User:Allan1805

In Noli Me Tanghere, the most beautiful woman in town was introduced and her name was Maria Clara. She was Ibarra’s childhood sweetheart and fiance. The two were deeply in love with each other. However, they faced a lot of obstacles during their relationship. Some people were against their relationship that made it as one reason to bring down Ibarra. Because of the unfortunate events, there relationship did not work out and eventually ended when Maria Clara thought Ibarra was dead so she went to the convent instead. Ibarra came back in El Filibusterismo as Simoun, with plans of revenge and saving Maria Clara. Yet, he did not succeed with his plans. Maria Clara died before he became a fugitive and eventually died as well at then end of the book two.

It is said that Jose Rizal based Maria Clara from his real-life girlfriend and cousin, Leonor Rivera. One reason to say that Maria Clara and Ibarra’s love story might also be based from Leonor and Rizal’s love story. Their relationship was a secret because they were distant relatives and their parents wouldn’t approve of it if they’ve known. Same as Maria Clara and Ibarra’s which many were against theirs.

All Leonor ever wanted was to be on Rizal’s side every time. But this became impossible when he left for Spain without giving her a notice. Leonor was seriously affected by Rizal’s departure. She fell ill because sadness brought her sleepless nights. Although Rizal kept in touch with Leonor through letters, he never got a reply from her. He came back to the Philippines to check upon her, however, they were forbidden to see each other. Rizal wanted to marry Leonor but his father and brother didn’t approve of his plans. Soon, Rizal received a letter announcing Leonor’s wedding together with another man. Rizal described the news as a great blow to him as he was “stunned, his eyes dimmed with tears, and his heart broke.” Rizal’s broken heart was injured even more upon learning Leonor’s death two years after she got married. The same thing that happened with Maria Clara and Ibarra. Maria Clara thought Ibarra died during a shooting and that made her miserable. Instead of marrying another man, she chose to be with God. But she was still full of sadness and soon she became sick and died. Rizal died. Ibarra died.

From these similarities, there is a huge possible that the fictional couple’s story was inspired from the writer and his girlfriend’s love story. Maybe it was Rizal’s way of reliving the love that they shared together regardless of how it