Noli Me Tangere Cover Symbolism Essay

Major characters: * Juan Crisà ³stomo Ibarra y Magsalin – commonly referred to the novel as Ibarra or Crisà ³stomo, is the protagonist in the story. Son of a Filipino businessman, Don Rafael Ibarra, he studied in Europe for seven years. * Marà ­a Clara de los Santos y Alba – commonly referred to as Marà ­a Clara, is Ibarra’s fiancà ©e. She was raised by Capità ¡n Tiago, San Diego’s cabeza de barangay and is the most beautiful and widely celebrated girl in San Diego. * Don Santiago de los Santos – known by his nickname Tiago and political title Capità ¡n Tiago is a Filipino businessman and the cabeza de barangay or head of barangay of the town of San Diego. He is also the known father of Marà ­a Clara. * Doà ±a Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaà ±a – commonly known as Doà ±a Victorina, is an ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as a Spanish and mimics Spanish ladies by putting on heavy make-up. The novel narrates Doà ±a Victorina’s younge r days: she had lots of admirers, but she did not choose any of them because nobody was a Spaniard. Later on, she met and married Don Tiburcio de Espadaà ±a, an official of the customs bureau who is about ten years her junior. * Dà ¡maso Verdolagas – or Padre Dà ¡maso is a Franciscan friar and the former parish curate of San Diego. He is best known as a notorious character who speaks with harsh words and has been a cruel priest during his stay in the town. He is the real father of Marà ­a Clara and an enemy of Crisà ³stomo’s father, Rafael Ibarra. * Pilosopo Tasyo – is another major character in the story. Seeking for reforms from the government, he expresses his ideals in paper written in a cryptographic alphabet similar from hieroglyphs and Coptic figures hoping â€Å"that the future generations may be able to decipher it† and realized the abuse and oppression done by the conquerors. * Sisa – is the deranged mother of Basilio and Crispà ­n. Described as beautiful and young, although she loves her children very much, she can not protect them from the beatings of her husband, Pedro. * Crispà ­n – is Sisa’s 7-year-old son. An altar boy, he was unjustly accused of stealing money from the church. After failing to force Crispà ­n to return the money he allegedly stole, Father Salvà ­ and the head sacristan killed him. It is not directly stated that he was killed, but the dream of Basilio sugg ests that Crispà ­n died during his encounter with Padre Salvi and his minion. * Basilio – is Sisa’s 10-year-old son. An acolyte tasked to ring the church bells for the Angelus, he faced the dread of losing his younger brother and the descent of his mother into insanity. At the end of the novel, Elà ­as wished Basilio to bury him by burning in exchange of chest of gold located on his death Maria Clara = Leonor Rivera Ibarra & Elias = Rizal Tasio (the Sage) = Paciano Padre Salvi = Padre Antonio Piernavieja Capitan Tiago = Capitan Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas Dona Victorina = Dona Agustina Medel Basilio & Crispin = Crisostomo Brothers Padre Damaso = represents all typical friars of that time