The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino

political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
 Chapter 42
The festival finally over, Kapitan Tiago invites Doctor - Once again, social relations come to the forefront of
de Espadaña and his wife, Doña Victorina, to stay with the novel. It seems that characters like Doña Victorina
them while the doctor treats María Clara, who is still (and, for that matter, Captain Tiago) are desperately
ill. Doña Victorina is a Filipina social climber whom afraid of isolation, unlike people like Tasio, who
Captain Tiago used to love. She never accepted his embrace estrangement because of the intellectual
advances, though, because she wanted to marry a freedom it affords them. Indeed, the de Espadañas are
Spaniard. Because of this, she aged past her prime so obsessed with appearances that Don Tiburcio not
before finally marrying Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, a only pretends to be a doctor, but pretends to be a
Spaniard who arrived in the Philippines as a customs doctor in high demand. As such, the couple cultivates
officer but was promptly dismissed. Don Tiburcio saw an image of themselves as greatly sought after, and
how badly Victorina wanted a Spanish husband and this image solidifies their sense of belonging in
proposed to her to secure financial support. Once Filipino high society.
married, she encouraged him to pretend he was a
doctor. He now sees very wealthy patients to give the
impression that he is in high demand.

With the de Espadañas is Don Tiburcio’s Spanish - The de Espadañas—including Linares—immediately

nephew, Linares, whom Victorina has convinced to associate themselves with the church by asking after
travel to the Philippines in order to escort her to Father Dámaso. This is because they recognize that
Spain. This trip never takes place, though, and Linares power in San Diego flows through the friars. In this
remains with the couple. At lunch, Linares asks after way, they affiliate themselves with the town’s most
Father Dámaso and learns from Father Salví that the influential figures.
priest will be stopping by that afternoon. As Doña
Victorina eagerly introduces María Clara to her
nephew, Father Dámaso enters the room.
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).

SUMMARY ANALYSIS
 Chapter 43
Padre Dámaso goes straight to his goddaughter’s bed - When Father Dámaso takes Linares to speak with
and says, “María, my child, you cannot die!” with Captain Tiago, he does so primarily out of self-
tearful eyes. Linares then gives Dámaso a letter from interest. Given the disputes he’s had with Ibarra—and
his brother-in-law, who Linares says is his godfather. given his general dislike of Ibarra’s family legacy—
He reads the letter, in which Linares’s godfather asks he’s motivated to interfere with the young man’s
Dámaso to find the young man a job and wife. Father engagement to María Clara. In this moment, readers
Dámaso says it will be easy to find him a job, but see how much of an opportunist Dámaso is as he
ponders for a moment about where he might find manipulates the volatile circumstances surrounding
Linares a wife. As he thinks, Father Salví watches from Ibarra’s reputation in order to ensure that his
afar. “I didn’t think it would be so difficult,” Dámaso goddaughter marries Linares instead of the young
says to himself, “but it’s the lesser of two evils.” He philanthropist.
then embraces Linares, saying, “Come here, kid, we’re
going to talk to Santiago.”

Having heard this exchange between Father Dámaso - Father Salví’s harsh reception of Lucas is strange,
and Linares, Father Salví paces back and forth until a since there’s no reason he should react so strongly to
man greets him. It is Lucas, and he tells Salví that he is the young man’s story. This overreaction suggests that
the brother of the man who died in the school there’s perhaps something suspicious going on in
trenches during the town’s fiesta. Father Salví takes Salví’s head, as his outburst seems an
one step back, saying, “And?” before Lucas explains overcompensation for something Rizal hasn’t yet
that Ibarra has insulted him by neglecting to pay for revealed. Salví uses his authoritative power to silence
his brother’s death. He asks for the priest’s advice, but the man in such a vehement manner that one can only
Salví lunges toward him and tells him to get lost. assume that the scheming priest actually does want to
When Captain Tiago, Father Dámaso, and Linares hear what Lucas has to say, but not in Dámaso, María
come to see what the commotion is, Salví tells them Clara, or Tiago’s earshot.
that he was only setting right a beggar. He then sets
off for the parish house.
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).

SUMMARY ANALYSIS
 Chapter 44
María Clara’s health slowly improves, much to the - Father Salví and Doña Victorina’s argument about
surprise of Doctor de Espadaña, who has prescribed a religion and science speaks to their desire to portray
simple marshmallow syrup regimen. Father Salví their own affiliations as powerful. Salví, on the one
attributes this improvement to religion, for he took hand, is a priest and therefore wants people to think
María Clara’s confession. As he debates with Doña that María Clara has improved because of his piety.
Victorina about the value of religion over science, Victoriña, on the other hand, wants people to think
María Clara’s friends urge her to take one more pill, her husband’s medical care is superior to Salví’s
which they store in a glass tube secretly sent to them religious efforts.
by Ibarra. Aunt Isabel enters the room and tells her to
prepare to give another confession. As her friends
leave, she whispers, “Tell him to forget about me” into
Sinang’s ear.

Aunt Isabel prepares María Clara for confession by - The fifth commandment is “Honour thy father and
reading her the ten commandments. María Clara thy mother.” Bearing this in mind, María Clara weeps
weeps at first, heaving especially large sobs during upon hearing this commandment because she feels
the fifth commandment. But her woe falls away for pressured by Captain Tiago—and perhaps by the
the last five, which puzzles her aunt. When Father memory of her mother—to honor her family by
Salví comes and takes the young woman’s confession, abandoning Ibarra and consenting to marry Linares.
he looks deeply into her eyes. Upon leaving, he is
covered in sweat, looking like he was the one who
“had confessed, and did not deserve absolution.”
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).

SUMMARY ANALYSIS
 Chapter 45
In a cave set deep in the forest, Elías meets with a - Until this scene, Rizal has not mentioned Elías’s
haggard old man named Captain Pablo. Pablo has with affiliation with Captain Pablo. Nonetheless, it’s
him a band of armed men with dirt on their skin and unsurprising that Elías would have relations with a
torn clothing. Elías is sorry to see that this friend of set of men who are clearly living at the fringes of
his is living in such unfortunate circumstances and Filipino society. Indeed, Pablo’s group of bandits have
tells him that he’s planning to travel north to live clearly been isolated from their communities, a fact
“among the free, pagan tribes.” He invites Pablo to that surely resonates with Elías, who is himself
come along. “I’ll be your son, since you’ve lost your unwelcome in places like San Diego.
own, and I, who have no family, will find a father in
you.”

Captain Pablo refuses Elías’s offer, saying that he is - For perhaps the first time in the novel, the focus
like a “tree shorn of its limbs,” destined to be a truly centers around the nature of revolution and
fugitive. He briefly recounts his story, saying that a reform. Elías’s point of view shows his compassion
minister raped his daughter. Because the minister and his understanding that the current state of
feared that Pablo’s two sons would take revenge, he Filipino politics and social relations is too volatile to
framed one of them as a robber and tortured him to simply overthrow using violence, which will certainly
death. The other son was arrested by the Civil Guard lead to unfortunate citizen casualties. His realistic
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).
for not carrying identity papers and treated so badly outlook is important to remember as the novel
that he committed suicide. Now, Pablo explains, he progresses, as it shows an understanding that—as
has assembled a number of similarly disempowered Tasio has already made clear—revenge for revenge’s
and abused citizens who are seeking revenge. Elías sake leads only to more despair.
points out that the rebellion Pablo proposes will have
adverse effects on innocent townspeople, since the
church and government will respond by harming
their own citizens.

Elías tries to dissuade Pablo from launching a - By convincing Pablo to let him try to convince Ibarra
rebellion by telling him about Ibarra, whom he thinks to represent the disenchanted bandits, Elías further
he can convince to represent the disaffected people establishes the notion that any revolutionary
that the current systems of power have treated so measures must be diplomatic. Rather than using
poorly. He suggests that perhaps Ibarra can speak brute force to take revenge upon the country’s
with the Captain General about these difficult matters. structures of power, Elías understands that violent
Although Pablo appears unconvinced, Elías persuades rebellion will only be effective if it is tempered with
him to at least refrain from launching a bloody levelheaded negotiation.
campaign until Ibarra has heard their case. He tells
him to send somebody to the beach in San Diego in
four days to learn whether or not Ibarra has agreed to
help.

SUMMARY ANALYSIS
 Chapter 46
The two brothers whose father died at the hands of - To understand what’s driving Lucas in his schemes,
the Civil Guard—the ones who helped Elías stop the it’s important to remember that he very recently
riot at the theater—visit the gambling house, where begged Ibarra for money and that Ibarra refused to
the townspeople bet on cockfights. While people like give him any. This begs the question: where did Lucas
Captain Tiago and Captain Basilio throw their money get the money to pay people to attack the barracks?
around, the brothers—Társilo and Bruno—speak with The last time Lucas appeared in the novel, he was
Lucas, who tells them he will give them thirty pesos speaking with Father Salví, who seemed remarkably
apiece if they organize an attack on the barracks. He affected by the young man’s words. Consequently,
tells them this money is coming from Ibarra, who will readers have cause to wonder if perhaps Lucas is
come the following night to deliver weapons. In two acting on behalf of the powerful and conniving Father
days, Lucas says, he himself will meet them in the Salví.
cemetery to give them their final instructions.
The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).

SUMMARY ANALYSIS
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).

 Chapter 47
While the men of San Diego place their bets in the - Doña Consolación and Doña Victorina are both
gambling house, Doña Victorina walks through town Filipina women married to Spaniards who they’d like
dressed in ribbons and flowers. She walks with her to think are important and powerful. They most likely
husband, who fails to stand up for her when passing recognize elements of themselves in one another—
Civil Guard officers don’t take off their hats for her on especially regarding the fact that they are Filipina, not
their way by. She becomes even angrier when they Spanish—and thus they fight with one another to
come upon the ensign and he doesn’t compliment her prove that they are different. In this way, readers see
dress. As they go by the ensign’s house, they see Doña that social class and culture in Noli Me Tangere often
Consolación smoking a cigar in the window. Victorina hinges—at least in the characters’ minds—upon a
takes offense that the woman is staring at her. She person’s affiliations.
asks if Consolación is jealous of her, and the two
women launch into a verbal fight that quickly
escalates into a screaming match for all to hear.

When the fight ends, Doña Victorina tells Don - When Doña Victorina says that she will tell Tiago
Tiburcio that he will have to challenge the ensign to a that Linares has been lying to him, she reveals that the
duel in order to defend her honor. When he doesn’t young man—much like his uncle, the fake doctor—is
agree, she decides that Linares will be the one to take most likely a fraud who is taking advantage of the
on the ensign. Upon learning this, Linares objects, but remoteness of the Philippines from Spain. In other
Victorina says, “[…] if you don’t I’ll tell Don Santiago words, Linares has lied to Captain Tiago about who he
that everything you told him is a lie, I’ll tell him—” At is, and because the Philippines is geographically
this point, Linares interrupts, telling her not to be isolated from Spain, nobody—except Victoriña—can
“imprudent.” Captain Tiago then enters, and Victorina fact-check him. In this way, Rizal offers a new form of
tells him that Linares is going to challenge the ensign, isolation, this time showing how Spaniards benefit
ordering him not to let the young man marry his from the geographical seclusion brought about by
daughter if he fails to do so. That night, the de colonialism.
Espadañas set off for Manila, leaving Linares behind
to defend Doña Victorina’s name.
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).

 Chapter 48
Ibarra visits María Clara to tell her that his - It’s notable that, despite Ibarra’s excommunication,
excommunication has been lifted. When he arrives, he construction has continued on the school. This is
finds her with Linares. Confused, he says he’ll come perhaps thanks to Tasio’s advice that Ibarra gain
back another time, noting a strange look of hesitancy approval for the project from the town’s priests and
on his lover’s face. He wanders into the street and government officials—because they have invested
winds his way to the school, where construction themselves in the endeavor, they don’t stop its
continues to thrive at a good pace. There, among the progress during the young man’s excommunication.
workers, he spots Elías, who tells him to meet him by
the lakeside to discuss several important matters.

SUMMARY ANALYSIS
 Chapter 49
Taking Ibarra out in his boat, Elías explains the plight - Elías’s claim that the government turns good citizens
of Captain Pablo and his followers. This turns into a into criminals calls to mind what the young Crispín
discussion about reform, one in which Elías advocates said in the bell tower when talking about the
for a total upheaval of the government. Ibarra, on the accusations that he stole money from the church; the
other hand, argues for a tactic that seeks to bring boy told his brother that, because of how badly the
about change by working within the already sextons were punishing him, he wished he had
established systems of power. He points out that actually stolen. At least that way he could pay back the
“weakening the Civil Guard would only endanger the sums and avoid further punishment. Of course,
people’s security,” but Elías says that the Civil Guard Ibarra’s optimism obscures his ability to see the truth
does little other than terrorize the very people it in Elías’ argument, and his faith in religion and
claims to protect. Ibarra admits that their country is government renders him unable to acknowledge that
flawed, but he voices his faith in the prevailing it is difficult to address corruption using the same
“institution.” In response, Elías says that the means by which that corruption flourishes.
government makes criminals out of honest citizens by
ruining their lives and forcing them resort to crime.

Ibarra and Elías’s political conversation continues. - When Ibarra insists that Spanish colonialist powers
Elías succeeds somewhat in convincing Ibarra, but not “showed” Filipinos the “error of their ways,” he
completely. Rather, Ibarra decides to think these demonstrates the extent to which he has internalized
matters over more carefully before accepting to write the oppressive discourse promoted by colonialism, a
to his influential friends in Madrid, who may be able practice that uses religion to justify greed and
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).
to help improve the situation. Despite his agreement subjugation. Elías points this out by saying that Ibarra
to think things over, though, he doubles down on his has never experienced persecution for himself, a
belief that the current institution benefits the statement that is more or less true, considering that
Philippines, saying, “Have the Filipinos forgotten what Ibarra has lived a privileged life in Spain for the past
they owe these orders? Have they forgotten the seven years. Given the amount of opportunity Ibarra
immense debt of gratitude they owe those who has been afforded, it’s no wonder that he doesn’t see
showed them the error of their ways and gave them the need for true revolution.
faith […]?” He says that he thinks the friars are
capable of helping the country, a statement that
agitates Elías, who concludes that the reason Ibarra
doesn’t understand is because he has never
experienced true persecution.

Ibarra sees Elías’s frustration, acknowledging his - One of the qualities that saves Ibarra from total
friend’s “suffering” and utter discontent. Elías says ignorance is his willingness to remain open-minded in
that his misgivings about the country arise out of his discussions regarding reform and revolution. Perhaps
personal experiences. “Perhaps knowing them will recognizing that his privilege has lent him a certain
change my thoughts,” Ibarra says, encouraging his kind of unjustified power over his friend, he goes out
friend to tell him his life story in order to better of his way to consider Elías’s point of view, rendering
express the origins of his views. him an empathetic character.

SUMMARY ANALYSIS
 Chapter 50
Elías tells Ibarra that sixty years ago his (Elías’s) - Once again, the oppressive power of colonialism
grandfather worked for a Spanish merchant in Manila. rears its head, this time in the form of the Spanish
One night, the warehouse catches on fire, and the merchant who doesn’t think twice about blaming his
merchant blames Elías’s grandfather, who is own misfortune on an innocent Filipino. In this way,
subsequently dragged behind a horse in public as Rizal illustrates once more how Spaniards often
punishment. Everybody abandons him except for his manipulate less fortunate native Filipinos.
wife, who is pregnant and starts begging on the
family’s behalf, though nobody contributes any
money. To make up for this, she starts working as a
prostitute. Elías’s grandfather goes into the
mountains with his wife and son, where the wife gives
birth to a baby who dies soon thereafter. Unable to
take the grief, the disgraced man hangs himself in
front of his living son, who watches his father’s body
decay and tries to care for his ailing mother.
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).

Elías continues his story. Before long, he says, Manila - Elías’s tragic and gruesome story demonstrates yet
authorities smell his grandfather’s decomposing body again what isolation and estrangement from society
and arrest his wife for not reporting the death. She is often leads to in Noli Me Tangere: misery and death.
pregnant once again, so they wait until she gives birth Furthermore, the older brother’s decision to become a
to whip her. They then release her into the mountains bandit recalls the previous idea—as outlined by Elías
again, and she flees with her two children to a nearby —that the oppressive government often turns people
province where the small family lives in the woods into criminals by treating them as such. These
like animals, “hating and hated.” The older boy soon accusations become self-fulfilling prophecies that lead
becomes a notorious bandit. The younger lives to a cycle of forced subversion and criminality.
peacefully with his mother. One day not long after his
older brother has been caught and persecuted for his
crimes, the boy finds his mother dead underneath a
tree, her stricken gaze fixed on a basket hanging in the
overhanging tree—a basket containing his older
brother’s bloody head.

The young boy in Elías’s story runs away from his - Elías’s wealthy upbringing is important because it
dead mother and brother, finally reaching a town means he has not always lived a life of isolation from
where nobody knows of his family’s misfortune. Filipino society. In fact, his affluent childhood doesn’t
There, he works hard for a rich man and saves money. seem so different from Ibarra’s, a fact that is
During this time, he meets a young woman and falls in significant because it implies that Elías—having
love. When the two try to marry, though, officials ask experienced life on both sides of the economic line—
for his identification papers, and his past comes to is capable of relating to Ibarra, which means he is
light. His lover’s father—a wealthy man—takes him to even more capable of guiding the young
trial and he is eventually sent to prison. Meanwhile, philanthropist than previously thought.
his lover gives birth to twins, whom her father raises
secretly. One of these twins is Elías, and his
grandfather—the rich man—tells him his father is
dead. The twins live a good life full of many riches.

One day Elías insults a distant relative, who retaliates -Elías’s story about his fall from society’s good graces
by revealing the truth about his family history. In fact, illustrates how much importance Filipino culture
it appears Elías’s father has been working in his (under Spanish colonization) places on wealth and
grandfather’s house as a servant for the boy’s entire reputation. It’s worth noting that Elías’s real father
childhood. The relative finds this out and makes it was never a bandit—he was simply a poor man. That
known, and Elías renounces his family inheritance. the revelation of this secret ruins Elías’s life by
His grandfather dies out of shame, and his twin sister estranging him from society just goes to show how
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).
loses her fiancé to another woman. This same sister superficial and arbitrary the structures of power are
disappears one day, and Elías learns that she drowned in this community.
in a nearby lake with a knife shoved into her chest.
Since this discovery, he has been wandering the
Philippines as people slander his name and fear him.

Having heard his friend’s story, Ibarra says he - In this conversation, Ibarra and Elías represent two
understands why Elías feels the way he does about differing ideologies regarding how to effect change.
corruption and criminality. But he also challenges Ibarra wants to improve his country using education,
Elías’s notion that “justice should seek goodness to a fact that illustrates his desire to make use of
recompense virtue and to reeducate criminals,” saying whatever means he already has available to him in
that this idea is “utopian” and unrealistic. He says that society. Though he had to build a school, he sees this
he refuses to be the leader of a rebellion, asserting as an organic step in the country’s “forward progress.”
that it is wrong to force change upon a government As such, he works within the nation’s preexisting
body. Rather, he wants to effect change through other framework to develop new resources. Elías, on the
means. “I want good for [my country],” he says, “which other hand, isn’t interested in this kind of progress—
is why I built a school. I seek it in education, for rather, he asserts that freedom inherently demands a
forward progress. Without light, there is no path.” “struggle” against power.
Elías replies by saying that “without struggle there is
no freedom,” but Ibarra holds fast to his point of view.

After Ibarra gets off the boat, Elías rows to a different

beach, where he meets one of Captain Pablo’s men. - When Elías tells Captain Pablo’s representative that
“What should I tell the captain?” the man asks. “Tell he will “make good on his word” (despite the fact that
him that Elías, if he doesn’t die before, will make good Ibarra has refused to align with the bandits), he
on his word,” Elías says. implies that he’s confident that Ibarra will eventually
change his mind and join the revolution.

SUMMARY ANALYSIS
 Chapter 51
Back in town, Linares frets about Doña Victorina’s - Linares’s short monologue is worthy of attention
demand that he duel with the ensign. After reading a because it suggests that Captain Tiago is aware of the
letter from Victorina—very poorly spelled and full of young man’s fraudulent identity. Indeed, when
absurd claims—he wonders who will support him in Linares asks himself the rhetorical question, “Who
 The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino
political activist and author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book,
written in Spanish, is a sweeping and passionate unmasking of the
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines (1565–
1898).
the fight, asking himself, “Who will be my second? The made me put on airs, bluster, make up fairy stories?”
priest? Captain Tiago? Damn the day I listen to advice he implies that Tiago actually encouraged that he lie
from that jerk! Who made me put on airs, bluster, to Dámaso about his background. In turn, this
make up fairy stories?” suggests that Tiago has actively been manipulating
the people around him in order to ensure that his
daughter marries whomever is considered the most
well-respected suitor.

As Linares worries, Father Salví arrives at the same - Considering Salví’s jealousy over Ibarra’s
time as Captain Tiago. The friar tells Tiago that relationship to María Clara—combined with the fact
Ibarra’s excommunication has been officially lifted, that he was suspiciously nervous just before the
adding that the young man “grows” on him, though he “yellow” man tried to kill Ibarra—it’s strange that he
didn’t like him at first. He says that he thinks Ibarra now happily endorses the prospect of the young
will even be able to convince Father Dámaso to allow lovers’ marriage. As such, it seems likely that
his marriage to María Clara—if, that is, he asks for something is at play behind the scenes, though Rizal
Dámaso’s forgiveness. When Captain Tiago asks what allows this odd discrepancy in Salví’s behavior to pass
will happen if Dámaso doesn’t grant Ibarra his without further comment.
forgiveness, Father Salví says, “Well…María Clara will
see…Father Dámaso is her father…spiritually, that is.
But I think they will come to an understanding.”

Ibarra arrives at Captain Tiago’s house and speaks in - In keeping with Salví’s mysterious change of heart,
private with Sinang, who tells him that María Clara— María Clara’s insistence that Ibarra forget about her
who has just overheard Father Salví talking with suggests that something ominous is in the works.
Tiago—says it would be best if he forgot about her. Although she loves Ibarra, María Clara seems to think
She also tells him that Captain Tiago and Father she must protect him by distancing herself.
Dámaso want María Clara to marry Linares, but she
hasn’t yet decided. At Ibarra’s request, Sinang agrees
to arrange a meeting between him and María Clara.