Noli Me Tangere · Chapter
Sisa explained
The chapter focuses on Sisa, the mother of Basilio and Crispín, as she waits anxiously for her sons to return home.
What happens
The chapter focuses on Sisa, the mother of Basilio and Crispín, as she waits anxiously for her sons to return home. It contrasts the peaceful sleep of the rich, who have fulfilled their religious duties for the dead, with the restless worry of the poor, who cannot afford indulgences. Sisa, a loving but abused wife, has prepared a meager meal for her boys, but her husband has eaten most of it. As night deepens, her anxiety grows, and she experiences a vision of Crispín before Basilio's voice calls her to open the door.
Themes in this chapter
Social Injustice and Class Division
The chapter contrasts the peaceful sleep of the rich, who can afford religious indulgences, with the anxious wakefulness of the poor, who cannot, highlighting the deep class divide.
Religious Hypocrisy and Clerical Corruption
The narrative criticizes the Church for selling indulgences and prioritizing payment over genuine consolation, leaving the poor spiritually and materially deprived.
Family, Honor, and Ancestral Legacy
Sisa's love for her sons and her sacrifice for their well-being, despite her abusive husband, underscores the theme of family bonds and maternal devotion.
Characters to notice
- Sisa
The mother of Basilio and Crispín, she is a loving and long-suffering woman who endures poverty and abuse from her husband. She waits anxiously for her sons, having prepared a meal for them despite her own hunger.
- Basilio
Sisa's elder son, who works as a sacristan and is expected to bring home his wages. He calls out to his mother at the end of the chapter.
- Crispín
Sisa's younger son, who is learning to read. He appears to Sisa as a vision by the fireplace before Basilio's voice is heard.
- Old Tasio
A neighbor who gives Sisa some dried wild boar's meat and a leg of wild duck for her sons, and informs her that the boys will be late.
Key passages
“The poor are sad and thoughtful, for on that night, if they have not recited many prayers, yet they have prayed much—with pain in their eyes and tears in their hearts.”
The poor are sorrowful and contemplative; even if they haven't said many formal prayers, they have prayed deeply through their suffering and tears.
This highlights the genuine piety of the poor compared to the ritualistic observances of the rich.
“Weak in character, with more heart than intellect, she knew only how to love and to weep.”
Sisa was emotionally driven rather than rational, and her only responses to hardship were love and tears.
This describes Sisa's passive and suffering nature, shaped by her abusive marriage.