42 pages • 1 hour read
José RizalNoli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not)
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1887A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Noli Me Tángere by José Rizal, Don Crisóstomo Ibarra, of Filipino and Spanish descent, returns to the Philippines after seven years in Europe and becomes aware of the oppressive Spanish colonial rule. Determined to improve his homeland, he confronts powerful adversaries who see him as a threat, especially the friar Father Dámaso, who opposes Ibarra's reform efforts and his engagement to María-Clara. The novel includes depictions of violence and oppression.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere is widely praised for its incisive critique of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines, with rich, evocative descriptions and compelling characters. However, some find its dense historical context overwhelming. Overall, it is a powerful, though complex, examination of societal ills.
Who Should Read Noli Me Tángere?
A reader who enjoys Noli Me Tángere by José Rizal likely has an interest in historical fiction, post-colonial studies, and political criticism. Comparable to readers of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, they appreciate rich cultural contexts and nuanced character explorations.