Name: Albion V.

Leysa III BSED-ENGLISH 2A

Analyzing "My Last farewell" by Jose Rizal using The Biographical Approach

My Last Farewell written by Dr. José Rizal was his last ever written piece of
literature. Reading the poem shows the author’s adieu to the world. Reading the
poem shows the author’s love for his country. And reading the poem shows the
author’s feelings to his friends, his country, and to the world as he marks his
disappearance. No matter how many times one interprets the poem, it was a
magnificently written piece of farewell.However, those change when knowing the
author. When scrutinizing about the great Dr. José Rizal, your perspective of the
value of the poem changes, and your knowledge about the author magnifies the
value of the poem even more.

In the first stanza of the poem, Rizal bids farewell and offers his life although sad
and repressed. This is because Rizal’s life, although meaningful, was full of
hardships. Rizal was hardworking due to their situation. Prior to this, he wrote
two novels which heavily criticized the Spaniard’s rule in an attempt to awaken
and ignite the hearts of the Filipinos for a revolution against inequity in their own
land and was chased by the government. Rizal issued a manifesto disavowing the
current revolution in its present state, at his time, and declaring that the
education of Filipinos and their achievement of a national identity were
prerequisites to freedom. In the third stanza, he depicts that if to attain
independence is for him to die, then he shall die. He was imprisoned many times,
and in those many times were many chances to escape.

However, he is fine as he can fight and support as long as he can hold a pen and
a paper. His last resort was to be a martyr in order for the Filipinos to awake to
the reality that they shall not hold back anymore as the Spaniards are willing to
shed blood in order to get their way. The fourth stanza was flashbacks from his
youth, his younger days. He saw injustice at an early age due to the martyrdom of
GomBurZa. In the sixth stanza, Dr. José Rizal asks not for monuments but only
for flowers just, so he’s not forgotten, the grass mentioned symbolizes the
growth of the Philippines. The seventh stanza shows Rizal’s insights into the
future. The moon shone over his tomb represents a clear sky, a country without
oppressors.

And the bird singing a song of peace over his tomb site means harmony after his
death, and peace in his death. In the ninth stanza, Rizal wanted everyone to pray
for each other, for those who have suffered and fallen, for those who are helpless
and tortured, for the mothers and the captives, and for independence. In the
eleventh stanza, Rizal does not care anymore if he is forgotten, as long as the
message, the lessons, the knowledge, his thoughts, his words and his
philosophy were spread. This is because Rizal knew and have trust that
education will lead the Philippines to success. What use is independence if the
Filipinos cannot maintain the order in the country. In the thirteenth stanza, Rizal
bids farewell as he leaves his parents and his loved ones. Rizal is going to
heaven, a place where being faithful is not wrong and only God is right, the One
Who have right to judge the others.