CHAPTER 33

“FREEDOM OF THOUGHT”

Task Performance in Rizal’s Life and Work

To be submitted to:
Casiana Enconado

Submitted by :
Marie Shane B. Revis
BA2101
 II. Abstract

This study examined one of the greatest novels written by Dr. José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso

Realonda, the Philippines' National Hero. The novel featured in the paper is Noli Me Tangere. Dr.

Jose Rizal used this novel to single-handedly free his fellow countrymen from the hands of the

Spaniards without resorting to force or violence. All of the characters in this novel's chapter 33,

"Freedom of Thoughts," which Jose Rizal created, he justifies his actions in a religious manner, such

as Elias, who said that he "let the hand of God" kill the "yellow" man. This is important because it

demonstrates that even a criminal in Noli Me Tangere believes in God and sees religion as a positive

force, even if the people in charge of the church are corrupt. Indeed, despite his animosity toward

people like Father Dámaso, Ibarra is similarly devoted to religion; this devotion can be seen in his

earlier statement to the schoolmaster that he wants to "respect" the religion that brought education to

the Philippines. Elas' assertion that he must believe in God because he cannot believe in men

demonstrates that he, too, is cut off from his homeland. Elas's distrust of other people instills religious

faith in him, similar to how Tasio's intellectual isolation gives him a sense of freedom—a faith

perhaps more genuine than that of the priests themselves, who use their religious offices to gain

power. The paper will discuss how the novel served as a symbol of liberation for Filipinos. It will

show how the Spanish government ruled over Filipinos in their own country and how the Spaniards

mistreated their power to rule in a land that was not originally theirs. This paper will concentrate on

only one chapter. The meanings and subliminal messages hidden in the story form will be thoroughly

analyzed in chapter 33, "Freedom of Thought." The chosen chapter focuses on Dr. Jose Rizal's high

regard for education and his hopes for his fellow citizens. Filipinos must understand that education is

the key to success in all aspects of life.

III. Analysis

Chapter 33
 Character Involved

 Elias
 Crisostomo Ibarra

SUMMARY

Later that day, Elías visits Ibarra and informs him that he has enemies. Elías emphasizes that
it’s important that these enemies think Ibarra is unaware of their malicious intentions. Ibarra
is surprised to hear he has foes, but Elías assures him that “enmity is the law of life.” He
explains that he met the yellow man the night before and that this man said mysterious things,
statements that rose Elías’s suspicions, especially because this man previously visited the
school’s architect and asked to oversee the setting of the large stone, asking for very little
money in exchange. When Ibarra went down into the trench, Elías held the yellow man in his
place so that he couldn’t escape, thereby killing him by putting him in the stone’s way.
Grateful as he is, Ibarra questions the morality of this, but Elías says, “I didn’t kill him. I let
the hand of God kill him.” When Elías says that he “let the hand of God” kill the “yellow”
man, he justifies his actions in a religious manner. This is significant because it shows that
even a criminal in Noli Me Tangere still believes in God and sees religion as a positive force,
even if the people currently running the church are corrupt. Indeed, Ibarra is similarly
devoted to religion despite his bitterness toward people like Father Dámaso—this devotion
can be seen in his earlier statement to the schoolmaster that he wants to “respect” the religion
that brought education to the Philippines. Impressed by Elías’ diction and his ideas, Ibarra
asks who he is, wondering if he’s a scholar. “I have had to believe a great deal in God
because I have lost my belief in men,” Elías replies. Before leaving, he says that he still owes
Ibarra—because of the incident with the crocodile—and that he will be available whenever
the young man desires his service.

INTERPRETATION DURING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

During high school, my Filipino instructor rarely gave any insights regarding the events of
this chapter. He only says Elias' religious devotion exemplifies San Diego's religious
dominance, as even a criminal is deeply religious. Furthermore, despite his strong opposition
to most of the church leadership, Elias appears to share Ibarra's conviction that Christianity is
fundamentally a force for good, even if some of its representatives are unethical. Despite the
fact that Ibarra's status as a mestizo (someone with partial native Filipino ancestry) is rarely
mentioned, Father Dámaso uses it to accuse him of acting above his station after his return
from Europe. The reality that Father Dámaso made these remarks at Ibarra's own party shows
how deeply ingrained these stereotypes are in Philippine culture. Father Dámaso, on the other
hand, puts himself in danger when he insults Ibarra's father, prompting Ibarra to assault him.
This assault puts Mara Clara, Ibarra's fiancée and Father Dámaso's goddaughter, in a difficult
position, prompting her to intervene and prevent Ibarra from committing a serious act of
abuse. This is a pivotal scene in the life of Mara Clara, who has always acted passively
throughout the novel. Tiago's fear of excommunication demonstrates both how powerful the
church is in Philippine life and how devastating such a fate would be. Despite being kind to
Ibarra, the man who will be his son-in-law, he separates himself from him when his own
future is threatened throughout the book, demonstrating his lack of principles and loyalty. He
also jeopardizes his daughter's happiness by arranging for Mara Clara to marry someone else.

Reflections of the Issue in the Chapter to Modern Society

Noli Me Tangere has already been regarded as a novella with political intent because Rizal
exposes colonial authority violations and the oppression of Filipino citizens, primarily
through the priest. Rizal's writings are unmistakably anti-colonial, whether they are
legislative or advocating for Filipino independence during the Spanish Inquisition. Rizal
describes the predatory tendencies of these friars and how they used Catholicism to make
Filipinos passive. Rizal claims that the church and the government failed to provide Filipinos
with the knowledge they needed to stand up for themselves. Despite the fact that the Filipino
elite, including Ibarra, Don Filipo, and many others, fight for legitimate political freedoms on
a local level, Indios are completely reliant on the Filipino bureaucracy. In light of all of these
difficulties in today's modern world, we can clearly see the government system's unfair
activities as well as religious principles that limit people's decisions, even when they are
fighting for their rights. There may be some ways to obtain free public education, but modern
Filipinos are not well-educated enough to oppose a hostile government. Furthermore, one
thing that has never changed over the years is the abuse of authority in order to gain an
advantage or cause harm. There may be ways to obtain free public education, but today's
modern Filipinos are insufficiently educated to deal with a hostile government. Furthermore,
the use of authority to cover up malicious deeds committed by people in high-ranking
positions has never stopped. Even today, tyranny continues to triumph over morality. During
the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the story featured real-life events such as the
friars' commanding choices being more influential than the governor general's, social
concerns, injustice, and the Philippines' status as a poor nation. The novel's tensions are still
present in today's generation, and they have an impact on the community and nation, so
understanding and studying Noli Me Tangere is beneficial. Fraud, inequality, unemployment,
and violence were all prevalent in the novel and are still issues today.

IMPLIED TOPIC COVERED IN THIS CHAPTER

Noli Me Tangere, or Touch Me Not, is a national treasure because it is one of the priceless
treasures that will change our lives and help us uncover ourselves to the things around us.
Characters in literary works represent their points of view on current societal issues. And we
can see that having a higher status gives you the ability to control them. how they became
envious of power, the injustice of Filipino judgments, their cruelty, and the ignorance of
Spanish colonies. And, if we read carefully and comprehend the meaning of the passage in
the story, we will see how they treat us as if we are idiots and how they run the government.
That is why Jose Rizal wrote these novels: to raise awareness of a real-life event that will
open our eyes, ears, and minds to the Filipino people during the Spanish colonization and
ignite the revolution for our freedom. That is why Jose Rizal established this novel to expose
the Spanish colonization in order to become aware of what truly happened when we
colonized, or how they maintain control over the Filipinos, and how much we suffer as a
result of their actions, and how much Jose Rizal fought to obtain our independence and
freedom. Jose Rizal gives us the courage to oppose Spanish colonization, and he teaches us to
be brave enough to face our problems, as well as to help one another. and he becomes our
role model for achieving our dreams and goals.

IV. PERSONAL REFLECTION

This chapter 33 of Jose Rizal`s Noli Me Tangere, "Freedom of Thought," contains a one-on-
one dialogue between Ibarra and Elias that serves as a powerful trademark of their identities.
He appears to be talking about chapter 33, "Freedom of Thought," of Jose Rizal`s Noli Me
Tangere, where there is a one-on-one dialogue between Ibarra and Elias that gives us a
powerful trademark of their identities. Elias is the character of a young man with an
intimidating demeanor. He appears to primarily discuss his faith in God, a manifestation of
faith that differs greatly from all other characters in the novel`s faith and veneration of God.
In every other town, people appear to blindly follow religion, while Rizal mocks the
institution of the church and the people who go through the motions of its rituals. Ibarra
illustrates what it means to be a true Filipino when it comes to fighting for what is right in
order to achieve true freedom. He is an outspoken and idealistic patient and serious man.
Ibarra serves as Rizal`s mirror image. We realize now how important it is for this novel to be
a part of our lives, and how we must be the youth that Jose Rizal referred to in his quote,
"The youth is the hope of our future." As Filipino youth, let us embrace this phrase and fulfill
what it is trying to express to us not only as Filipino youth, but also to our countrymen. You
will learn a lot in this 33rd chapter of freedom of thought because freedom of thought means
we can choose whatever we want, speak or think whatever we want, as long as we believe in
ourselves and don`t violate anyone`s rights. I learned from these stories that before I believe
what others say or listen to their gossip, I should first find out what happened. Chapter 33 of
Noli Me Tangere summarizes Elias` religious faith, warning Ibarra about his enmity that
plans to destroy him, and Elias also offers his willingness to help Ibarra whenever he needs
it.It was comforting to learn that they had an event the previous year. The indebtedness of a
person who owes them, even if the amount is small The church`s disciples are not the best
examples of believers, but they are there. I came to the conclusion that no matter how bad life
and your surroundings are, you should not easily abandon your beliefs and trust in God`s
plan. Also, when it comes to our safety, we must sometimes believe when others warn us.
Elas appears to share Ibarra`s belief that Christianity is ultimately a force for good, even if
some members of the church are corrupt. Tiago`s fear of being excommunicated from the
Catholic church in Noli me tangere demonstrates how powerful the church is as an institution
in Philippine life. It also demonstrates his lack of loyalty to Ibarra, the man who will be his
son-in-law, as he distances himself from him when his own future is jeopardized.
HOW DOES NOLI TANGERE IMPACT OUR CURRENT SOCIETY?
Following its publication, Noli me Tangere was regarded as one of the instruments that
sparked Filipino nationalism, leading to the 1896 Philippine Revolution. The novel not only
awoke sleeping Filipino awareness, but it also laid the groundwork for aspiring to
independence. As we all know, we are now free of colonizers. And, first and foremost, the
purpose of Rizal's writing this novel was to open the minds of Filipinos and to defend
Filipino people from foreign accusations of foolishness and lack of knowledge, so for me,
Noli Me Tangere has had a significant impact on our generation because this novel tells how
the Filipino people lived during the Spanish colonial period and the cries and woes of his
countrymen against abusive officials; This novel made us aware of how Filipinos gave up
their lives for democracy. As a result, this novel has had a significant impact on our
generation by making us more appreciative of our history and patriotic.

ARE THE PROBLEMS PRESENTED IN NOLI ME TANGERE SOMEHOW

PRESENT IN OUR CURRENT SOCIETY?

The problem of Noli me tángere manifests itself in our current society, which is marked by
corruption, injustice, poverty, and abuse. The novel's conflicts continue to have an impact on
our society and country, and we must learn and read Noli Me Tangere to fully comprehend
them. Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal encourages us to consider our actions and beliefs in
relation to our country. The novel's theme, which is to promote nationalism and accept
change in ourselves, is still relevant today. We must patronize our country by upholding the
law, promoting Philippine culture, and realizing the true goal of the country by working
together to improve it. It instills in us the values of wisdom, standing up for what is right, and
loving. Noli Me Tangere is a novel that was written to serve as a warning to Filipinos to fight
against the colonizers and to serve as a reminder of our history today. The story's characters
and events are reminiscent of our lives, cultures, and beliefs as Filipinos. This literary work
will instill in us the values that the novel tells us will make us good role models for our
country. Reading this literary work will help us understand the true meaning of nationalism
and act as a catalyst for change.
 NATIONALISM

While in Barcelona, Rizal contributed essays, poems, allegories, and editorials to the Spanish
newspaper La Solidaridad. In both books, Rizal sharply criticized Spanish colonial rule in the
Philippines, exposing the ills of Philippine society at the time

PATRIONISM

Jose Rizal expresses his love for his country through writing an essay or a poem novels, as
well as to inspire many people with Rizal's books and words of wisdom He desired freedom.
Noli Me Tangere and Noli Me Tangere II were written by Jose Rizal and El Filibusterismo to
demonstrate to the world how the Philippines are treatment in Spain Jose Rizal taught us to
love our country and to be patriotic. Respectful of one another and everyone can contribute to
the country. We should do something to make our country more prosperous developed and
tranquil

VOLUTAREESM

He gave his life for our country. Jose Rizal, a determined man who desired peace by
establishing this political organization to fight for their freedom ... It motivates many people.
People were influenced by Rizal's books and words because he desired freedom. Jose wrote
two novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, to demonstrate Spain was suffocating the
Philippines.

DEVELOPMENT OF A NATION

The novel depicts real-life events in the Philippines during the Spanish colonization, such as
how the Friars' command decisions were more powerful than the Governor- General's, social
issues, injustice, and the Philippines as a backward country. The novel's conflicts continue to
have an impact on our society and country, and we must learn and read Noli Me Tangere to
fully comprehend them. The novel's dominant conflicts, such as corruption, injustice,
poverty, and abuse, are still a problem today.
Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal encourages us to consider our actions and beliefs in relation
to our country. The novel's theme, which is to promote nationalism and accept change in
ourselves, is still relevant today. We must patronize our country by upholding the law,
promoting Philippine culture, and realizing the true goal of the country by working together
to improve it. It instills in us the values of wisdom, standing up for what is right, and love for
our country.

This novel is being taught in schools in order to prevent history from repeating itself by
teaching our youth to love our country and to empower them as change agents for our
country. Jose Rizal wants us to be true Filipinos; knowing who we are and what our true
goals are will help the country thrive. Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal encourages us to
consider our actions and beliefs in relation to our country. The novel's theme, to promote
nationalism and accept change in ourselves, is still relevant today. Rizal develops our nation
through his real-life experiences in this manner, so that readers understand why our country is
worth fighting for. We are becoming more aware of what a truly Filipino character must be
now that we have read Rizals' novel. It was the seed that inspired us to stop being ignorant
and instead become self-sufficient, fighting for our freedom.

LAND OWNERSHIP IN THE COUNTRY

In general, only Filipino citizens and corporations or partnerships with at least 60% Filipino
ownership are permitted to own or acquire land in the Philippines. Foreigners and non-
Philippine nationals, on the other hand, may buy condominiums and buildings and enter into
long-term land leases. In the Philippines, land ownership is strictly regulated and reserved for
persons or entities legally defined as Philippine nationals or Filipino citizens. A corporation
with 60% Filipino ownership is treated as a Philippine national for this purpose. Foreign
ownership of a residential house or building is legal in the Philippines as long as the foreigner
or expat does not own the land on which the house was built.

THE CAVITE MUTINY

The Cavite Mutiny (January 20, 1872), a brief uprising of 200 Filipino troops and workers at
the Cavite arsenal, became the excuse for Spanish repression of the embryonic Philippine
nationalist movement. Ironically, the harsh reaction of the Spanish authorities ultimately
served to promote the nationalist cause. The mutiny was quickly crushed, but the Spanish
regime under reactionary governor Rafael de Izquierdo magnified the incident and used it as
an excuse to clamp down on those Filipinos who had been calling for governmental reform.
Considering the four accounts of the 1872 mutiny, there were some basic facts that remained
unvarying: First, there was dissatisfaction among the arsenal workers and members of the
native army after Gen. Izquierdo reduced their privileges; second, Gen. Izquierdo
implemented rigid and strict policies that caused the Filipinos to flee and turn away from the
Spanish government out of disgust; Third, the Central Government failed to conduct an
investigation on what truly transpired but relied on reports from Izquierdo and the friars and
the opinion of the public; Fourth, the friars' happy days were already numbered in 1872,
when the Central Government in Spain decided to deprive them of the power to intervene in
government affairs as well as in the direction and management of schools, prompting them to
commit frantic moves to extend their stay and power; fifth, Filipino clergy members actively
participated in the secularization movement in order to allow Filipino priests to take control
of the parishes in the country, making it possible for Filipino priests to take control of the
parishes.

EXPATRIATION

This is the time of Spanish colonization of the Philippines. In this era, we can see how easily
they plan to kill their own Filipinos for power or jealousy for someone, which is not good. In
this novel, we see how previous governments in our country are on the side of our adversary.

CONTROVERSIES REGARDING “SLANDEROUS” CONTENT

Elas' actions are religiously justified when he says he "let the hand of God" kill the "yellow"
man. This is significant because it demonstrates that even a criminal in Noli Me Tangere
believes in God and sees religion as a positive force, even if the people in charge of the
church are corrupt. Indeed, despite his animosity toward people like Father Dámaso, Ibarra is
similarly devoted to religion; this devotion can be seen in his earlier statement to the
schoolmaster that he wants to "respect" the religion that brought education to the Philippines.

References:

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/noli-me-tangere/chapter-33-freedom-of-thought
https://opinion.inquirer.net/75728/jose-rizal-the-poetry-of-patriotism

https://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/04/noli-me-tangere-summary-and-
analysis-of.html

https://www.quora.com/In-what-way-did-Jose-Rizal-show-nationalism-as-a-Filipino