Original Text(~250 words)
CHAPTER XXVII In the Twilight In Capitan Tiago's house also great preparations had been made. We know its owner, whose love of ostentation and whose pride as a Manilan imposed the necessity of humiliating the provincials with his splendor. Another reason, too, made it his duty to eclipse all others: he had his daughter Maria Clara with him, and there was present his future son-in-law, who was attracting universal attention. In fact one of the most serious newspapers in Manila had devoted to Ibarra an article on its front page, entitled, "Imitate him!" heaping him with praise and giving him some advice. It had called him, "The cultivated young gentleman and rich capitalist;" two lines further on, "The distinguished philanthropist;" in the following paragraph, "The disciple of Minerva who had gone to the mother country to pay his respects to the true home of the arts and sciences;" and a little further on, "The Filipino Spaniard." Capitan Tiago burned with generous zeal to imitate him and wondered whether he ought not to erect a convento at his own expense. Some days before there had arrived at the house where Maria Clara and Aunt Isabel were staying a profusion of eases of European wines and food-stuffs, colossal mirrors, paintings, and Maria Clara's piano. Capitan Tiago had arrived on the day before the fiesta and as his daughter kissed his hand, had presented her with a beautiful locket set with diamonds and emeralds, containing a sliver from St. Peter's boat, in which...
Continue reading the full chapter
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Summary
The town buzzes with festival preparations as Capitan Tiago shows off his wealth and status, basking in newspaper praise of his future son-in-law Ibarra. Maria Clara has blossomed since leaving the convent, radiating beauty and joy as she walks through the festive streets with her friends. But the celebration takes a sobering turn when they encounter a leper—a man reduced to begging, shunned by society and living in isolation due to his disease. Without hesitation, Maria Clara gives him her precious diamond locket, the only valuable thing she has with her. The moment becomes even more heartbreaking when the mad Sisa appears, grabbing the leper and babbling about her lost sons while onlookers recoil in horror. As a soldier drags Sisa away and the leper flees, Maria Clara's festive mood evaporates. She realizes that while some celebrate, others suffer in ways she never imagined. The chapter powerfully contrasts the superficial joy of social gatherings with real human misery, showing how easily we can ignore suffering that exists right alongside our comfort. Maria Clara's spontaneous act of generosity reveals her genuine character, while also highlighting how inadequate individual charity can be against systemic problems. Her awakening to others' pain marks a crucial moment in her development from sheltered convent girl to someone who truly sees the world around her.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Ostentation
Showy display of wealth or status meant to impress others. Capitan Tiago's elaborate preparations for the festival are pure ostentation - he's not celebrating for joy, but to prove his importance.
Modern Usage:
We see this in social media flexing, expensive cars bought to impress neighbors, or throwing lavish parties just to show off.
Social capital
The value that comes from your connections and reputation in society. Capitan Tiago gains social capital from having Ibarra as a future son-in-law because the newspapers praise him.
Modern Usage:
Today it's networking, name-dropping, or how your kids' achievements reflect on you as a parent.
Leper
Someone with leprosy, a disease that causes skin lesions and nerve damage. In Rizal's time, lepers were completely shunned by society and forced to live as beggars.
Modern Usage:
We still socially exile people - those with mental illness, addiction, or even just poverty often become invisible to mainstream society.
Charitable impulse
The immediate urge to help someone in need, without thinking about consequences or social expectations. Maria Clara's gift to the leper shows pure compassion.
Modern Usage:
Like giving money to a homeless person even when others tell you not to, or helping a stranger who's clearly struggling.
Class awakening
The moment when someone from privilege first truly sees how others suffer. Maria Clara's encounter with the leper and Sisa opens her eyes to real poverty and pain.
Modern Usage:
When college kids do volunteer work and realize how sheltered they've been, or when someone loses their job and suddenly understands financial stress.
Social invisibility
How society literally stops seeing people who are poor, sick, or outcast. The townspeople actively avoid looking at the leper and Sisa.
Modern Usage:
How we walk past homeless people without making eye contact, or how service workers become background noise to customers.
Characters in This Chapter
Capitan Tiago
Social climber
He's preparing an elaborate festival display to show off his wealth and connection to Ibarra. His motivation is pure status competition - he wants to outshine the provincials and bask in his future son-in-law's newspaper fame.
Modern Equivalent:
The parent who throws over-the-top graduation parties to show off their success
Maria Clara
Awakening protagonist
She's enjoying the festival preparations and her newfound freedom from the convent, but her encounter with the leper changes everything. Her spontaneous generosity reveals her true character.
Modern Equivalent:
The sheltered college student who volunteers at a soup kitchen and has her worldview shaken
Ibarra
Celebrated returnee
Though not physically present in most scenes, his reputation drives the chapter's action. The newspaper's praise of him as the ideal Filipino gives Capitan Tiago social currency to spend.
Modern Equivalent:
The successful kid who comes back to their hometown and makes all the parents jealous
The Leper
Social outcast
His appearance transforms the festive mood into something serious. He represents the suffering that exists alongside celebration, and his gratitude for Maria Clara's gift shows how small acts matter to those society ignores.
Modern Equivalent:
The homeless person everyone pretends not to see outside the fancy restaurant
Sisa
Tragic figure
Her mad appearance, desperately searching for her lost sons, represents the deepest level of human suffering. Her interaction with the leper shows how the outcast recognize each other.
Modern Equivalent:
The mentally ill person on the street that everyone crosses the road to avoid
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to spot when we unconsciously choose which suffering to acknowledge based on convenience rather than need.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you scroll past difficult news to read lighter content, or when you avoid eye contact with people asking for help while feeling generous toward distant causes.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"The cultivated young gentleman and rich capitalist... The distinguished philanthropist... The Filipino Spaniard."
Context: The local newspaper is praising Ibarra with increasingly grand titles
This shows how media creates celebrity and social value. Each title builds on the last, creating an image of the perfect colonial subject - educated, wealthy, generous, and properly Spanish. It's pure public relations.
In Today's Words:
Local boy makes good - college graduate, successful businessman, gives back to community, represents the American dream.
"Capitan Tiago burned with generous zeal to imitate him and wondered whether he ought not to erect a convento at his own expense."
Context: Capitan Tiago reads about Ibarra's philanthropy and wants to compete
This reveals how charity can become competitive performance rather than genuine care. Tiago doesn't want to help people - he wants the recognition that comes with grand gestures.
In Today's Words:
Seeing his future son-in-law get all this praise made him want to do something big and flashy to get attention too.
"Without hesitation, Maria Clara gave him her precious diamond locket."
Context: Maria Clara encounters the leper and immediately gives him her most valuable possession
This moment reveals Maria Clara's true character - she acts from pure compassion without calculating social consequences. Her instant generosity contrasts sharply with the calculated charity others consider.
In Today's Words:
She didn't even think about it - she just gave him the most expensive thing she had on her.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Selective Compassion
The human tendency to compartmentalize others' suffering to protect our own comfort and celebration.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
The stark contrast between Capitan Tiago's wealth display and the leper's desperate poverty shows how class creates invisible barriers
Development
Building from earlier chapters showing class privilege through education and social access
In Your Life:
You might notice how differently you're treated in stores or hospitals based on your appearance or insurance.
Identity
In This Chapter
Maria Clara's identity shifts from sheltered convent girl to someone who truly sees suffering around her
Development
Her character has been developing from passive to more aware and active
In Your Life:
You might recognize moments when you had to choose between comfortable ignorance and difficult awareness.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Society expects Maria Clara to celebrate her engagement while ignoring the leper—she defies this by giving her locket
Development
Consistent theme of characters struggling between social pressure and personal conscience
In Your Life:
You might feel pressure to stay positive at work while colleagues are struggling or being mistreated.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Maria Clara's spontaneous generosity marks her evolution from sheltered girl to someone with genuine empathy
Development
Her growth has accelerated since leaving the convent and engaging with the real world
In Your Life:
You might remember moments when witnessing others' pain forced you to grow beyond your previous comfort zone.
Modern Adaptation
When Celebration Meets Reality
Following Crisostomo's story...
Crisostomo's community development nonprofit just got featured in the local paper for their upcoming neighborhood revitalization project. He's walking through the festival area with Maria, the teacher he's been dating, both glowing from the positive coverage and community support. The whole block is buzzing with excitement about the new community center and job training programs. Then they encounter Jimmy, a veteran with obvious PTSD and addiction issues, panhandling outside the church. Without hesitation, Maria gives him her grandmother's ring—the only valuable thing she has. Moments later, they see Sarah, a single mom Crisostomo knows from the shelter, frantically searching through trash cans while muttering about eviction notices and her kids. Security guards quickly escort her away as festival-goers look uncomfortable. The celebratory mood evaporates as Crisostomo realizes his nonprofit's success story exists alongside people falling through every crack in the system. Maria's spontaneous generosity forces him to confront how his well-intentioned programs might be missing the people who need help most.
The Road
The road Maria Clara walked in 1887, Crisostomo walks today. The pattern is identical: prosperity and poverty existing side by side, with most people choosing comfortable blindness until forced to see.
The Map
This chapter provides a navigation tool for recognizing selective compassion. Crisostomo learns to spot when celebration becomes a barrier to seeing suffering that exists right alongside success.
Amplification
Before reading this, Crisostomo might have celebrated his nonprofit's media coverage without questioning who wasn't being reached. Now he can NAME selective vision, PREDICT where it leads to incomplete solutions, and NAVIGATE toward more honest assessment of real impact.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What contrast does Rizal create between Maria Clara's celebration and the suffering she encounters on the street?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Maria Clara immediately give away her diamond locket to the leper, while others simply look away?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this same pattern of celebrating while ignoring nearby suffering in your community or workplace?
application • medium - 4
When you encounter someone else's crisis during your own good moments, how do you decide whether to help or protect your joy?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about the difference between genuine compassion and performative charity?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Comfort Zones
Draw a simple map of your daily routine - home, work, shopping, recreation. Now mark where you regularly encounter people who are struggling (homeless individuals, overworked service workers, stressed parents, etc.). Circle the spots where you typically look away or hurry past. This isn't about judgment - it's about awareness.
Consider:
- •Notice which types of suffering you find easier to ignore than others
- •Consider whether your avoidance is protective (necessary for your mental health) or just convenient
- •Think about one small, genuine gesture you could make without disrupting your life
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone else's crisis interrupted your celebration or good mood. How did you respond, and what would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 28: Three Perspectives on Power
What lies ahead teaches us different social classes see the same events completely differently, and shows us official narratives often hide what's really happening. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.