The story of elias

 A police boat with the Guardia Civil on board pursued them. Elias jumped out of the water and
swam towards the shore.
 In this way, he diverted the attention of the soldiers, thereby giving Ibarra a chance to escape.
 Elias reached the shore and staggered into the forest. He met Basilo who was weeping over his
dead mother’s body.
 He told him to make a pyre on which their bodies were to be burned to ashes.

Epilogue

 Maria Clara, out of her loyalty to the memory of Ibarra, entered the Santa Clara nunnery.
 Padre Salvi left the parish of San Diego and became a chaplain of the nunnery.
 Padre Damaso was transferred to a remote province but the next morning he was found dead.
 Captain Tiago became an opium addict and a human wreck.
 Doña Victoria had taken to wearing eye-glasses because of weaking eyesight.
 Linares died of dysentery and was buried in Paco cemetery.
 The Alferez was promoted major.
 He returned to Spain leaving behind his shabby mistress, Doña Consolacion.
 The novel ends with Maria Clara, an unhappy nun in Santa Clara- forver lost world.

THE “NOLI” BASED ON TRUTH

Unlike many works of fictional literature, it was a true story of Philippine condition during the last
decades of Spanish rule.

The Characters:

 Maria Clara was Leonor Rivera

 Ibarra and Elias represented Rizal
 Tasio philosopher was Paciano
 Padre Salvi was Padre Antonio Piernavieja
 Captain Tiago was Capitan Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas
 Doña Victoria was Doña Agustina Medel
 Basilio and Crispin brothers of Hagonoy
 Padre Damaso was typical of a domineering friar who was arrogant, immoral and anti- Filipino.

Rizal friends praise the “noli”

 The Friends of Rizal hailed the novel, praising it in glowing colors. As to expected, Rizal enemies
condemned it.
 Copies of Noli were sent by Rizal to Blumentritt, Regidor, Hidalgo, Mariano Ponce, Graciano
Lopez Jaena Aguirre and other friends.
  Blumentritt’s letter was the most significant congratulatory letter Rizal received.

What is the meaning of the novel Noli me tangere?

-do not touch me in the novel’s dedication, Rizal explains that there was once a type of cancer so
terrible that the sufferer could not bear to be touched, and the disease was thus called noli me tangere
(Latin: “do not touch me”).

Chapter VII: Paris to Berlin (1885-87)

Life of Rizal Paris to Berlin (1885-1887)

After completing his studies in Madrid, Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in
ophthalmology. He particularly chose this branch of medicine because he wanted to cure his mother’s
eye ailment. He served as assistant to the famous oculist of Europe.

In Berlin, capital of the unified Germany, he met and befriended several top German scientists, Dr.
Feodor Jagor, Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Dr. Hans Meyer and Dr. Rudolf Virchow. His merits as a scientist
were recognized by the eminent scientist of Europe.

In Gay Paris (1885-86)

After studying at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal, who was then 24 yrs old, went to Paris to
acquire more knowledge in ophthalmology.

Maximo Viola- a medical student and a member of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan

Señor Eusebio Corominas- editor of La Publicidad

Don Miguel Morayta- owner of La Publicidad and a statesman

Rizal gave Editor Corominas (an article on the Carolines Question)

November 1885- Rizal was living in Paris

He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.

Juan Luna- great master of the brush; Rizal helped him by posing as model in Luna’s paintings.

1. “The Death of Cleopatra” – where Rizal posed as an Egyptian priest

2. “The Blood Compact”—Rizal posted as Sikatuna

Rizal as musician

Rizal had no natural aptitude for music, and this he admitted. He studied music only because many of his
schoolmates at Ateneo were taking music lessons.
He told Enrique Lete that he “learned the solfeggio, piano, and voice culture in one month and a half”.

He is also a flutist.

Some of his compositions are:

Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) – a patriotic song which asserts that any race aspires for freedom

La Deportacion (Deportation) – a sad danza, composed in Dapitan

In history Heidelberg

February 3, 1886- Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university and
romantics surroundings.

He became popular among the Germans, because they found out that he was a good chess player.

He worked at the University Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker, distinguished German
ophthalmologist.

“To the flowers of Heidelberg”

April 22,1886- Rizal wrote a fine poem entitled “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of
Heidelberg) because he was fascinated by the blooming flowers along the Neckar River, which is the
light blue flower called “forget-me-not”.

First letter to blumentritt

July 31, 1886- Rizal wrote his first letter to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt who is the Director of the
Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria.

Blumentritt is an Austrian ethnologist and he has an interest in the Philippine language.

Rizal sent Arithmetica (Arithmetic) book to Blumentritt which was published in 2 languages – Spanish
and Tagalog – by the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868.

The author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez.

Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal.

Fifth century of Heidelberg

The famous University of Heidelberg held its fifth centenary celebration on August 6, 1886 where Rizal
had witnessed the said celebration.

In Leipzig and Dresden

August 14, 1886- Rizal arrived in Leipzig

He attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig on history and psychology.

He befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel, famous historian, and Dr. Hans Meyer, German anthropologist.

Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was the cheapest in Europe so he stayed for 2 months
and a half.

On October 29, he went to Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, the Director of the
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.

Rizal welcomed in berlin scientific circles

Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice.

Some scientists Rizal met are:

Dr. Feodor Jagor- German scientist-traveler and author of Travels in the Philippines

Dr. Rudolf Virchow- famous German anthropologist

Dr. W. Joest- German geographer

Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger- famous German ophthalmologist

Rizal life in berlin

Five reasons why Rizal stayed in Berlin.

To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology

To further his studies of science and languages

To observe the economic and political conditions of the German nation

To associate with famous German scientists and scholars

To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere

Rizal worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Scweigger, and at night, he attended lectures in the
University of Berlin.
He also took private lessons in French under Madame Lucie Cerdole.

Rizal on German women

Rizal sent a letter to his sister, Trinidad, dated on March 11, 1886. In his letter, Rizal expressed his high
regard and admiration for German womanhood. Rizal said that German woman is serious, diligent,
educated and friendly.

German Customs

Christmas custom of the Germans delighted him most.

 Another interesting German custom observed by Rizal is self-introduction to strangers in a social

gathering.
 According to the German code of etiquette, it is a bad manner for the guest to remain aloof, and
wait for his host or hostess to make the proper introduction.

Rizal darkest winter

The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest winter.

He lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke.

He could not pay his landlord and he was eating only one meal a day.

His clothes were old and threadbare.

His health broke down due to lack of proper nourishment.

This is one of the most memorable days in the life of Rizal.

Chapter VIII: Noli Me Tangere, 1887

The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizal’s darkest winter because no money arrived from Calamba
and he was flat broke. The diamond ring which his siter, Saturnina, gave him was in the pawnshop. It
was memorable in the life of Rizal for two reasons (1) it was a painful episode for he was hungry, sick
and despondent in a strange city (2) it brought him great joy after enduring so much sufferings, because
his first novel, Noli Me Tangere came off the press in March, 1887.

Idea in writing a novel on Philippines

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin- inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel that would depict the
miseries of his people under the lash of Spanish tyrants.
  January 2, 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about one-half of it.
 When Rizal went to Paris, in 1885, after completing his studies in the Central University of
Madrid, he continued writing the novel, finishing one half of the second half.
 Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany. He wrote the last few chapters of the Noli
in Wilhemsfeld in April-June, 1886.
 In Berlin during the winter days of February, 1886, Rizal made the final revisions on the
manuscript of the Noli.

The man save the “noli”

Maximo Viola- Rizal’s friend from Bulacan, arrived in Berlin at the height of Rizal despondency and
loaned him the needed funds to publish the novel; savior of Noli.

After the Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches on his novel. To save printing expenses, he
deleted certain passages in his manuscript, including a whole chapter – “Elias and Salome.

 February 21, 1887- the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing
 BerlinerBuchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft- a printing shop which charged the lowest rate, that
is, 300 pesos for 2,00 copies of the novel

March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere came off the press

 March 29, 1887- Rizal, in token of his appreciation and gratitude, gave Viola the galley proofs of
the Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing it and a complimentary copy,
with the following inscription: “To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate
my work—Jose Rizal”

The title of the novel

The title Noli Me Tangere is a latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not”.

It is not originally conceived by Rizal, for he admitted taking it from the Bible.

 Rizal, writing to Felix Hidalgo in French on March 5, 1887, said: “Noli Me Tangere, words taken
from the Gospel of St. Luke, signify “do not touch me” but Rizal made a mistake, it should be the
Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20 Verses 13 to 17)

The author’s dedication

 Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines --- “To My Fatherland”
 The cover of Noli Me Tangere was designed by Rizal. It is a ketch of explicit symbols. A woman’s
head atop a Maria Clara bodice represents the nation and the women, victims of the social
cancer. One of the causes of the cancer is symbolized in the friar’s feet, outsized in relation to
the woman’s head. The other aggravating causes of oppression and discrimination are shown in
the guard’s helmet and the iron chains, the teacher’s whip and the alferez’s scourge. A slight
 cluster of bamboo stands at the backdrop; these are the people, forever in the background of
their own country’s history. There are a cross, a maze, flowers and thorny plants, a flame; these
are indicative of the religious policy, the misdirected ardor, the people strangled as a result of
these all.

Synopsis of the “noli”

 It begins in the reception given by Captain Tiago. (Santiago de los Santos)

 Ibarra arrives in the event producing favorable impression among the guests except for the
Padre Damaso.
 After dinner, Ibarra left Capitan Tiago’s house to return to his hotel.
 On the way, Lieutenant Guevarra told him the story of his father’s death in San Diego.
 Don Rafael was thrown in prison, were he died unhappily.
 Ibarra thanked the kind Spanish Lieutenant and find the truth about his father’s death.
 The following morning, Ibarra visited Maria Clara.
 He went to San Diego to visit his father’s grave.
 The grave-digger told Ibarra that the corpse of Don Rafael was removed by order of the parish
priest.
 He met Padre Salvi on his way and pounced on the priest demanding redress for desecrating his
father’s mortal remains.
 Padre Salvi told him that they had nothing to do with it but it was Padre Damaso who was
responsible for it.
 In his town, Ibarra met several interesting people such as philosopher Tasio.

Tale of Sisa

 Sisa, a formerly rich girl became poor because she married a gambler and a westrel.
 She became crazy because she lost her two boys, Basilio and Crispin, the joys of her life.
 Captain Tiago, Maria Clara and Auntie Isabel arrived in San Diego.
 Ibarra and his friends gave a picnic at the lake.
 An incident of the picnic was the saving of Elias life by Ibarra.
 Another incident was the rendering of beautiful song by Maria Clara.
 After the meal was over, Ibarra and captain Tiago played chess while Maria Clara and her friends
played the “Wheel of Chance”.
 The next day, Ibarra visited old Tasio to consult him on his pet project about the school house.

The feast

 Meanwhile, San Diego was merrily preparing for its annual fiesta in honor of its patron saint San
Diego de Alcala, whose feast day is the 11 th of November.
 During the fiesta there was a high mass in the church officiated by Padre Salvi.
  Elias quietly moved to Ibarra, who was kneeling and praying by Maria Clara’s side and warned
him to be careful during the ceremony of the laying of the corner stone of the school house.
 Maria Clara became ill. She was treated by a quack Spanish physician, Tiburcio de Espadaña,
whose wife had hallucinations of being a Spanish Castillan.
 She wanted to be called “Doctor Doña Victoria de los Reyes de De España”.
 She introduced Capitan Tiago’s young Spaniards, Don Alfonso Linares de España, cousin of his
husband and godson of Padre Damaso’s brother-in-law.

The story of Elias

 The story of Elias was like hat of Sisa, a tale of pathos and tragedy. He related it to Ibarra.
 His wife was pregnant and became a prostitute in order to support her sick husband and their
son.
 After giving birth to her second son and the death of her husband, she fled with her sons to the
mountains.
 Years later, the first boy became a dreaded tulisan named Balat. He terrorized the provinces.
 His younger brother, fled and become a trusted laborer in the house of rich mam in Tayabas. He
fell in love with the master’s daughter.
 The girl’s father, enrage by romance, investigated his past and found out the truth. The
unfortunate father (Elias’s father) was sent to jail, while the girl give birth to twins, a boy (Elias)
and a girl.
 Their rich grandfather took care of them keeping secret their scandalous origin and reared them
as rich children.
 An old male servant was forced to testify in the court and the truth came out that he was their
real father.
 Elias and his sister left Tayabas to hide. Since then, they lived a vagabond life.
 Elias, learning of Ibarra’s arrest, burned all the papers that might incriminate his friend and set
Ibarra’s house on fire.
 He and Ibarra jumped into a banca loaded with sacate (grass).
 Ibarra stopped at the house of Capitan Tiago to say goodbye to Maria Clara.
 After bidding Maria Clara farewell, he returned to banca.
 He and Elias padded up the Pasig River toward Laguna de Bay.