Characters in the Noli Me Tangere

1. Juan Crisostomo Ibarra represented the affluent and liberal Europeaneducated Filipino. Civic-minded, liberty-minded and patriotic, he desired the
education of his people.
2. Elias represented the Filipino masses in the novel. As the symbol of the
common people, he did everything to vindicate them from the injustices
suffered from the Spaniards.
3. Maria Clara represented Filipino womanhood trained in a convent and
immersed in education basically religious in orientation.
4. Don Rafael Ibarra Crisostomos father, was jailed for helping a young boy
being harmed by an ignorant Spanish tax collector. He was used by Rizal in
the Noli to symbolize an affluent landlord with social conscience.
5. Sisa mother of Basilio and Crispin; symbolized a lot of things in Filipino
society during Rizals time. She was used by Rizal to illustrate the typical
characteristics of Filipino mothers, willing to defend her children from all
forms of injustice and accusations.
6. Capitan Tiago a rich landlord whose wealth was derived from his
involvement in the illegal opium trade; was used by Rizal to represent the
subservient Filipino to the authorities to protect his personal and business
interest.
7. Dona Victorina as a social climber, she married Don Tiburcio to support
her claim of being a Spaniard. She despised everything Filipino; was used
by Rizal to symbolize colonial mentality among Filipinos during his time.
8. Dona Patrocinio as the mistress of the alferez, she was noted to be
imprudent, vulgar, cruel, and quarrelsome. She symbolized the mentality of
the Guardia Civil.
9. Pilosopo Tasyo represented Rizals epitome of a philosopher; was
perceived to be a sage by the educated and a weird or lunatic by those who
did not know him.
10.School Master of San Diego symbolized the intellectual dissatisfaction in
Filipino society during Rizals time. As an educated individual, he dreamed
of changing the methods of teaching to facilitate greater learning of pupils.