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Noli Me Tangere Summary

The young and idealistic Juan Crisostomo Ibarra returns home after seven years in Europe. The
wealthy meztizo, like his father Don Rafael endeavors for reform primarily in the area of
education in order to eliminate poverty and improve the lives of his countrymen. Upon learning
about his fathers demise and the denial of a Catholic burial for his father Ibarra was provoked by
Padre Damaso and aggressively assaulted him which eventually led to his excommunication. The
excommunication was later rescinded upon the intervention of the Governor General.
Padre Salvi, Ibarras mortal enemy accused Ibarra of insurrection. Ibarras letter to his beloved
Maria Clara was used against him. Later in the story, Maria Clara will tell Ibarra that she did not
conspire to indict him. She was compelled to give Ibarras letter in exchange for the letters of her
mother before she was born. Maria Clara found out that the letters of her mother were addressed
to Padre Damaso about their unborn child which means that she is the biological daughter of the
priest and not of her father, Capitan Tiago.
Meanwhile, Ibarra was able to escape the prison with Elias, who also experienced injustice with
the authorities. Ibarra was able to speak with Maria Clara about the letters and thereafter forgave
her. Ibarra and Elias flee to the lake and were chased by the Guardia Civil. One was shot and the
other survives. Upon hearing the news, Maria Clara believed that Ibarra was dead; she entered
the nunnery instead of marrying Alfonso Linares.
The fatally wounded Elias found the child Basilio and his dead mother Sisa. The latter was
driven to insanity when she learned that her children were implicated for theft by the sacristan
mayor. Elias instructed Basilio to dig for his and Sisas graves and there is a buried treasure
which he can use for his education.
Noli Me Tangere brilliantly described Philippine society with its memorable characters. The
melancholic fate of Maria Clara and the insanity of Sisa characterized the countrys pitiful state,
which was once beautiful, turned miserable. Reading Noli Me Tangere will open ones mind
about oppression and tyranny.

Summary:
Juan Crisstomo Eibarramendia y Magsalin or Ibarra returns to the Philippines from
studying in Europe after seven years. To celebrate his return, a family friend Don
Santiago de los Santos or "Captain Tiago" threw a welcome party for him. During
the celebration, one of the guests Father Fray Dmaso belittled and slandered
Ibarra.
On the next day Ibarra visited his beloved fiance Maria Clara who is the daughter
of captain Tiago. Before leaving to San Diego, Ibarra learns about his fathers
imprisonment and demise. Don Rafael Ibarra was falsely accused for being a heretic
by Dmaso because the latter had an animosity against Ibarra's father, which led to
Don Rafael jailed and dying from sickness. The Catholic burial of Ibarras father was
denied by the orders of Padre Dmaso and was removed. This enraged Ibarra at first
but tried not to place revenge in his plans, for he promised his father to build a
school to spread education for the development for his fellow countrymen. During
the initiation of the school, Ibarra was almost assassinated if not without the help of
Elas, a mysterious ally.
After the initiation, Ibarra hosted a luncheon which Fr. Dmaso invited himself in and
went to insult Ibarra again. The latter tried to ignore Fr. Dmaso, but snapped when
the priest went to slander the memory of his dead father, in which Ibarra tried to kill
Fr. Dmaso. Consequently, it got Ibarra excommunicated and was forbidden to
marry Maria Clara. The excommunication of Ibarra would have ended, but the
Spanish colonial officials and friars revolted and accused Ibarra of being the
mastermind behind lifting the excommunication. Meanwhile Maria Clara was
engaged to Alfonso Linares and Captain Tiago planned a party to announce the
engagement.
Ibarra was imprisoned but escaped with the help of Elas. Before leaving Ibarra
spoke to Mara Clara and accused her of betraying him but Mara Clara explained
that she would never conspire against him, but that she was forced to surrender
Ibarra's letter to Father Salv, in exchange for the letters written by her mother
whom she never seen. Ibarra and Elias flee to the lake and were chased by the
Guardia Civil. One was shot and the other survives. Upon hearing the news, Maria
Clara believed that Ibarra was dead; she entered the nunnery instead of marrying
Alfonso Linares.
Elias woke up fatally wounded, in the forest where he had instructed Ibarra to meet
him. Instead he found a boy, Basilio and his dead mother Sisa, the latter was driven
to insanity when she learned that her children were implicated for theft by the
sacristan mayor. Elias instructed the boy to cremate his mother and Elias body, for
he knew he would die soon. Elias tells the boy that he can go back to this place if
nobody reaches it and find gold to use for his education. Elias died afterwards.

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