diced b Jos e S. Arc a, - non

While all these unforgettable events were taking place, Crisostomo wasliving in Europe, totally unaware of his tragedy. Then when he returned tothe Philippines years later, he slowly came to know about his father's verysad end. And yet, though deeply wounded by the outrage inflicted on theauthor of his life, he never planned revenge against the friar. On the contrary,he tried to dissimulate, to pretend total ignorance and innocence., But theFranciscan kept baiting him with cutting remarks, and scuttling his mostambitious plans—especially his love for Maria Clara—and the initial tensionexploded in an open clash. Fray Damaso, finally, in connivance with hissutcesor in the parish, another Franciscan, will concoct a plot against theSpanish authorities by which he will be able to rid the town of all the liberalelements, starting naturally with Crisostomo Ibarra, who will be arrested,charged with organizing a conspiracy and imprisoned in Fort Santiago.With Ibarra out of the way, Fray Damaso tries to marry off Maria Clara toa lowly and graceless Spaniard distantly related to his family. But the younggirl refuses and, heartsick, retires to the monastery of Santa Clara in Manila.There, hounded by the lecherous Fray Bernardo Salvi, she dies thirteen yearslater . Fray Damaso, transferred by his superiors first to Manila and then to atown in Tayabas province, suddenly dies mysteriously the day following hisarrival at this new assignment. Crisostomo Ibarra, on the other hand, freedfrom jail by Elias, his friend, successfully eludes the pursuing Guardia Civiland secretly leaves the Philippines.2. Fray Bernardo SalviRizal baptized the second Franciscan character of his novel with thename Fray Bernardo Salvi. Fray Damaso's successor to the parish of SanDiego a few months after the confrontation between the Franciscan andCrisostomo Ibarra, he was to all appearances the opposite of his predecessorgaunt, pale, emaciated, with sunken eyes, lost in his own thoughts, sickly. Heenjoyed the reputation of saintliness among the people and of wisdom amonghis brothers in the cloth. The parishioners gave him the eloquent nicknamesof "Father Wouldn't-Hurt-A-Fly" and "Father Wet Blanket." He seldomflogged people, but he loved to exact fines from the sacristans since they werea source of greater income for his pocket.Notwithstanding his apparent fame for holiness, Fray Salvi actuallycomplements his brother in the cloth, Fray Damaso. He is a deeply embitteredman, obsessed by ill-repressed sexual desires centered on the young,beautiful, and innocent Maria Clara whom, as talk has it he visits quitefrequently even at night. He is also accused of having committed certain118