Crispin and Basilio are characters from Jose Rizal’s novel “Noli Me Tangere.” Crispin is killed while Basilio escapes and plays a significant role in the sequel, “El Filibusterismo.”
In “Noli Me Tangere,” Crispin and Basilio are brothers who serve as sacristans at their local church. They are the sons of Sisa, a poor woman who is often abused by her husband. The boys work to help support their family, but they face harsh treatment from the parish priest, Padre Salvi, and the head sacristan.
Crispin, the younger brother, is falsely accused of stealing money from the church. Despite his innocence, he is subjected to severe punishment and torture. The novel implies that Crispin is killed as a result of this mistreatment, although his death is not explicitly described in the text.
Basilio, the older brother, manages to escape the church and returns home to find that their mother has gone mad from the grief of losing Crispin and the abuse she has suffered. Basilio’s tragic experiences and the loss of his brother profoundly affect him and shape his character’s development in the sequel, “El Filibusterismo,” where he becomes a key figure in the resistance against Spanish colonial rule.
The fate of Crispin and Basilio is a poignant example of the injustices faced by Filipinos under Spanish colonial rule and serves as a powerful critique of the social and religious corruption of the time. Their story is a catalyst for the events that unfold in Rizal’s novels, which were instrumental in inspiring the Philippine Revolution against Spain.
