Chapter 7 Noli Me Tangere PDF

CHAPTER 7 NOLI ME TANGERE Learning Outcomes: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to: 1. Appraise important characters in the novel and what they represent. 2. Examine the present Philippine situation through the incidents mentioned...

CHAPTER 7 NOLI ME TANGERE Learning Outcomes: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to: 1. Appraise important characters in the novel and what they represent. 2. Examine the present Philippine situation through the incidents mentioned in the Noli. Brief Background The Noli, one of the two famous novels of our National Hero, Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Realonda or simply known as the great Dr. Jose Rizal, came up into writing The Book as inspired and motivated by the scene in a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe -- Uncle Tom's Cabin, which describes and illustrates the slavery and the harsh situation of the African Americans. Jose Rizal, also known as Pepe, proposed the writing of his first novel in a meeting on January 2, 1884 which was held at the Paterno's Residence in Madrid. The novel would contain or show the current situation of the Philippines during that time. Perdo Maximo, Antonio Paterno, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguire, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Lorente, Melacio Giguerora and, Valentin Ventura all agreed in writing the novel together with Pepe. However, these people, as history tells, had vices on gambling and women, hence, Rizal decide to write the novel on his own. The Novel's Origin The title of the book is a Latin phrase taken by Pepe from the Bible himself, meaning "Touch me not". It is particularly found in John 20:13-17, as the newly-risen Christ says to Mary Magdalene: "Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them I ascended unto my Father, and to my God and your God." Although a much technical transition of the title is a particularly painful type of cancer. Jose intended to show through his novel the Filipino society cancers that the oppressed felt too much pain. Further earlier translations led to use English titles such as An Eagle Flight (1990) and The Social Cancer (1912), which should be noted was an original title before Noli. The term “social cancer” also connotes towards opening the eyes of his countrymen to their true condition, and expose the spreading sickness of the Spaniards, all while making them aware of the errors and injustices committed in their name. However, Rizal settled with Noli Me Tangere because the previous titles seemed disregarding towards the true symbolism of the Novel's title. The Writing of the Novel and its Publication Jose Rizal wrote the first half of the Noli from 1884-1885 while he was in Madrid, Spain studying Medicine. From time--to-time, while in Paris, Pepe is completing the book. A well-known political activist and writer/journalist agreed to proofread the novel in the person of Vicente Blasco Ibanez, who also became the consultant of Rizal. Rizal finally completed his first novel in December of 1886 in Berlin, Germany. However, he feared that he might not be able to print the book since he is having financial difficulties, according to the National Hero's biographers. One Maximo Viola, appeared in the scene who offered help in financing the publication of the book of Rizal. Viola is understood to be the best friend of Pepe. Hesitant at first, Rizal turned the offer of his friend down. However, Viola was insistent and ended up lending Jose P300 for 2,000 copies. The printing was finished earlier than the expected five-month period of printing. The Noli Me Tangere was eventually published on March 21, 1887 by the cheapest publisher Rizal found in Berlin, the BERLINER - ACTIEN -GESSELSCHAFT, SETZERINNEN - SCHULE DE LETTE VEREINES. The Noli and its Goals The Noli me Tangere, "Touch me not" or as translated in Filipino, "Huwag mo akong Salingin" reveals the current situation of the Filipinos during the Spanish colonization. It is also understood that the book was made to awaken the feelings of the people from oppression. It also depicts a series of Filipino scenes such as: 1. superstitious and hypocritical fanaticism of many who consider themselves religious people, 2. the ignorance, corruption. and brutality of the Filipino civil guards, 3. the passion for gambling unchecked by the thought of duty and responsibility, 4. the servility of the wealthy Filipino towards friars and government officials, 5. the ridiculous efforts of Filipinos to dissociate themselves from their fellowmen or to lord it over them -- all these are ridiculed in the novel. Nevertheless, Rizal clearly implies that many of these failings are traceable to association with the Spaniard, or to the misguided policy of the government and the questionable practices of the friars. But the real reason or purpose of Pepe in writing the Novel is to disprove wrong accusations of Spaniards to Filipinos and the Philippines. He also expresses the sad conditions of the society, beliefs, hopes, dreams and the cry of the Filipino people. Rizal wants to expose everything about the wrong use of religion or the exploitation of the word of God which friars used for them to benefit and corrupt people. He added to portray the cruelties, graft and corruption of the false government. Yet, Rizal controlled and balanced the national likeness through giving highlights to the virtues and good traits of the uninfluenced Filipinos: the women's modesty and devotion, the openhanded hospitality of Filipino families, the commitment the parents has to their children and vice versa, the deep sense of gratitude, and the undeniable common sense of the uneducated Filipino peasants. The Novel's Social Impact and Controversies The Noli Me Tangere was considered to be one of the instruments that initiated Filipino nationalism that led to the 1896 Philippine Revolution. Noli was originally written in Spanish so the likelihood that the Spanish authorities will read it first is high which our National Hero really intended to happen. Copies of books were redirected to churches, many have been destroyed, many anti-Noli writers came into the picture and the Catholic leaders in the Philippines during that time regarded the book as heretical, while Spanish colonial authorities declared the Book as Subversive and against the Government. The impact of the Novel also includes the expulsion of Jose in Calamba, Laguna. Extradition cases were filed against Rizal which led to writing his sequel of the Noli me Tangere, the El Filibusterismo. Rizal received a letter of summons to the Malacañang Palace by the Governor-General Emilio Terrero. He defended himself and his book from the governor-general. Terrero got interested on the controversial book and requested a copy of it from Jose to find out if there are really any subversive ideas in the novel. He didn't see anything wrong in the novel but thought that Rizal's enemies were powerful and far more superior than what he had anticipated. The Novel's importation, reproduction and circulation were prohibited and publicized through the newspapers. Though this only made people more likely to read the novel even more despite of the strictness and security of the guardia civils. Many Filipinos were still able to secure a copy of the Noli and read it in secret. The price of the book even raised from a peso to thirty pesos per copy. The anti-Noli Many Spanish Officials, friars and church persons were against the Noli me Tangere Father Salvador Font was the one responsible for prohibiting the Noli me Tangere's reproduction and circulation  Father Jose Rodriguez, Superior of Guadalupe, published a writing entitled “Cuestiones de Sumo Interes" (Katanungan ng Dakilang lnteres) to confront Rizal's Noli. His copies of the book were sold and distributed in the church after the mass. Many Filipinos were forced to buy though they do not believe what the author said in his writings. The pro-Noli Many Filipinos were convinced and accepted the Noli, even great historians, doctors, poets and church persons or clergies. Reverent Vicente Garcia, a Filipino priest who defended Jose Rizal and a Catholic scholar at the Manila Cathedral, wrote a book, using the penname Justo Desiderio Magalang, in response to the statement of Father Rodriguez about the Noli me Tangere that contains something like these: 1. '"Hindi masasabing 'ignoranteng tao' si Riza, gaya ng sabi ni Padre Rodriguez, dahil siya ay nagtapos sa mga unibersidad sa Espanya at nakatanggap pa ng mga karangalang iskolastiko;" 2. "Hindi tinutuligsa ni Rizal ang Simbahan at Espanya, gaya ng sinasabi ni Padre Rodriguez, dahil pinupuna ni Rizal sa Noli ay yaong masasamang opisyal at tiwaling prayle, hindi ang Simbahan;" 3. "Sinabi ni Padre Rodriguez na yaong bumabasa ng Noli ay gumagawa ng kasalanang mortal dahil nabasa nya ang Nobela." Marcelo H. Del Pilar, with the penname "Dolores Manapat", praises Rizal's Noli through writing another book entitled, "Caiingat Cayo" (Maging Madulas katulad ng Igat). He used the same technique as how Padre Rodriguez did in confronting the Noli, but this time, del Pilar made the act in a church in his hometown in Bulacan. The Characters and the Summary Major Characters Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin, Or commonly referred to as Crisostomo or Ibarra. He is the protagonist in this novel. Son of Don Rafael Ibarra, a Filipino businessman, who has recently returned to the Philippines from Europe after spending seven years studying abroad. Ibarra is well-educated and respected, though the friars in his hometown are suspicious of him because his father was imprisoned just recently and labeled as a subversive and heretic which eventually causes his father's death in jail. In the story, Ibarra insists on reforming the Philippines from the inside out, and working with government officials and especially the friars without dismantling the system. However, by the end of the novel, branded as heretical subversive, his ideas about reform and revolution begun to align with Elias's more radical theories. Maria Clara de los Santos y Alba Also known as, Maria Clara. She is a well­recognized woman in their hometown, San Diego, for her high social standing. She was raised by Captain Tiago, San Diego's cabeza de barangay, however, a spineless socialite who disavows Ibarra to stay in the good graces of friars like Father Damaso. Maria Clara is the most beautiful and widely celebrated woman in town. Maria Clara and Ibarra are bound to get married, although Father Damaso - her godfather – is displeased with this arrangement and does what he can to make sure the marriage do not push through and marry a certain Linares instead. She doesn't speak up against this idea because she doesn't want to cross her father, Captain Tiago. Later in the novel. Maria Clara found out that Captain Tiago isn't her biological father - rather, Father Damaso impregnated her mother, who died during childbirth. Maria Clara, blackmailed in the story, provided letters from Ibarra to the courts - letters his prosecutors unfairly use as evidence of malfeasance. She feels intense remorse at having sold Ibarra out. The character reflects the purity and innocence expected that of Filipinas in that era while also exploring how many women were also abused/taken advantage because of who they are. The character is also heavily based on Rizal’s fiancé,  Leonor Rivera. As such, it is said that Rizal also dedicates his novel to the “Maria Clara”s of that era Father Damaso Verdolagas, Or just Padre Damaso, is a Franciscan friar in the Philippines and a former curate of San Diego. Father Damaso is an arrogant and dull priest who is best known as a notorious character that speaks harsh words and a cruel priest during his stay in the town. Only because Rafael refused to go to confession and supported secular means of empowering Filipino citizens, Damaso jumped at the opportunity to cast Rafael as a heretic and a subversive. In the story, Damaso is Ibarra's rival who seems to leverage by provoking the young man during dinner at their house making loud mentions of Rafael's death. Ibarra is unable to ignore these provocations, and his violent response leads to his own excommunication. To make matters worse for Ibarra, Father Damaso is very well-connected in San Diego, he gets away with his corruption. Don Santiago de los Santos, Or more known as Capitan Tiago. A Filipino socialite and well-respected member of the country's wealthy elite. In the novel, Capitan Tiago is the richest man in the region of Binondo and he possesses real properties in Pampanga and Laguna de Bay. He is also said to be a good Catholic, friend of the government and was considered as Spanish by the colonialists. Tiago never attended school, so he became a domestic helper of a Dominican friar who taught him informal education. He is concerned with making sure his daughter, Maria Clara, marries an affluent man with sufficient social capital, which one of the reason he quickly abandons his support of Ibarra when the friars disgrace the young man's name. When they present their nephew Linares (nephew of Doctor de Espadana, a fraudulent doctor for rich people, and his wife, Dona Victorina, an obvious social climber) as a possible new match for Maria Clara, Captain Tiago is quick to assent, thinking that such a pairing will ensure respectability.  Elias He is Ibarra 's mysterious friend and ally. Elias made his first appearance a pilot during a picnic of Ibarra and Maria Clara and her friends. He wants to revolutionize the country and to be freed from Spanish oppressions. After Ibarra _saves his life from a vicious crocodile, Elias swears to protect the young man from his enemies. Elias discovers plots against Ibarra as he lurks in the town in the disguise of a day laborer. He also tries to persuade Ibarra to join him and some other groups of revolutionaries who want to strike back against the abusive guardia sibil that empowers the church and coerces the people it claims to govern. Elias desires his friend to understand that nothing good will come within the existing power, since the government and the church are both corrupt and unconcerned when it comes to actually improving the Philippines society. The 50th Chapter of the novel explores the past of Elias and history of his family. In the past, Ibarra's great grandfather condemned Elias' grandfather of burning a warehouse which led into misfortune of Elias' family. His father was refused to be married by her mother because his father's past and family lineage was discovered by his mother's family. In the long run, Elias and his twin sister were raised by their maternal grandfather. When they were teenagers their distant relatives called them hijos de bastardos or illegitimate children. One day, his sister disappeared which led him to search for her. His search led him to places, families, and finally, he became a fugitive and subversive. Pilosopong Tacio, old Tacio Don Anastasio, or commonly known as Pilosopong Tacio, is another major character in the novel. Tasio respects Ibarra and hopes dearly that Ibarra will succeed in building a school that is independent of the church. Seeking for reforms from the government, he expresses his ideals in paper written in cryptographic alphabet similar from hieroglyphs and Coptic figures hoping "that the future generations may be able to decipher" it and realize the abuse and oppression done by the conquerors.  Sisa, Crispin, and Basilio Narcisa or simple Sisa, is the deranged mother of Basilio and Crispin. Described as young and beautiful. Although she loves her children so much, she cannot protect them from the beatings of her husband, Pedro. Crispin is Sisa's seven-year old son. A very young child learning to be a sexton, or a warden of the church. Unfornmately, the chief sexton falsely alleges Crispin of thieving money from the church. Father Salvi and the head of the sacristan killed him after the allegation of stealing money. Though it was not directly told in the story, it was dreamt by Basilio of the possible incident against the life of Crispin. Basilio is Crispin's ten-year old brother who also trains to be a sexton. His Task is to ring the church bell during Angelus. At the end of the novel, Elias wished Basilio to bury him by burning in exchange of a chest full of gold located in his death ground. La Doctora Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña Dofia Victorina is an ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as Spanish and mimics Spanish ladies by putting heavy make-up. The novel narrates Dona Victorina's younger days: she had lots of admirers, but she did not choose from any of them because nobody was a Spaniard. Later on, she met and married Don Tiburcio de Espadana, an official of the customs bureau. However, the marriage is childless. Her husband assumes the title of Medical Doctor even though he never attended medical school; using fake documents and certificates. He practices illegal medicine. Other Characters Padre Bernardo Salvi, a Franciscan curate of San Diego who is described as a wistful, very thin and sickly priest who is secretly harboring lust for Maria Clara. He is also the one who serves as the Ecclesiastical Governor in San Diego. It is also implied that his last name, "Salvi" is a shorter term for "Salvation" or be a short term for the word "Salvaje" meaning a bad character who is willing to kill a child merely because of an alleged stealing of money. El Alferez or Alperes, chief of the Guardia Cibil, and mortal enemy of the priests in San Diego. He is the husband of Dona Consolacion. Dona Consolacion, wife of Alperes, nicknamed as la musa de los guardius civiles (The muse of the Civil Guards) or la Alrereza, was a former laundrywoman who passes herself as a peninsular; best remembered for her abusive treatment of Sisa.  Don Tiburcio de Espadana, Spanish quack doctor who is limp and submissive to his wife, Dofia Victorina. Teniente Guevara, a close friend of Don Rafael Ibarra. He reveals to Crisostomo how Don Rafael Ibarra's death came about. Alfonso Linares, a distant nephew of Tiburcio de Espadana, the future fiancé of Maria Clara. Although he presented himself as a practitioner of law, this was later revealed that he, just like Don Tiburcio, is a fraud. He later died due to given medications of Don Tiburcio. Tia Isabel, Capitan Tiago's cousin, who raised Maria Clara. Governor-General, unnamed person in the novel, he is the most powerful official in the Philippines. He has great disdain for the friars and corrupt officials, and sympathizes with Ibarra. Don Filipo Lino, Vice-mayor of the town of San Diego, leader of the liberals. Padre Manuel Martin, he is the linguist curate of a nearby town who delivers sermons during San Diego's fiesta. Don Rafael Ibarra, father of Crisostomo Ibarra, though he is the richest man in San Diego, he is also the most virtuous and generous. Dona Pia Alba, wife of Capitan Tiago and mother of Maria Clara. She died of giving birth to her daughter. In reality, she was raped by Damaso so she could bear a child. Summary of the Noli A lot of summaries of the Noli me Tangere by Jose Rizal was made and out for the public for a better and easier understanding of the novel. Anyone could use any author's plot summary of the Noli, however, in this textbook we would use the Plot Summary of Lannamann, Taylor (2017). "Noli Me Tangere takes place in the Philippines during the time of Spanish colonization. In the opening scene, a wealthy and in influential Filipino man named Captain Tiago hosts a dinner party to welcome Juan Crisostomo lbarra y Magsalin back to the Philippines. Ibarra has spent the last seven years studying in Europe. In talking to the various guests at Captain Tiago's dinner party, he discovers that his father, Don Rafael, recently died, though he doesn't know why or how. During the dinner, Father Damaso, a loud-mouthed friar Ibarra has known since childhood, stands up and insults Ibarra, disparaging him for having traveled to Europe to pursue an education he could have obtained in the Philippines. In response, Ibarra swallows his pride and refrains from directing insults at the half-drunk friar. Instead, he leaves the dinner early, ignoring Captain Tiago 's plea that he stays a little longer in order to see his fiancé (and Captain Tiago's daughter), Maria Clara. On his way home, Ibarra walks with Senor Guevara, a lieutenant of the Civil Guard, Spain's colonial armed forces in the Philippines. The lieutenant explains that a few months after Ibarra left, Father Damaso accused Don Rafael of not going to confession. Don Rafael was a very powerful man, which meant he had many enemies in both the Spanish government and in the church. The lieutenant tells Ibarra that one-day Don Rafael came upon a government tax collector beating a boy in the street. When Rafael interfered, he accidentally pushed the man too hard, causing the tax collector to hit his head on a rock. This injury eventually led to the man's death, and Ibarra’s father was thrown in jail and accused of subversion and heresy. At this point, Father Damaso heaped new accusations on him and everybody abandoned him. By the time he was finally proven innocent, Guevara explains, Don Rafael had already died in prison. Ibarra goes to his hometown, San Diego, where the unfortunate events of his father's death took place. Since Captain Tiago owns multiple properties there, Maria Clara also relocates to San Diego. November is approaching, a time the town celebrates with a large festival. This festival is surrounded by various religious holidays, such as All Souls' Day, which commemorates dead people in purgatory waiting for their souls to be cleansed before ascending to heaven. Taking advantage of this, San Diego’s priests implore the villagers to purchase indulgences, which they claim shorten the length of time a soul must languish in purgatory. Ibarra quickly sees the power of the Catholic friars in the Philippines has greatly increased since he left for Europe, a fact made clear by their control over even governmental officials. For instance, Father Salvi, San Diego's new priest, is constantly at odds with the military ensign in charge of the village's faction of the Civil Guard. Salvi uses his important religious position to spite the ensign, fining the man for missing church services and delivering purposefully boring sermons when he does attend. The friars interfere with other elements of everyday life in San Diego too, which Ibarra learns after speaking with the schoolmaster. The schoolmaster tells him that Father Damaso actively meddles with his educational techniques by demanding that he teach only in the country's native language, Tagalog, instead of instructing the children to speak Spanish. Damaso also insists that the schoolmaster beat the children, creating a hostile environment that doesn't send itself to productive learning. Hearing this, Ibarra decides to build a secular school in San Diego, a project his father dreamed about before his death. On the advice of the town's old philosopher, Tasio, Ibarra presents his ideas to the town's religious and civic leaders, making it seem as if he wants them to be involved with the school, even though he plans to ignore their influence after it is built. Meanwhile, two poor boys named Crispin and Basilio study to be sextons, or people who take care of the church. They do so in order to financially help their mother, Sisa, but Crispin is unfairly accused of theft and thus must work constantly with his brother to pay off the absurd amounts the chief sexton claims that Crispin owes the church. When he protests this injustice one night, Crispin is hauled away and severely beaten. Scared for his brother's life, Basilio searches him out before running home during a storm and waiting in vain with his mother for Crispin to appear. This never materializes, and the next day Basilio goes back into town. Frightened, Sisa looks for both her boys and is told that the Civil Guard has been ordered to arrest them for theft, though nobody can find them. She herself is arrested and then released, at which point she searches throughout the night for her boys, working herself into permanent insanity and destitution as she wanders the town and the surrounding woods. Visiting the Catholic cemetery, Ibarra speaks to a gravedigger and learns that, upon Father Damaso's orders, he dug up Don Rafael's body. Although the friar had instructed the gravedigger to take Rafael's body to the Chinese cemetery - a less respected cemetery - the gravedigger threw Don Rafael into the lake, thinking it a more honorable resting place. Ibarra and the town's influential religious and government leaders decide to celebrate the new school on the same day as the town's fiesta. The church makes plans to bless the new educational building (though it is not yet completed) directly after a long sermon by Father Damaso. During this sermon, a mysterious figure approaches Ibarra. His name is Elias, a man whose life Ibarra recently saved on an eventful fishing trip. Elias tells Ibarra that there is a plan to kill him during the school's benediction ceremony, warning him not to walk beneath a certain large stone suspended by a pulley system. Ibarra ignores this advice, and sure enough, the stone hurdles toward him. Luckily Elias takes action and covertly puts the criminal - the man plot ring against Ibarra - in the way of the stone, killing him instead of Ibarra. The festivities go on, but Ibarra how knows he has enemies. That night, during a celebratory dinner hosted by Ibarra, Father Damaso arrives uninvited. All of San Diego's most respected individuals are in attendance, including the governor and the town's other friars. Damaso loudly insults the school and its architecture while also making callous remarks about "indios," a racial slur for native Filipinos. He flippantly speaks about how "indios" abandon their country because they think they're superior, traveling to Europe instead. "In this life the fathers of such vipers are punished," he says. "They die in jail, eh, eh, or rather, they have no place... " When Ibarra hears Damaso make this crude reference to his father's unfair death, he jumps up and pins the priest down, holding a knife in his free band and publicly accusing Damaso of exhuming his father's body. Ibarra says he won't kill Damaso, but his actions say otherwise, and as he lifts the knife to bury it in the friar"s body, Maria Clara snatches it from his hand. In the aftermath of this scandalous event, Ibarra is excommunicated from the church. Captain Tiago proves himself a spineless socialite by calling off the wedding between Ibarra and Maria Clara, instead betrothing his daughter to Linares, a young man from Spain. Linares is the nephew of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, a fraudulent doctor who treats Maria Clara for a sudden illness that incapacitates her for several days after the incident between Ibarra and Father Damaso. Meanwhile, the Captain General the topmost government official representing Spain-visits San Diego. The friars implore him to punish Ibarra, but because his priorities are more civic than religious and because he supports Ibarra's mission to build a school, he pulls strings to have the young man's excommunication lifted. While Ibarra continues his project, Father Salvi makes arrangements with a man named Lucas, the brother of the man hired to kill Ibarra with the large stone. Because his brother died, Lucas wants revenge on Ibarra. Father Salvi - who secretly loves Maria Clara and who believes Ibarra is a heretic - hatches a plot with Lucas to frame Ibarra. With Lucas's help, he organizes a band of rebels to attack the Civil Guard's military barracks, telling them that Ibarra is the ringleader. Hours before the attack takes place, Father Salvi rushes to the ensign and warns him of the plan, making sure to request that the ensign let it be known that he-Salvi-was the one to save the town by discovering the plot and issuing a warning. The attack goes according to Salvi and Lucas's plan, and Ibarra is arrested. He is imprisoned and found guilty, a verdict based on an ambiguous line  in a letter he sent to Maria Clara. Once again Elias comes to the rescue, breaking him out of prison and taking him away in a boat. Before they leave town, Ibarra stops at Maria Clara's house, climbs onto her patio, and says goodbye to her. She explains that she only parted with his letter - which led to his guilt sentencing - because she was blackmailed. Apparently, a man came to her and told her that her real father is Fray Damaso, not Captain Tiago. The man threatened to spread this information if she didn't give him Ibarra's letter. Feeling that she must protect captain Tiago's honor and the memory of her deceased mother, she handed over Ibarra's letter. Nonetheless, she tells Ibarra that she will always love him and that she is deeply sorry for having betrayed him. After saying goodbye to Maria Clara, Ibarra gets into Elias's boat. As the two men row into the night, they continue a heated discussion they've already begun about the nature of revolution and reform, debating the merits of working within a corrupt system to change it rather than overthrowing the system completely. As they talk they realize they're being chased by another boat. Elias tries to out-row their pursuers, but quickly realizes they'll eventually catch up. As bullets whip by, he tells Ibarra to row, deciding to jump off the boat to confuse the people behind them. Before diving, he tells Ibarra to meet him on Christmas Eve in the woods near San Diego, where Ibarra's grandfather is buried with the family's riches. When Elias plunges into the water, the boat follows him instead of Ibarra. Elias throws them off by diving deep into the water, only surfacing periodically. Soon, though the people chasing him don’t see him come back. They even think they see a bit of blood in the water. Back in San Diego, Father Damaso visits Maria Clara, who tells him she can't marry Linares because she doesn't love him. She was reading a newspaper, which falsely reported that Ibarra was found dead on the banks of the lake. She tells the friar that this news has given her no reason to live and, as such, she can't go through with the wedding, instead deciding to enter a convent. On Christmas Eve, the young Basilio wanders forth from a cabin in the woods, where he's been living with a kind family ever since the Civil Guard started looking for him. He goes into San Diego in search of Sisa, his mother. When he finds her, she doesn't recognize him and runs away, leading him back to the woods, where she goes to the old tomb that contains Ibarra's grandfather. Once he finally catches up to his mother, though, Basilio faints. Seeing finally that he is her son, Sisa covers him with kisses. When Basilio wakes up, he finds that she has died by his side. At that moment, Elias appears. He is wounded, and seeing that Ibarra has not arrived he tells Basilio he is about to die, instructing the boy to burn his and Sisa's bodies on a pyre. Looking up at the sky, he utters his final words: "I die without seeing the dawn's light shining on my country... You, who will see it, welcome it for me... don't forget those who fell during the nighttime. The book ends without mention of Ibarra’s fate.” Supplemental Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KrXCD9ryl4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdJryhkZUPo