SAINT MICHAEL COLLEGE OF CARAGA

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Chapter 8
Noli Me Tangere Published in
Berlin (1887)

MR. REGGY H. BARTIDO

INSTRUCTOR, COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

1
Idea of Writing a Novel on the Philippines

• Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin portrays the brutalities of American slave-
owners and the pathetic conditions of the unfortunate Negro slaves

- Uncle Tom’s Cabin inspired Jose to prepare a novel that would depict the miseries of
his people under the lash of Spanish Tyrants.
- By that time, Jose was only a student in the Central University of Madrid.

• January 02, 1884, reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno residence in Madrid.

- Jose proposed to write novel about the Filipinos by a group of Filipinos.

- Proposal was unanimously approved by: Paternos (Pedro, Maximo, and
Antonio), Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente,
Melecio Figueroa, and Valentin Ventura—however, in the long run those
expected to collaborate on the novel did not write anything. Because they were
more interested writing on Women, and flirting, and gambling.
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The Writing of the Noli

TIMELINE:

• By the end of 1884 – Jose began writing Noli in Madrid and finished one-half of it.

• 1885 in Paris – after his studies in Central University of Madrid he continued to

write the novel, finishing one-half of the second half.

• In Germany – he finished the last fourth of the novel

• April – June 1886 – Jose wrote the last few chapters of the Noli in Wilhemsfeld.

• In Berlin during the winter days of February 1886 - Jose made the final revisions on
the manuscript of Noli.

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The Writing of the Noli

• Sick and penniless, Jose saw no hope of having Noli published, so that in a momentary
fit of desperation, he almost hurled it into the flames. Years later he told his good
friend and former classmate, Fernando Canon:

“I did not believe that the Noli Me Tangere would ever be published when I was
in Berlin, broken-hearted, weakened, and discouraged from hunger and
deprivation. I was on the point of throwing my work into the fire as a thing
accursed and fit only to die.”

• After the Christmas season, due to Viola, Jose put the finishing touches on his novel.

• To save printing expenses, he deleted certain chapters, such as a whole chapter about
Elias and Salome.

• On February 21, 1887 Noli was ready for printing.

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Viola, Savior of the Noli

• In the midst of his despondency and misery, Jose received a telegram from Dr. Maximo
Viola who was coming to Berlin.

- Viola was a scion of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan.

- When he arrived in Berline before Christmas, he was shocked to find Jose living in
poverty and sick due to lack of proper nourishment.

• Viola gladly agreed to finance the printing cost of the Noli.

• He also loaned Jose some cash money for living expenses.

• By February 21, 1887 Noli was ready for printing.

• Jose went to different printing shops in Berlin to survey the cost of printing. Eventually,
they decided to print with Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselscchaft [Eng.] who charged
the lowest rate – 300 pesos for 2, 000 copies of the novel.
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Rizal Suspected as French Spy

• One morning, while the printing of the Noli is ongoing, the Chief of Police of Berlin
paid a sudden visit to Jose’s boarding house and requested to see Jose’s passport.

- Unfortunately, Jose had no passport by that time—by that time it was possible to
travel without a passport.
- The police chief told him to secure a passport within four days, otherwise Jose
would be deported.

• Jose, accompanied by Viola went to the Spanish embassy to seek help from the
Spanish ambassador, the Count of Benomar. He promised Jose he will help, albeit
the ambassador failed to keep his promise because he had no power to issue the
required passport.

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Rizal Suspected as French Spy

• Because Jose could not be helped by the Spanish ambassador, Jose presented himself at the
office of the German Police Chief. He apologized for his failure to obtain a passport and asked
why he was to be deported.

• The German explained that Jose made frequent visits to the villages and little towns in the
rural areas, thereby arousing the German government’s suspicion that he was a French spy,
inasmuch as he entered Germany from Paris, where he resided for some years and was
apparently a lover of France, whose language and culture he knew so much. At that time the
relations between France and Germany were strained on account of Alsace-Loraine.

• Jose explained he was not a French spy, but was a Filipino physician, scientist, and ethnologist,
and that he needed to visit these areas to observe the customs and life-styles of their
inhabitants.

• The German police was impressed and allowed Jose to stay in Germany freely.

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Printing of the Noli Finished

• On March 21, 1887 – Noli came off the press.

• Jose immediately sent the first copies of the printed novel to his intimate friends,
including Blumentritt, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, G. Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce,
and Felix R. Hidalgo.

• On March 29, 1887, Jose, 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 complimentary copy.

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 ABOUT
NOLI ME TANGERE
Borrowed Material from: DIANE MAY B. CERMINO
RIZAL BEING A NOVELIST
Noli Me Tangere and the sequel novel El Filibusterismo (The
Reign Of the Greed) are now considered two of the greatest
social document of all time. His works of fiction criticized and
exposed the social life of the Spanish Colonial in print that had
brought tremendous effects to the people of 19th century. It
included also the abuses of the friars and the government
officials in the Philippines.

Rizal is a brilliant author and a great writer. He fought for peaceful reforms through his
writings. "Rizal's fame as a novelist rests on his two published novels -- Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo.” The novel Noli Me Tangere clearly depicts the current socio-
political setting and struggle in the Philippines before and during his time.
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda {Our Nationa Hero}
“The youth is the hope of our future.”
 Purpose of Noli Me Tangere
• Rizal write the novels not just for entertainment but for
noble purpose of redeeming Filipinos from their miserable
condition.

• Another aim of Noli Me Tangere is to awaken the feelings

of his countrymen, to depict the series of a typical Filipino
scene, to reveal the excellent gift of observations and to
express the sad conditions of society and the cry of many
Filipinos.

2. To awaken Malady National

1. To expose
2 OBECTIVES

Consciousness
the malady and develop the
a disease, a problem the awareness of
national-
affecting our within a system or national communality
Jose Rizal as the Father of consciousness
Nationalism. organization. of a group of people, or
country. of the people.
“There can be no tyrants where there are no slaves.” nation.
 NOLI ME TANGERE (TOUCH ME NOT)
Jesus saith to her, Touch me not;
for I am not yet ascended.
to my Father; but go to my brethren,
and say to them, I ascend
to my Father and your Father, and
to my God and your God. (KJV)
Latin phrase for "Touch me not“
The technical name of a particularly
painful type of cancer
He proposed to probe all the cancers
of Filipino society that everyone else
felt too painful to touch.

Inspiration from: Inspired By: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s

John 20:13-17 of the Bible “Uncle Toms Cabin”

Publication date: 1887 Genre: Novel, fiction, Philippine history

Cover page of the first Philippine Followed by: El filibusterismo Chapters: 63 and an epilogue
edition published in 1899.6 7
Jose Rizal is a prolific poet, essayist, and novelist.
“He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.”
 CHARACTERS IN THE NOLI ME
TANGERE The characters represent the real situation during the
Spanish-colonial period in the 19 century. th

Juan Crisóstomo Don Santiago de los Elías is Ibarra's Doña Victorina de Crispín is Sisa's
Ibarra y Magsalin, the Santos, known by his mysterious friend and los Reyes de de seven-year-old son.
novel's protagonist. The nickname Tiago and ally. Espadaña, commonly An altar-boy, he was
mestizo son of Filipino
political known as Doña unjustly accused of
businessman who studied
in Europe for seven title Kapitán Tiago, Salomé is Elías' Victorina, is an stealing money from
years. sweetheart ambitious Filipina. the church.
María Clara de los Dámaso Verdolagas, Filósofo Tasio known Narcisa, or Sisa, is the Basilio is Sisa's 10-
Santos, commonly better known as Pilosopo deranged mother of year-old son. An
referred to as María as Padre Dámaso, is a Tasyo was enrolled in Basilio and Crispín. acolyte tasked to ring
Franciscan friar, and the
Clara, is Ibarra's a philosophy course the church's bells for
former parish curate of
fiancée. San Diego. and was a talented theAngelus.
student.
"Noli Me Tángere" was a name used for cancer of the eyelids; by the Austro-Hungarian writer Ferdinand Blumentritt
“He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and smelly fish.”
 Crisostomo Ibarra Maria Clara
Exemplified the vision that Symbolizes the purity and
Characters and their

Jose Rizal aimed for the innocence of a sheltered

youth of the Philiplines. He is nativewoman during the time
the best attribute for rizal’s of Spanish Occupation.
reflection on himself.
symbolism

He is outspoken, realistic and Her name and character has

is liberal mind which become a byword in Filipino
symbolizes the idealism of culture for the traditional,
the priveledge youth. feminine ideal.

“It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field
without becoming a part of any edifice.”
 Padre Damaso Verdolagas
THEIR SYMBOLISM
CHARACTERS AND
Symbolizes the Spanish friars
of Rizal’s time and is a
comment on the Spanish
control in the country.
Tasio
Symbolizes the learned
Filipinos who Had once
embrace the culture of the
Spanish regime.

Elias
Represents The common filipino who is not only aware of
the injustices done to their countrymen but would also like to
deliver Them from their oppressor. He is said to be the
personification of Andres bonifacio.

At the age of 26, Rizal published his first novel “Noli Me Tangere” in Belgium in 1887.
 The undesirables
• The characters who portrays the parading social cancer in the Philippines.
CHARACTERS
SYMBOLISM • Capitan Tiago- symbolizes The rich Filipinos who oppress Their fellow
countrymen in exchange for their influence and riches.
AND THEIR
• Doña Consolacion- symbolizes the Filipinos in society Who are ashamed of
their race and nationality.

SISA, CRISPIN AND BASILIO

• Sisa symbolizes the Philippines as she is still young and charming but due to so
much sorrow and sufferings brought by the Spaniards colonization. She also
represents the Filipino motherhood as she is sensitive and refuse to allow
degradation of her reputation “the mother of thieves”.
• The characters who portrays the family persecuted by the Spanish athorities
Cover of Noli Me Tangere

CROSS Sufferings
Pomelo Blossoms and Laurel Leaves Honor and fedility
Silhouette of a Filipina Maria Clara
Burning Torch Rage and passion
Sunflowers Enlightenment
Bamboo Stalks Resilience
Man with hairy feet Priest using Religion in a dirty way
Chains Slavery
Whips Cruelties
Helmet of the Guardia Civil Arrogance of those in authority
The novel exposed the symptoms of
the cancer eroding our society
It depicts the current socio-political setting
and struggle in the Philippines before and
during his time. The characters of the novel
are greatly associated with those who exist in
our incumbent society.

• Abuses of the friars and the civil guards

• The corruption in the government
• The defective educational system
• the hypocrisy and apathy of some Filipinos
HYPOCRISY
the practice of claiming to
have moral standards or
beliefs to which one's own
behavior does not conform.
APATHY
a lack of feeling, emotion,
interest, or concern about
something.

• The decadence of the social order

Noli: as instrument in awakening
national consciousness
This novel describes how important
social forms, and the spirit of
national consciousness is. By
reading Noli Me Tangere, it will
truly be an awakening the readers
love for his country. It made Rizal
famous among Filipinos that made
him notorious from the view of the
Spanish authorities and detractors.
Today, the scenarios in the novel
portrays and connected to some
aspects of the government.