quick reflexes saved Crisostomo from death. Crisostomo was pushed away from the
collapsing derrick.

Another trial came to Crisostomo when he again crossed paths with Padre Damaso. They were
dining with some chosen guests at the house of Capitan Tiago when Padre Damaso repeatedly
insulted hiim. He lost his self-control and attacked the priest with a knife on his hand. Maria
Clara pleaded for him to stop. The incident caused him his engagement with his childhood
sweatheart. He was also excommunicated. What happened became too mcuh for Maria Clara to
bear. She got sick and was treated by a fake doctor named Don Tiburcio de Espadaña. He was
the henpecked husband of Doña Victorina, an indio woman desperately trying to become a
European. She was also the one who introduced Don Alfonso Linares de Espadaña to Maria
Clara. Linares was favored by Padre Damaso despite the fact that he wa jobless and penniless
ans was just in the Philippines to look for a rich woman to marry.

The quarrel between Doña Victorina and Doña Consolacion was laughable. The vulgar
exchanges between the two foolish social climbers almost reached to physical fight if not for the
timely arrival of Padre Salvi. Elias considered Crisostomo as his trusted friend. He openly told
Crisostomo what happened to his family. He told Crisostomo everything about his life-from one
tragic story to another. His grandffather was wrongly accused, flogged, and crippled. His
grandmother became a prostitute to support her family. His uncle named Balat was beheaded.
His father was jailed for falling in love with a rich girl. He, as the son out of wedlock, had a twin
sister. They were sent to a good school by their rich grandparents. One day, a distant relative
exposed the shameful truth about them. They were forced to leave Tayabas and hide in shame.
One day, his twin sister disappreared and was found dead in SAn Diego. From then on, he lived
a vagabond life.

Meanwhile, Crisostomo was arrested. He was accused by his enemies of leading those who
attacked the barracks of the guardia civil. Elias burned all the possible evidences which can be
used against Crisostomo in order to help and save his friend. Afterwards, he helped Crisostomo
to escape from prison. For the last time, Crisostomo found the time to see Maria Clara. He came
to forgive her for giving up his letters which were used by the Spanish authorities against him.
Maria Clara tearfully told him how she was blackmailed by Padre Salvi, forcing her to give up
Crisostomo’s letter in exchange of her mother’s scandalous letter. She said that she just wanted
to save the reputation of her mother, Doña Pia. She also revealed the paindul truth that her
biological father was Padre Damaso.

After the emotional goodbyes, Crisostomo returned to Elias quietly waiting on his banca. While
they were hurriedly rowing at the pasig river, they heard gunshots from the pursuing guardia
civil. Elias told Crisostomo to hide under the zacate while he jumped into the water unmindful of
the bullets from the enemies’ guns. Elias effectively diverted the attention of the chasing soldiers
away from his friends.

Elias, who was seriously wounded, reached the forest. There he saw Basilio who was weeping
over his mother’s dead body. Elias told Basilio that he was too weak to help and would be dying
soon. He instructed Basilio to burn him and Sisa. He also told Basilio to dig and get his buried
gold and to use it for his education. Before dying, Elias uttered-- “I die without seeing the dawn
brighten over my native land! You, who have it to see, welcome it -- and forget not those who
have fallen during the night!”

The novel has an epilogue which tells us what happened to theother characters in the novel. Sad
Maria Clara entered the Santa Clara convent despite of the pleading of Padre Damaso. Padre
Salvi left San Diegoto follow Maria Clara in the convent. Padre Damaso was found dead in his
new parish. Capitan Tiago became an opium addict. Doña Victorina continued harassing her
henpecked husband. Linares died of dysentery. The alferez returned to Spain leaving Doña
Consolacion, his mistress.

Reference:

De Viana, et al., (2018). Jose Rizal : Social Reformer and Patriot A study of His Life and Times.
Sampaloc, Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.