This document provides a detailed summary of Chapter 8 of Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere. It discusses the publication of the novel in Berlin in 1887 while Rizal was living in poverty. It then provides character summaries and plots synopses of the novel. It describes the inspiration for writing the novel, the writing process, challenges faced, and reception of the novel. It also notes that many characters and events were based on real people and situations in the Philippines under Spanish rule.

1. Chapter 8:
Noli Me Tangere
Published in
Berlin (1887)

2. The bleak winter of 1886 was memorable
in the life of Rizal for two reasons: first, it
was a painful episode for he was hungry,
sick and despondent in a strange city
and, second, it brought him great joy,
after enduring sufferings, because his first
novel Noli Me Tangere came off the press
in March, 1887.

3. ● The reading of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom's Cabin"- which
portrays the brutalities of American slave-owners and the pathetic
conditions of the unfortunate Negro slaves, inspired Dr. Jose Rizal to
prepare a novel on the Philippines.
● Rizal was a student in the Central University
of Madrid.
Idea of Writing a Novel on the Philippines

4. ● Rizal proposed the writing of a novel about the Philippines during the reunion
of Filipinos in the house of the Paternos in Madrid.
● His proposal was unanimously approved by:
> Paternos (Pedro, Maximo, and Antonio)
> Graciano Lopez Jaena
> Evaristo Aguirre
> Eduardo de Lete
> Julio Llorente
> Melecio Figueroa
> Valentin Ventura
January 2, 1884

5. ● The compatriots who were expected to collaborate on the novel did not
write anything.
● The novel was designed to cover all phases of Philippine life. However,
most of them wanted to write on women.
● He was disgusted to see his companions wasting their time gambling and
flirting with Spanish señoritas.
● Undaunted by his friend’s indifference, he determined to write the novel
alone.
Rizal’s project did not materialize

6. ● End of 1884 - Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about
one-half of it.
● Paris, in 1885 – Completed his studies in Central University of Madrid and
continued the writing of the novel, finishing one-half of the second half.
● He wrote the last fourth chapters of the novel in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany
from April-June, 1886.
The Writing of the Noli

7. ● Rizal made the final revisions on the manuscript of the Noli.
● Sick and penniless, he almost threw the manuscript into the fire.
● He was desperately despondent because he saw no hope of having it
published.
● Years later, he wrote to his good friend Fernando Canon telling him what he
have been through in making the novel.
Berlin, February 1886

8. Viola, Savior of the
Noli

9. ● Rizal received a telegram from Dr. Maximo Viola informing him that he is
coming to visit.
● Maximo Viola, a scion of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan.
● Viola, arrive in Berlin shortly before Christmas Day of 1886.
● He was shocked to find Rizal living in poverty and deplorably sickly due to
lack of proper nourishment.
● He lend some funds to finance the printing cost of the Noli and loaned Rizal
some money for living expenses.
Viola, Savior of Noli

10. ● After Christmas season, Rizal put the Finishing touches on his novel.
● To save printing expenses, he deleted certain passages of his manuscript
including the whole chapter of “Elias and Salome”.
● February 21, 1887- the novel was finally finished and ready for printing.
● They managed to find cheap printing shop: Berliner Buchdruckrei – Action –
Gesselschaft. Charging them with only 300 pesos for 2,000 copies of the
novel.
Viola, Savior of Noli

11. ● In old days of travel, it was possible to travel from another country without
having a passport.
● This lead German Police to suspect him as a French Spy because he doesn’t
have any passport to show, including the intelligence report of his frequent
visits to villages and rural areas arousing the German government to suspect
him.
● However, Viola quickly accompanied Rizal to the Spanish Embassy to seek
help from the Spanish Ambassador. But the ambassador failed to keep his
promise due to that he had no power to issue the passport.
Rizal Suspected as Frenchy Spy

12. ● Being fluent in German language, Rizal explained to the police chief that he
was not a French Spy, but was a Filipino physician, scientist and
ethnologist.
● The chief was impressed by his explanation and fascinated by his mastery of
German language and personal charisma, so the police chief allowed him to
stay freely in Germany.
Rizal Suspected as Frenchy Spy

13. ● March 21, 1887 – the Noli Me Tangere came of the press. Immediately,
Rizal sent the first copies to his close friends:
> Blumentritt
> Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor
> G. Lopez Jaena
> Mariano Ponce
> Felix R. Hidalgo
● March 29, 1887 – Rizal gave Viola the galley of proofs of the Noli carefully
rolled around the pen that he used in writing the novel and a complimentary
copy.
Printing of the Noli Finished

14. ● Noli Me Tangere – is a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not”. It is
however, not originally conceived by Rizal, for he admitted taking it from
the Bible.
● March 5, 1887 – Rizal wrote to Felix R. Hidalgo and said: “The words were
taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke, signify “do not touch me””.
● However, Rizal made a mistake. It should be the Gospel of Saint John
(Chapter 20, verses 13 to 17).
● Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines –”To My
Fatherland”.
The Title of the Novel

15. ● Capitan Tiago (Santiago de los Santos) – father of Maria Clara and a
friend of Ibarra.
● Crisostomo Ibarra – a young and rich Filipino who had just returned after
seven years of study in Europe. The only son Don Rafael Ibarra. A fiancé of
Maria Clara.
● Padre Damaso – a fat Franciscan friar who had been parish priest for 20
years of San Diego (Calamba).
● Padre Sybila – a young Dominican parish priest of Binondo.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Characters:

16. ● Senñor Guevara – an elderly and kind lieutenant of the Guradia Civil.
● Don Tiburcio de Espadaña – a bogus Spanish physician, lame, and
henpecked husband of Doña Victoria.
● Maria Clara – a childhood faithful sweetheart of Crisostomo Ibarra, a good
friend and obedient daughter. She symbolizes purity and innocence of a
sheltered native woman.
● Padre Salvi - Franciscan parish priest of San Diego.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Characters:

17. ● Tasio the Philosopher (Pilosopo Tasio) – a wise oldman whose ideas were
too advance for his times so that the people who could not understand him
and called him the “Tasio the Lunatic”.
● Don Filipo Lino – the teniente – mayor and leader of the liberal faction.
● Don Melchor – the captain of the cuadrilleros (town police).
● Don Basilio and Don Valentin – former gobernadorcillos and were
prominent citizens.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Characters:

18. ● Sisa – the tale of sisa – formerly a rich girl who married a gambler and
became poor. She’s also the deranged mother of Basilio and Crispin.
● Basilio – an acolyte (servant) tasked to ring the church bells for Angelus.
Accused of crimes he did not commit.
● Crispin – an altar boy and who was as well accused of stealing money from
the church.
● Doña Consolacion – the vulgar mistress of the Spanish Alferez.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Characters:

19. ● Doña Victorina – the flamboyantly dressed wife of a henpecked Spanish
quack doctor.
● Elias – distrusts human judgment and prefers God’s justice instead. He
prefers a revolution over the reform.
● Pia Alba – a young beautiful and spiritual woman. Maria Clara’s mother.
● Gobernador Heneral – occupies the second most powerful rank in the
colonial government, second only to the King . Supported Ibarra against
Padre Damaso.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Characters:

20. ● Alferez – lieutenant of the Guardia Civil.
● Alfonso Linares – cousin of Don Tiburcio and godson of Padre Damaso’s
brother-in-law.
● Don Rafael Ibarra –father of Crisostomo Ibarra, a rich and brave man who
was envied by Padre Damaso because of his wealth and was accused of
being “heretic”.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Characters:

21. ● Calle Anloague (Juan Luna Street)
● San Diego Cemetery
● Lake of San Diego
● Pasig River & Laguna de Bay
● Forest
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Setting:

22. ● Having completed his studies in Europe, Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin
comes back to the Philippines after a 7-year absence.
● In his honor, Don Santiago de los Santos "Captain Tiago" a family friend,
threw a get together party, which was attended by friars and other prominent
figures
● One of the guests, former San Diego curate Fray Dámaso Vardolagas
belittled and slandered Ibarra.
● The next day, Ibarra visits María Clara, his love, the beautiful daughter of
Captain Tiago and affluent resident of Binondo.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Plot:

23. ● Their long-standing love was clearly manifested in this meeting, and Maria
Clara cannot help but reread the letters her sweetheart had written her before
he went to Europe.
● Before Ibarra left for San Diego, Lieutenant Guevara, a Civil Guard, reveals
to him the incidents preceding the death of his father, Don Rafael Ibarra, rich
haciendero of the town.
● According to Guevara, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being a heretic,
in addition to being a subversive - an allegation brought forth by Dámaso
because of Don Rafael's non-participation in the Sacraments, such as
Confession and Mass.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Plot:

24. ● Dámaso's animosity against Ibarra's father is aggravated by another incident
when Don Rafael helped out on a fight between a tax collector and a child
fighting, and the former's death was blamed on him, although it was not on
purpose.
● Suddenly, all of those who thought ill of him surfaced with additional
complaints. He was imprisoned, and just when the matter was almost settled,
he died of sickness in jail. During the inauguration of the school, Ibarra
would have been killed in a sabotage had Elías a mysterious man who had
warned Ibarra earlier of a plot to assassinate him – not saved him. Instead
the hired killer met an unfortunate incident and died.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Plot:

25. ● After the inauguration, Ibarra hosted a luncheon during which Dámaso, gate-
crashing the luncheon, again insulted him. Ibarra ignored the priest's
insolence, but when the latter slandered the memory of his dead father, he
was no longer able to restrain himself and lunged at Dámaso, prepared to
stab him for his impudence.
● As a consequence, Dámaso excommunicated Ibarra, taking this opportunity
to persuade the already-hesitant Tiago to forbid his daughter from marrying
Ibarra. The friar wished María Clara to marry Linares, a Peninsular who had
just arrived from Spain.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Plot:

26. ● Meanwhile, in Capitan Tiago's residence, a party was being held to announce
the upcoming wedding of María Clara and Linares. Ibarra, with the help of
Elías, took this opportunity to escape from prison.
● Before leaving, Ibarra spoke to María Clara and accused her of betraying
him, thinking that she gave the letter he wrote her to the jury. Maria Clara
explained that she would never conspire against him, but that she was forced
to surrender Ibarra's letter to Father Salvi, in exchange for the letters written
by her mother even before she, María Clara, was born.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Plot:

27. ● María Clara, thinking that Ibarra had been killed in the shooting incident,
was greatly overcome with grief. Robbed of hope and severely disillusioned,
she asked Dámaso to confine her into a nunnery.
● Dámaso reluctantly agreed when she threatened to take her own life,
demanding, "the nunnery or death!" Unbeknownst to her, Ibarra was still
alive and able to escape. It was Elías who had taken the shots.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Plot:

28. ● It was Christmas Eve when Elías woke up in the forest fatally wounded, as it
is here where he instructed Ibarra to meet him. Instead, Elías found the altar
boy Basilio cradling his already-dead mother, Sisa.
● Elías, convinced that he would die soon, instructs Basilio to build a funeral
pyre and burn his and Sisa's bodies to ashes. He tells Basilio that, if nobody
reaches the place, he come back later on and dig for he will find gold.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
The Plot:

29. ● Tiago became addicted to opium and was seen to frequent the opium house
in Binondo to satiate his addiction.
● María Clara became a nun where Salví, who has lusted after her from the
beginning of the novel, regularly used her just to fulfill his lust.
Synopsis of the “Noli”
Epilogue:
Moral Lesson:
● The moral lesson of this novel is seeking justice should be placed on the
hands of the authorities and not on the hands of the one seeking it.

30. ● A true story of Philippine condition during the last decades of Spanish rule.
● The places, the characters, and the situations really existed.
● The characters were all drawn by Rizal from persons who actually existed.
● Characters in real life:
> Maria Clara – Leonor Rivera
> Ibarra and Elias – represented by Rizal himself.
> Tasio the Philosopher – elder brother of Rizal, Paciano.
The “Noli” Based on Truth

31. ● Characters in real life:
> Padre Salvi – Padre Antonio Piernavieja
> Capitan Tiago – Capitan Hilario Sunico
> Doña Victorina – Doña Agustina Medel
> Basilio and Crispin – the Crisostomo brothers in Hagonoy.
> Padre Damaso – typical domineering friar, arrogant,
immoral and anti – Filipino.
The “Noli” Based on Truth

32. ● In the original manuscript of Noli Me Tangere, there was a chapter entitled
“Elias and Salome” which follows Chapter XXIV “In the Woods”.
● Deleted by Rizal so it was not included in the printed novel. His reason was
definitely economic: by reducing the chapter it would also reduce the cost of
printing.
● Elias – a fugitive living in San Diego. After his life was save by Ibarra, he
began aiding the young man, saving him on numerous occasions.
● Salome – a young girl living in San Diego (lives alone at the edge of the
lake). Sweetheart of Elias.
Missing Chapter of the Noli

33. Missing Chapter of the Noli
“Salome waits desperately for Elias, thinking that he would pass by the water soon.
Elias, however is nowhere to be seen because he is in fact hiding from the authorities who
are currently patrolling the lake.
When the two finally get to meet, Salome tells the youth of her plan to move to Mindoro and
live with her relatives, request he go with her.
Elias, however, refuses her offer because he does not want her to be entangled with the
tragedies and troubles of his past.
He tells the lady that she must marry an honorable and respectable man, one whom she
truly deserves and who can make her happy.”

34. ● Symbolism of Salome
Salome is an example of the Filipino woman's loyalty and modesty.
It is believed that Salome is a shadow of Leonor Rivera.
● Character of Elias
Elias is representative of the common Filipino who feels the injustice in his
country and yearns to make something out of himself to help free his people
from oppression of all sorts and forms.
Elias could have been inspired by the character of Andres Bonifacio.
Missing Chapter of the Noli

35. ● Friends of Rizal hailed the novel, praising it in glowing colors.
● Rizal wrote to Blumentritt – “The government and the friars will probably
attack the work, refuting my statements, but I trust in the God of truth and in
the person who have actually seen our sufferings.”
● Blumentritt read Rizal’s novel and praised and said “As we Germans say –
written with the blood of the heart and so the heart also speaks.” Rizal being
an extraordinary person.
● Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor – a Filipino patriot and lawyer exiled due to his
complicity in the Cavite mutiny of 1872. Avid read the Noli and was very
impressed.
Rizal’s Friend Praise the Noli

36. Deriada,
Frezel Rose Sauro
Dupio,
Audrey
Ejercito,
Lee Russel V.
Group Members:

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