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Noli Me Tangere: Summary and Analysis of Chapter 9 (Local Affairs)

Summary:
Crisostomo Ibarra comes across the carriage carrying Friar Damaso.  Along the way the priest also bumps into Maria Clara and her Aunt Isabel, who were headed to the nunnery to fetch the maiden's things.  Friar Damaso tells Captain Tiago something of utmost importance.  Meanwhile, in Intramuros, Friar Sibyla is deep in conversation with an old Dominican priest who is seriously ill.

Points of Note:
In this chapter begins Friar Damaso's frantic endeavors to prevent Maria Clara's marriage to Crisostomo Ibarra.  He tells Captain Tiago not to go through with the prearranged wedding.

Here we find a more detailed and colorful description of Captain Tiago's sycophancy to the church and its leaders.

By means of  the conversation between Friar Sibyla and the ill Dominican priest, Rizal further explains the enmity between Ibarra and Friar Damaso.


Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: What disease was the old Dominican friar suffering from?
Answer: Whatever it was, it was caused by his undue exploitation of the country.  This was a seriously gruesome illness, as he claims, "...This land! This gruesome land!  Believe it from what you see in me, Hernando Sibyla!"

Question: What did the conversation between the two friars reveal?
Answer: We discover that without Ibarra's knowledge, the Spanish friars had already prepared for whatever form of rebellion he was planning.  After completing his education in Europe, Ibarra was bound to wrestle against the exploitative ways of Spain, now clearly seen by his already opened eyes.  Aside from being well-educated and intelligent Crisostomo was a rich man, and he could easily side with the natives to head mutiny against the church and the state.

Question: What did the Filipinos lack in their quest for social and political justice?
Answer: First of all, there was disunity in the country.  This was partly a result of the endeavors of Spain to create divisions among the natives so that it will be virtually impossible to unite strength for a revolution.  Secondly, the Filipinos had no leader among themselves.