# Right and Might explained — Noli Me Tangere > Chapter companion for Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal. ## What happens During the town fiesta's theatrical performance, tensions escalate as Padre Salví and his followers leave in protest of Ibarra's presence due to his excommunication. The Civil Guard disrupts the show, causing a panic and near-riot. Don Filipo tries to maintain order, and Ibarra enlists Elías's help to calm the crowd. Meanwhile, Padre Salví, consumed by his obsession with María Clara, rushes to her home after the chaos, only to find her safe, and later is falsely credited in a newspaper account for heroically quelling the disturbance. ## Themes in this chapter ### Social Injustice and Class Division The Civil Guard's violent interruption of the fiesta and the crowd's impotent rage highlight the systemic oppression and class tensions in colonial society. ### Religious Hypocrisy and Clerical Corruption Padre Salví's obsessive, unchaste fixation on María Clara and the false newspaper account praising his 'heroism' expose the hypocrisy and moral corruption of the clergy. ### Resistance and the Seeds of Revolution The crowd's near-riot and calls to burn the barracks, along with Don Filipo's and Ibarra's efforts to channel the anger, foreshadow the revolutionary spirit simmering beneath the surface. ## Character check-ins ### Old Tasio Muttered a sarcastic blessing as the priests left the performance. ### Padre Salví Observed María Clara with a dark, obsessive gaze; left the show in protest of Ibarra; later rushed to her home during the riot and was falsely praised as a hero. ### María Clara Present at the fiesta, visibly sad; hid her face behind a fan when Ibarra's excommunication was mentioned; later seen safe at home by Padre Salví. ### Crisóstomo Ibarra Arrived late to the performance; learned of his excommunication; returned to protect María Clara during the riot; enlisted Elías's help to calm the crowd. ### Don Filipo Lino Defended Ibarra's right to be at the fiesta; tried to maintain order during the Civil Guard's disruption; appealed to Ibarra for help in restraining the crowd. ### Elías Observed the disturbance impassively; at Ibarra's request, disappeared into the crowd to help calm the situation. ## Key lines > “May God reward them also in the next life,” muttered old Tasio as he went away. Old Tasio sarcastically wished divine reward upon the departing priests. _Reflects Tasio's cynical view of the clergy's piety._ > “But isn’t it disturbing the peace to scandalize good Christians? It’s letting a wolf enter the fold.” Padre Salví argued that Ibarra's presence was a scandal and a danger to the faithful. _Shows the curate's attempt to justify excluding Ibarra on religious grounds._ > “I don’t see any danger, Padre. The alcalde and the Captain-General, my superior officers, have been talking with him all the afternoon and it’s not for me to teach them a lesson.” Don Filipo refused to expel Ibarra, noting that higher authorities had associated with him. _Highlights the tension between civil and religious authority._ > “Tell the alferez that we have permission from the alcalde and that against such permission no one in the town has any authority, not even the gobernadorcillo himself, and he is my only superior.” Don Filipo asserted that the alcalde's permit overrode the alferez's orders to stop the show. _Illustrates the conflict between local civil authority and the military._ > “To disturb the town! They don’t chase any but honest folks! Out yonder are the tulisanes and the gamblers. Let’s set fire to the barracks!” A woman accused the Civil Guard of only harassing law-abiding citizens while ignoring real criminals, and proposed burning the barracks. _Reflects popular anger and the desire for vigilante justice._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/noli_me_tangere_se/chapters/xl-right-and-might - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/noli_me_tangere_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/noli_me_tangere_se/chapters