make a reaction paper about Noli Me Tangere.
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Answer:
Table Of Contents:
About José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere
Important Characters in the Novel
Main Ideas of the Novel
Education
Power
Religion
Family
Sacrifice
Criticism
Independence
Awareness
Religion
Writing a reflection paper on one of the most acclaimed Filipino works can be taunting. Especially in the case of Noli Me Tangere, a book that served as an eye-opening work to many from the day it was released and is being used even nowadays to instill nationalism in young Filipinos.
About José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere
Translated from Latin to English as ”Touch Me Not,” this famous Philippine literature piece by José Rizal was written in 1887 and made a radical change in the Philippines’ history.
The story’s protagonist is Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, who returned home from a seven-year stay in Europe. He’s brimming with ideas of improving his country and helping his fellow Filipinos but was confronted by the Catholic Church and the Spanish government. Not only were his ideas and plans questioned by the friars and the Spaniards, but also by his fellow citizens who were naive about the cruelty and abuse of the regime.
The novel criticized the happenings in the country that was then under the Spaniards. It has a sequel titled El Filibusterismo, alternatively known as The Reign of the Greed and The Subversive or The Subversion.
Important Characters in the Novel
Rafael Ibarra
Rafael Ibarra is Crisostomo’s father. His death was the reason for his son to come back to the Philippines. Don Rafael died in prison because of Padre Damaso’s accusations of heresy and subversion.
Teniente Guevarra
A lieutenant of the Guardia Civil and Don Rafael’s friend. Crisostomo learned of his father’s death from him. Teniente Guevarra respects both father and son for their moral compass, even if it means going against the church.
Maria Clara de los Santos
She’s the love interest of Crisostomo, who ends up going to a nunnery when she refuses to marry Alfonso Linares. Maria Clara symbolizes the Philippines.
Kapitan Tiago or Capitan Tiago
Don Santiago De Los Santos is the father of Maria Clara and is an influential businessman in San Diego. Kapitan Tiago finds it hard to follow the friars’ orders because he betrothed his daughter to Crisostomo.
Elias
After Crisostomo saved him from a crocodile, he swore to protect the young man. He’s a fugitive who wears disguises and discovers plots against the protagonist, and does what he can to stop them from happening.
Sisa
She’s the mother of Basilio and Crispin, who had gone insane when her children went missing. A once beautiful lady who endured a tragic life, Sisa symbolizes the suffering of the Motherland from the colonizers.
Basilio and Crispin
Sisa’s sons represent the Filipino children who are victims of ignorance, poverty, and the Spanish authorities’ cruelty.
Padre Damaso Verdolagas
He’s the former curate of San Diego and is the birth father of Maria Clara through raping Doña Pia Alba. An arrogant and cruel priest, he did his best to stop Maria Clara from marrying Crisostomo.
Padre Salvi Bernardo
A prominent figure in the town of San Diego, along with the alferez of the Guardia Civil. He’s been lusting over Maria Clara and is a deceptive priest.
Padre Sibyla Hernando
Crisostomo’s former teacher and the parish priest of Binondo, Manila. He’s aware of the cruelty of the other friars but doesn’t do anything about it.
Doña Victorina
The wife of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, a quack doctor. She’s an ambitious Filipina who looks down at her fellow Filipinos.
Alfonso Linares
A young Spanish lawyer who Padre Damaso wanted Maria Clara to marry.
Main Ideas of the Novel
To write an A+ reflection paper, you must be aware of the main ideas Noli Me Tangere conveys.
Education
Rizal firmly believed that education is important in fighting off oppression. Filipinos’ ignorance and naivety made them easy to be manipulated and targeted for cruelty.
Education paved the way for Crisostomo to build a school for the youth and to be heard by other influential people. However, even with his good intention, Crisostomo was undoubtedly still unaware of just how grave the oppression his fellow Filipinos faced until Elias showed it to him.
Another highly educated character in the novel was Tasio. Although having acquired education, he was ousted by society because of different ideals.