The Life and Works of Rizal

Summary: Simoun, wounded and exhausted, goes to the house of Padre Florentino to hide from the civil guards who are sent to arrest him and take him into custody.   Simoun drinks a poison, then reveals his true identity to Padre Florentino – that he, Simoun the jeweler, is in fact Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, the fugitive believed to have died in the river years ago.   He admits that everything is his futile attempt to corrupt the government and the society so that he could start a revolution to free the country from the bonds of Spain.   Padre Florentino corrects Simoun, telling him that freedom cannot be won by violence and the shedding of innocent blood but by proper education, hard work, and long-suffering. Points of Note: Both the last chapter of the Noli and the last chapter of the El Fili are untitled. The sun is about to set when Simoun reveals his true identity and life story to Padre Florentino. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: Why did Simoun go to Padre Fl...

Summary: The soldiers escort a group of prisoners.   Suddenly, they are ambushed.   Carolino, one of the civil guards, is the long-lost son of Cabesang Tales.   He fights the bandits bravely and fiercely, finishing off the leader of the thieves with a spear, and killing an old man who is part of the group.   He surveys the dead, and realizes that the old man he had killed is in fact Tandang Selo, his grandfather. Points of Note: Siberia in Russia had long been the place where convicted felons were thrown out and punished.   According to Rizal, the cold Russian climate is an even more effective punishment than what is given to those captured by the civil guards – walking around the searing hot ground chained and without footwear, enduring the mockery thrown at them by passers-by. In this chapter Rizal describes not only the dimwittedness of the civil guards, but also their cruelty towards their fellowmen. The civil guards, apart from their leaders, are mere ...

Summary: Isagani, Sensia, Capitana Loleng, Capitan Toringoy, and Chichoy discuss the events of the previous night.   Chichoy says that Simoun the jeweler is the mastermind behind all that had transpired, and that he was responsible for plotting to kill all the guests at the wedding feast.   Chichoy also adds that the lamp was supposed to start the fire, ignite the gunpowder, and set off the explosion. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: Why did Isagani’s friends put him into hiding? Answer: There were rumors going around that Isagani was responsible for putting the gunpowder in Capitan Tiago’s house to get back at Juanito for taking Paulita away.   This, however, was not true.   Eventually it was proven that Simoun was the person behind it all. Question: Why couldn’t the trouble at the house of Don Timoteo and Simoun’s connection to it be kept a secret from the people? Answer: There were workers, government officials, and witnesses on the night of the feast. ...

Summary: From Capitan Tiago’s house, Ben Zayb runs to his abode to write about the shocking events that have transpired.   In his writing, he makes the governor-general, Padre Irene, Don Custodio, and Padre Salvi look like heroes.   He also wishes the governor-general a safe journey.   Meanwhile, the governor-general prohibits anyone from talking about the events that have taken place at the wedding celebration of Paulita and Juanito Pelaez.   According to rumors, a band of thieves had attacked a friar’s house.   The robbers who are caught describe to the authorities the man who supposedly ordered them to attack the town after the signal is given.   Their description indisputably leads to Simoun. Points of Note: In this chapter Rizal gives light to the false and biased method of delivering news during those days. This is the first time that Simoun’s disguise is compromised.   This is the first time that he is suspected.   All the clues lead to...

Summary: Simoun discreetly yet nonchalantly places the lamp at the center of the house where the guests are gathered.   Basilio watches him from a distance.   As the youth is about to leave the place, he sees Isagani and tries to convince his friend to leave.   Basilio tells him to get as far away from the house as possible, and explains that there is about to be an explosion any minute that would kill all the guests and everyone within a considerable distance.   Isagani, in a rare act of love and loyalty to his beloved Paulita, quickly rushes to the house and throws the lamp into the river below, stopping the explosion. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: What does “Mane Thacel Phares” mean? Answer: Just like the title, “Noli Me Tangere,”   this is taken from the Bible (Daniel 5:25-28).   In these verses, King Belshazzar of Babylon holds a vulgar feast.   While the guests indulge themselves in indecent and salacious activities, a hand then write...

Summary: Basilio wanders around the streets of Manila, waiting for the explosion that would signal the start of the revolution.  He passes Calle Anloague, where Juanito and Paulita’s wedding celebration is going on.  After surveying the ornate decorations, the guards stationed at the entrances, and the important and prominent visitors present at the feast, Basilio assumes that this could be the crucial gathering Simoun was talking about. Points of Note: From Simoun’s house in Escolta, Basilio goes to Anloague where Capitan Tiago’s house was. Frequently Asked Questions: Question : Where is Isagani if he is not at home? Answer: This can be read in the next chapter. Question: Why is it important to remember that Sinong is Simoun’s coachman in order to have full understanding of the events? Answer: It becomes clearer that Simoun was the reason why Basilio had been detained for so long.  Sinong was the one frequently visiting the students in prison and had become the mes...

Summary: Basilio is released from jail.  After regaining his freedom the youth immediately goes to Simoun and asks the jeweler to help him start a revolution.  Simoun is greatly pleased that he had gotten the youth to finally join him.  He tells Basilio to meet with Cabesang Tales at a certain time and place so that they could acquire the guns and rifles hidden in Quiroga’s warehouse.  Meanwhile, Simoun’s job is to place a dynamite-laden lamp at an important gathering – one that would explode to signal the attack. Points of Note: Simoun had previously approached Basilio and had asked the youth to join him in his plan of revolt.  That was some time in April, near the close of the semester. The students were taken to prison at the middle of April. Basilio was in jail for three and a half months. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: Why doesn’t the governor-general want to lengthen his stay in office? Answer: According to him, he is afraid of what people mig...

Summary: Juanito Pelaez, together with Pecson and Tadeo, is suspended from classes at the university because of the seditious posters.  Tadeo burns his books in anger, and Juanito gets involved in his father’s business to keep himself occupied.  Still in prison,  the poor Basilio learns about Juli’s death.  Meanwhile, Simoun tries to befriend Don Timoteo Pelaez, whose son Juanito is engaged to be married to Paulita Gomez, and who is now busy making preparations for the wedding. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: What is the foremost effect that the pasquinades brought to the people? Answer: Fear, and a great panic. Question: Who was behind the posting of the seditious and revolutionary posters?  Was it Simoun?  Was it the friars?  Was it the government? Answer:  a. Could it have been the governor-general, so that his rule would be lengthened in the event of civil unrest?  It was not him.  The governor-general is depicted as too dimw...

Summary: A high official, who believes Basilio is innocent, attempts to convince the governor-general to release the youth.   His efforts, however, are in vain.   The governor-general responds, insisting that it is necessary for innocent people to suffer to restore order and to teach the people to submit to authority once and for all.   Because of this, the high official lets go of his office and returns to Spain. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: Why do people call Kabesang Tales “Matanglawin”? Answer: They say that the lawin (hawk) has very sharp eyes.   Tales’s eyes are likened to those of the lawin; whever he spots, he shoots without missing. Question: Who is the first student to go free?   Who is the last?   Who didn’t make it out?   Why? Answer: Because of his wealth, the first to get out of prison before everyone else is Macaraeg.   Isagani gets out last because it takes quite some time for his uncle (a priest) to make it to town. ...

Summary: Juli is deeply troubled by the news of Basilio’s capture and imprisonment.   People convince her to approach Padre Camorra and ask him to intercede for the youth.   Juli is afraid to follow their advice and approach the friar because he is known to be frisky and quite fond of women.   However, when news reaches Juli that Basilio is about to be killed, the young lady is compelled to go and ask the friar’s help. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: Why does Hermana Penchang say, “What a good thing I did when I drove her from my house! I don’t want to have any trouble with the friars, so I urged her to find the money.” Answer: It’s not true that she drove Juli out of the house.   She didn’t like it when Basilio saved the young lady.   She does not want to have any trouble with the friars.   During those days it is quite easy to be implicated in a political or religious uprising and since Basilio is captured and Juli is Basilio’s lover, Hermana Pen...

Summary: Capitan Tiago dies, and is given a decent burial.   Padre Irene is the executor of his will.   His riches are divided among Santa Clara, the pope, the Archbishop, and other religious organizations.   Twenty pesos is left for the matriculation of the students.   Padre Irene suggests this so that it will appear that he is on the side of the students.   Capitan Tiago removes from his will the twenty-five pesos intended for Basilio for the youth’s inability to recognize his indebtedness to the old man, but Padre Irene decides to give it to him still, and says that it will come from the friar’s own pockets. Points of Note: Everything that is stipulated in Capitan Tiago’s last will and testament is fabricated by Padre Irene.   This way, the church gets the most out of the riches of the deceased, and his loved ones and relatives are greatly bereaved, and deprived even of their rightful inheritance. It can be observed that even in his garments Padre Ir...

Summary: Rumor and gossip fill the city streets and corners.   Practically everywhere, people are talking about the seditious posters in the walls of the university.   People say that the students who were arrested were shot and deported to far-off places; they also say that some luckier members of the student organization had conspired with thieves and bandits as well as with certain German vessels in a plot to overthrow the government. Points of Note: This chapter is a clear description of the image of a fearful society, and how this fear causes more damage than an actual battle.   Here we see how news grows bigger and bigger through word of mouth. What is called the city of Manila during those days is the Walled City or Intramuros. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: What signifies the fear of the friars in recent events? Answer: Not one of them went to the house of the Chinese businessman Quiroga, despite the fact that there have been new arrivals for them to c...

Summary: Isagani is summoned by Padre Fernandez.   The priest wants to talk to him about his involvement in the celebration held at the panciteria.   Their discussion, however, focuses on the ways by which the friars conduct education.   According to Isagani, the friars are intentionally delivering antiquated education to keep the Filipinos from aspiring for freedom and civil liberties.   He argues further that those who yearn for such dreams are immediately labeled as filibusters, revolutionaries, and rebels.   In response to the youth’s claims, Padre Fernandez says that not all friars are backward and are against the idea of educating the natives and the people.   Education, he says, can only be given to minds that are ready and deserving. Points of Note: Isagani is still in his first year at the University of Santo Tomas.   He came from Ateneo de Manila. During that time, the population of the Filipinos was roughly 8 million. The Dominican orde...

Summary: Basilio reports to the hospital but is a little confused when he sees other students acting as if there were no classes that day.  One of the students informs him that there were found seditious and revolutionary posters at the walls of the university, and that these posters had implicated the student organization.  The government has also demanded the arrest of all the members of the student organization, as well as those who took part in the celebration at the panciteria.  Basilio goes to Macaraeg’s house to loan some money, however both of them are arrested by the authorities. Points of Note: Basilio is a doctor in training, having his practicum at the hospital. During those days, Filipinos who finish are not given the title of Doctor.  Instead, they are only given a degree.  However, they can still cure the sick and practice medicine. Basilio has strived long and hard not to get involved in matters of politics because of his ugly experiences as a...

Summary: The university students organize a feast at the Panciteria Macanista de Buen Gusto in honor of Don Custodio because of his decision regarding the Spanish academy.   They are fourteen in all, including Sandoval.   They paid for the entire place, so that it would be exclusively for them and no other customers could get in.   As Don Custodio had decided, the Spanish academy would have to be supervised by the Dominican order and they, the students, simply had to gather and collect financial contributions for the proposed school. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: Why did the students hold a feast? Answer: It is a satirical mockery of their being in favor of Don Custodio’s decision, according to Padre Irene, in order to celebrate the Don’s affirmation of the plans for the proposed school. Question: How many students were there in the feast? Answer: There were thirteen Filipinos and one Spanish student, Sandoval.   Isagani arrived, which made them fifteen. ...

Summary: Isagani meets Paulita Gomez at the Luneta.   At that moment, the sun is setting behind the mountains of Maribeles.   In their conversation, Isagani shares his visions of progress and social and economic development for his country.   He talks to Paulita about his plans to expand the railways, to improve commercial trade, and to somehow achieve mutual cooperation between the Philippines and Spain.   To his dismay, however, Paulita tells him that his visions are nothing but unattainable dreams. Points of Note: This chapter compares two different kinds of youth:   One who loves his country, and another who loves himself.   This is also a very good avenue to study the dynamics of two hearts that yearn for two very different things – the hearts of Isagani and Paulita. This chapter also describes Rizal’s vision of the improvement and development of the cities of Quezon and Mandaluyong, which today have become very progressive towns.

Summary: Basilio is studying at Captain Tiago’s house.   Simoun arrives and tries to convince the youth to join in the revolution that the jeweler is planning.   However, all his efforts are in vain and Basilio refuses to take any part in it.   Simoun then further explains that the revolution is a necessary step if he were to rescue Maria Clara from the nunnery.   Basilio then tells him that the lady is dead.   Simoun leaves Captain Tiago’s house deeply grieved and tormented. Points of Note: The last paragraph of this chapter is a very beautiful flow of poetry that plays through the mind of Basilio as he ponders over what had happened to Maria Clara in the convent, and how there could have been no miracle to have ever stopped it. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: Why does Basilio still strive to cure Captain Tiago of his illness when the youth is already exhausted in doing so? Answer: Basilio is a man of honor.   He is always thinking about the futu...

Summary: A number of humorous incidents take place at the show.   For one, Juanito Pelaez tries to impress Paulita by pretending to understand French.   His act is discovered, however, after he fails to translate some French lines correctly.   Padre Irene attends the show in disguise.   He applauds one of the actresses, whom he particularly likes.   Don Custodio is also at the theater, claiming as an excuse that he was there to judge whether or not the performance was to be considered indecent.   While the show is going on, the students then find out about Don Custodio’s decision regarding the school of Spanish. Points of Note: The term “Filipino Time” isn’t really Filipino time per se.   This attitude of being late was taken from the Spaniards who ruled the country during that time.   In Rizal’s novels, it is very obvious that the audiences all come early, save for the high-ranking Spanish officials to arrive late on purpose just so they could...

Summary: People all over Manila gather at the theater to watch Les Cloches de Corneville, a French performance.  Only one person, of Spanish blood, seems to have no interest in going inside the theater.  His name is Camarroncocido.  He comes from a prominent Spanish family, however is dressed rather poorly like a peasant and keeps wandering in the streets. He occupies himself by putting up posters of upcoming shows in the theater.  As he approaches the Teatro de Variadades, he spots suspicious-looking men and finds out that Simoun is ordering them to go through measures to put a stop to a civil unrest. Points of Note: Camarroncocido is a name that means “scalded shrimp” because his skin is rosy red.  He is a Spaniard who does not give much importance to his Spanish roots.  Although he is considered to be “blue-blooded” given that he comes from an elite Spanish line, he ends up doing menial tasks the moment he enters Philippine territory.  Camarroncoci...

Summary: Don Custodio ponders over his stand on the proposal made by the students in the university.  He mulls over it, weighing both sides.  He is torn over this decision because on one hand, he wants to please the friars but on the other, he also wants to help the students learn and study Spanish.  As obvious as it is, the friars and the students are on opposite ends of the line and their opinions cannot be reconciled.  In his desperation, Don Custodio consults a number of trusted people including Senor Pasta and Pepay the dancer.  They, however, are unable to give him any help.  After a considerably long period of contemplation, Don Custodio finally arrives at a decision. Points of Note: Don Custodio, a thinker and a man of intelligence, consults Senor Pasta and Pepay.  The former gives him worthless advice, while the latter does nothing but dance and ask money from him. The first paragraph of this chapter, which states that ...