Presented by: Belmonte, Jamille Ann
& Buenaceda, Jasmine
Comprising 63 chapters and an epilogue, Jose
Rizal's first novel Noli Me Tangere exposes the
abuses and inequities of many Spanish Catholic
friars and government officials during his time.
Rizal was a student of medicine at the Universidad
Central de Madrid when he started writing it and
was 26 years old at its publication.
The author fittingly dedicated the novel to
the country of his people whose miseries
and sorrows he brought to light in an
attempt to awaken them to the truths
concerning the ills of their society.
The novel was originally written in
Spanish.
The novel Noli Me Tangere was published in
early 1887 in Europe and is often called Noli. Its
English titles include "Touch Me Not"
The Latin title Rizal took from the bible means
"Touch me not," from John 20:17.
The earlist English translation of Noli Me
Tangere in the american Period is entitled “The
Social Cancer”
Jose Rizal referred to the social cancer as the abuses and
injustices committed by the Spanish authorities and clergies
and the defects of Filipinos. The ‘flaws’ in the main
characters of the novel reflect the traits of Spanish
authorities and clergies and the Filipinos who have imbibed
and/or assimilated these ‘defects’ cause and perpetuated by
the Spanish colonial regime.
Influenced by Harriet Beecher Stowe's
Uncle Tom's Cabin.
In a meeting of Filipinos in Madrid at
the Paterno residence in January 1884,
Rizal suggested the creation of the
book.
The proposal that all of them would contribute papers
on the various facets of life in the Philippines was
unanimously approved by those present at the reunion,
among whom were the Paternos (Pedro, Maximino,
and Antonio). Graciano Lopez Jaena, Valentin
Ventura, Eduardo de Lete. Evaristo Aguirre, and Julio
Llorente.
The plan, nonetheless, did not materialize. "My proposal on the
book," Rizal explained in his letter dated January 2, 1884, "was
unanimously approved. But afterwards difficulties and objections
were raised which seemed to me rather odd, and a number of
gentlemen stood up and refused to discuss the matter any
further." He observed that they were more focused on women,
gambling, and flirting with Spanish women rather than
supporting the project.
Rizal started writing alone the novel in Madrid toward the end
of the same year and finished about half of it in the city.
Leaving for France in 1885, he had written the third quarter of
the novel in Paris. In Wilhelmsfeld, he penned the last few
chapters of Noli from April to June 1886.
The novel was completed in Berlin, Germany at the end of
1886, and the final draft was ready for publication at the onset
of the year 1887.
The transition between 1886 and 1887 was a stressful time for
Rizal as he feared that Noli Me Tangere might never be
published while he was finalizing the draft.
Fortunately, Dr. Maximo Viola, a wealthy friend from San Miguel,
Bulacan, arrived in Berlin and, upon learning about Rizal's
situation, decided to delay their Europe tour and lend him money
to help publish the novel.
Dubbed as 'the Savior of the Noli'
for lending Rizal some amount
for the printing of the novel.
Dr. Maximo Viola
But even then, Rizal made some adjustments in the novel
to economize in its printing. He deleted the chapter titled
"Elias and Salome, which was supposedly Chapter 25.
following the chapter, "In the Woods."
The P300 Viola lent to Rizal was thus used to print the first
2,000 copies of the Noli.
For his generous act, Maximo Viola had fittingly gone
down in Philippine history as "the savior of the Noli.
As a token of gratitude, Rizal gave him the galley
proofs of the novel rolled around the pen used in
writing the Noli.
The Symbol of the Cover of Noli Me tangere
The Characters of
Noli Me Tangere
Crisostomo Ibarra in Noli Me
Tangere is generally considered to
be one of the most memorable
characters in the narrative.
a well-respected woman who is
believed to be the daughter of
Captain Tiago and the goddaughter
of Father Damaso. In reality, she is
Father Damaso’s biological
daughter.
Elias is Ibarra’s mysterious friend
and master boater. At one point
in time, he was given the title of
“the pilot”.
an uncommon individual in that he is
a wealthy Filipino who is native-born
and lives in Binondo.
an elderly Franciscan priest who
has lived among the Filipinos for
nearly two decades.
a younger, more cunning Spanish priest who assumes
control over Father Damaso’s post as friar curate of San
Diego.
Crisostomo Ibarra’s father. The book makes reference
to him after he has already passed away. Father
Damaso was jealous of Don Rafael Ibarra because he
was so rich.
Pilosopo Tasyo, whose full name is only known as Don
Anastasio, is a famed character. Even though he is an
old man with a background in philosophy, most of the
people in his town think he is crazy.
character in a real-life setting. Her character is
portrayed as the typical Filipina wife. She is a
mistreated wife who puts up with her husband’s
beatings and the fact that he is irresponsible, yet
she continues to regard him as a “god” despite all of
this.
Basilio - Basilio in Noli Me Tangere is one of Sisa’s sons
and Crispin’s older brother. He and his younger brother
work as a sexton.
Crispin - Crispin in Noli Me Tangere is the younger
brother of Basilio.
A Dominican friar. He is described as short
and has fair skin. He is instructed by an old
priest in his order to watch Crisostomo
Ibarra.
Chief of the Guardia Civil. Mortal enemy of
the priests for power in San Diego and
husband of Doña Consolacion.
Wife of the Alferez, nicknamed as la musa de los guardias
civiles (The muse of the Civil Guards) or la Alfereza, was a
former laundrywoman who passes herself as a Peninsular,
best remembered for her abusive treatment of Sisa.
(Doña Victorina Doña Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña)
Wife of Don Tiburcio
An ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as a Spanish
and mimics Spanish ladies by putting on heavy make-up.
Spanish Quack Doctor who is limp
and submissive to his wife, Doña
Victorina.
A close friend of Don Rafael lbarra. He
reveals to Crisostomo how Don Rafael lbarra's
death came about.
A representative of the younger, less religiously
shackled generation of movers and shakers in
San Diego and Vice Mayor of the town of San
Diego, leader of the liberals.
He is the linguistic curate of a nearby town,
who says the sermon during San Diego's
fiesta.
A distant nephew of Tiburcio de
Espanada, the would-be fiancé of
María Clara.
Unnamed person in the novel, he is the most
powerful official in the Philippines. He has
great disdains against the friars and corrupt
officials, and sympathizes Ibarra.
Wife of Capitan Tiago and mother of Maria
Clara. She died giving birth to her. In reality,
she was raped by Dámaso so she could bear a
child.
The Synopsis
The main character of the Noli Me Tangere, young and wealthy
Filipino Crisostomo, Ibarra, returned to his country after some
years of study in Europe. In his honor, Capitan Tiago (Santiago de
los Santos) threw a party at his house in Manila. The gathering was
attended by renowned local personalities like Padre Damaso, a fat
Franciscan priest who had been assigned for many years in Ibarra's
native town (San Diego); Fray Sybila, the young Dominican curate of
Binondo; Lieutenant Guevarra of the Guardia Civil, and Doña
Victorina, wife of a fake Spanish physician Tiburcio de Espadaña.
Crisostomo's father, Don Rafael Ibarra, was Capitan Tiago's friend.
Capitan Tiago's supposed daughter, Maria Clara, was Crisostomo's
fiancée.
The Synopsis
During the party, Padre Damaso belittled Ibarra
and rudely tried to harm his reputation. But the
gentleman Ibarra simply ignored the friar's
affront. When Ibarra left Capitan Tiago's house,
Lieutenant Guevara talked to him and related the
miserable fate of his deceased father in San Diego.
The Synopsis
Guevara explained that Don Rafael was unfairly accused
by San Diego curate of being a heretic and filibuster
because of his non-participation in mass and confession.
One day, Don Rafael saw a Spanish tax collector and a
weak boy fighting. In an attempt to defend the powerless
boy, he had accidentally pushed and killed the brutal
Spaniard. Don Rafael was thus imprisoned and died in his
cell miserably. Initially buried in consecrated ground, his
body was removed from the Catholic cemetery under the
order of his enemies.
The Synopsis
The next day. Crisostomo visited his sweetheart, Maria
Clara. After the lovely visit to his girlfriend, Ibarra went
to San Diego to look for his father's grave. He had
known through the grave-digger that his father's
corpse was dug up by order of the curate to be
transferred to the Chinese cemetery. But since it was
raining and the corpse was heavy, the grave-digger just
threw Don Rafael's corpse into the river.
The Synopsis
Angered by what he learned, Ibarra suddenly
attacked Padre Salvi when he saw this San
Diego parish priest. But Salvi explained to him
that it was Darnaso who was the town's parish
priest at the time of Don Rafael's death.
The Synopsis
When Maria Clara and her family arrived in San Diego,
Ibarra gave a picnic at the lake. During the picnic, Ibarra
had saved the life of Elias-the boatman who was almost
killed by a crocodile trapped in the fish cage. Later in the
picnic, some members of the Guardia Civil also came,
pursuing Elias who had previously assaulted Padre
Damaso and the alferez. But Elias had escaped even before
the Guardia Civil arrived. Later on, Ibarra received a
notice that his donation of a school in San Diego had been
approved by the Spanish government.
The Synopsis
On the day of the San Diego town fiesta, Ibarra and Maria
Clara attended the morning mass officiated by Padre Salvi
and Padre Damaso. During the mass, Elias silently went
near Ibarra and notified him of the plot to kill him at the
ceremony of the laying of the school's cornerstone. So
during the inauguration, when Ibarra was about to
cement the foundation of the schoolhouse, the platform
collapsed. Fortunately, the quick Elias had rescued Ibarra
and the man who was paid to harm Ibarra was the one
killed in the incident.
The Synopsis
Ibarra hosted a banquet later that day. Padre Damaso
who attended the feast publicly attacked the dignity
of Ibarra's dead father. The angered host lunged at
the ill-mannered friar and had almost killed Damaso
with a knife were it not for Maria Clara who
interfered just in time. Ibarra was consequently
excommunicated and his engagement with Maria
Clara was broken as Damaso persuaded Capitan
Tiago to prohibit the lady from marrying Ibarra.
The Synopsis
One day, Ibarra's enemies engineered a helpless attack on
the station of the Guardia Civil, making the attackers believe
that Ibarra was the brain of the uprising. After the attack
failed, Ibarra was incriminated and arrested.
Elias helped Ibarra escape from prison. Before leaving, they
discreetly stopped at Capitan Tiago's house. Maria Clara
explained that she was blackmailed by Padre Salvi to
surrender Ibarra's letter (which was used to incriminate
him) in exchange for the letters written by her dead mother.
From these, she learned that her real father was Padre
Damaso.
The Synopsis
Ibarra and Elias then took off by boat.
Instructing Ibarra to lie down, Elias covered him
with grass to conceal his presence. As luck
would have it, they were spotted by their
enemies. Elias, thinking he could outsmart them,
jumped into the water. The guards rained shots
on him, all the while not knowing that they were
aiming at the wrong man.
The Synopsis
Badly injured, Elias reached the forest where he found
the altar boy Basilio who was sobbing over the body of
his dead mother, Sisa. His mother had previously lost
her mind upon learning that her two sons, altar boys
Crispin and Basilio, were missing from the convent.
Falsely accused of stealing from the convent, Crispin
had been tortured and killed by the wicked and
crooked sacristan mayor. Basilio had escaped, and the
death of his brother had been covered up by Salvi.
The Synopsis
Knowing that he would eventually die, Elias instructed
Basilio to make a funeral pyre and burn his and Sisa's
bodies to ashes. In his dying breath, Elias mumbled the
following hopeful patriotic words: "I shall die without
seeing the dawn break upon my homeland. You, who
shall see it, salute it! Do not forget those who have
fallen during the night."
The Synopsis
The novel's epilogue narrates that Capitan Tiago became
addicted to opium. Padre Damaso was assigned to a far province
and was found dead in his bedroom one morning. The
sorrowful Maria Clara, believing that Ibarra had been shot dead
in the river, entered the nunnery. Padre Salvi left the San Diego
parish and became a chaplain of the nunnery. Some infer that
Salvi, who had been portrayed as having a hidden desire for
Maria Clara, regularly molested her in the nunnery.
Consequently, a pretty crazy woman was seen one rainy night at
the top of the convent bitterly weeping and cursing the heavens
for the fate it has bestowed upon her.
Reactions to Noli
Spanish officials and friars were enraged by Noli Me Tangere; it was
seen as a threat.
Rizal's friends like Ferdinand Blumentritt and Dr. Miguel Morayta
defended the novel.
Federico Faura warned Rizal that the truths in Noli might cost him his
life.
Even before Rizal's return, his family (especially Paciano) felt the
political backlash of Noli.
Gov-Gen Emilio Terrero, after reviewing the novel, found nothing
criminal but assigned Rizal a bodyguard.
Religious Opposition:
UST faculty denounced Noli as heretical
and subversive.
Permanent Commission of Censorship
recommended banning the novel.
Attacks from Spain:
Vicente Barrantes criticized Noli
through newspaper articles.
Some Spanish Cortes members labeled
it "anti-Catholic" and "socialistic."
Fr. Jose Rodriguez's Pamphlets:
Wrote eight anti-Noli pamphlets, forcibly
sold at churches.
Vicente Garcia (penname: Justo Desiderio
Magalang) defended Noli logically.
Rizal stated he was labeled a "German
spy," "Protestant," "freemason," and even
"sorcerer."
Noli and Black Market:
Enemies burned copies; friends bought
them at high prices.
Bookstores profited but Rizal earned
nothing.
Received an anonymous death threat
signed only as "A Friar."
Artifact Connection:
Furniture from Pastor Ullmer's house,
where Rizal wrote parts of Noli, is now in
the Peacock Garden Resort, Bohol.
Gracias,
everyone!
