Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not)

María-Clara awaits Ibarra’s return with her father Tiago and Aunt Isabella. When alone, María-Clara nervously asks if Ibarra thought about her while he was in Europe—to which he provides a long, embellished answer. They discuss their childhood days and initial friendship, and the chapter ends with María-Clara reading the letter that Ibarra wrote her before he left for his travels. In the letter, Ibarra recounts the conversation he had with his father when the latter objected to the trip. After María-Clara reads the letter, Ibarra’s mood changes and he is left more contemplative than before.

Ibarra travels by coach through the outskirts of Manila. He recalls the startling memory of his 11-year-old self seeing a dead prisoner—and life going on as if nothing happened. He also remembers advice from an old priest, and the chapter ends with more pastoral imagery.

Father Dámaso arrives at Tiago’s house just after Ibarra leaves. The narrator interrupts the conversation between Dámaso and Tiago, instead focusing on another conversation between Father Sibyla and an (unknown) ailing, old priest. The ill priest assumes that his death is imminent, and the two discuss strategies for the church’s retention of power.