Name: Mindalano, Elham S.

Mindalano
Subject/Sec: GEC109 Yy3

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
1. Noli and El-Filibusterismo. What are the purpose or messages of Rizal in writing these
novels? Start by analyzing the literal English translations of the titles. And here 5
characters in each novel. How do these characters relate to present society? And what do
you think are the meanings in each ending scenes in the novel.

- I think the purpose or message of Rizal in writing these novels are a constant and inspiring
source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during their formative and
decisive years in school, should be suffused and also Dr. Jose Rizal wrote the novel Noli Me
Tangere, to show people how the Philippines were being bondage by Spain. Dr. Jose Rizal made
the Philippine League to get their first reform group and to get their freedom from Spain and
also for the benefit of the indios Rizal and his contemporaries in the Propaganda Movement, who
lived in Europe, apparently liked and fell in love with the idea of bringing liberal Spain
to the Philippines aside from that the novel El-Filibustersimo, Dr. Jose Rizal wishes for Filipinos
those times want to realize and his fears of what the country may become. Jose Rizal published
this book as an instrument against the Spanish authorities as well as to ignite the long lost hearts
of his fellow countrymen to stand up against the Spanish foes leading them towards freedom.
Overall to let the world know about how his motherland endured the behavior of Spanish friars,
officials and their supporters in the Philippines, especially during 19th Century. The two novels
centered on the characters of Crisostomo Ibarra for Noli Me Tangere and Simon foe El-
Filibusterismo, both of which are alluded to the national hero, while the other characters in the
story represent other symbolisms of the kind of society the Philippines had at a time and
to say what he want to say to Spaniards who occupied our country.

For the Noli Me Tangere the English translation for that is “TOUCH ME NOT” the
characteristics for this aside from this is a novel written by Jose Rizal, he wrote this novel as if
he was saying that “We Will Also Be Free” and also how he is against the Spaniards. Noli Me
Tangere also say that how they abuse us with there abusive power, how self sacrifice they do to
our country. For the El-Filibusterismo the English translation is “The Reign of Greed” the
characteristics about The Reign of Greed is Education is not for all each should only be for
people who have the real to fight for it for someone deserving of it. Father Salvi, the devious
former curate of San Diego responsible for Crispin’s death and who had lusted after Ibarra’s love
Maria Clara.

For me, the novels are an eye opener. Not really a masterpiece but it is something you would
read if you wish to reflect and learn from the past and learn about its effect on the present. In
Noli, we see the ills of society and how it affect and rot the people and their souls. While in El
Fili shows that vengeance and ambition a fatal combination brings no good. I hope that people in
the future would learn about the mistakes of the past through these books. Rizal may not have
prevented the inevitable. But at least, we the new generation would learn of its lessons and hope
that we could do better as a nation, instead of dividing ourselves and also How oppressive are the
people in power and gullible and powerless the people are. In modern times, it could be observed
by the corrupt politicians and even church officials who can be related to the friars, we can also
observe that revolution brought only by ambition and vengeance not by unity will not succeed.
True that Simon or Ibarra have suffered in the hands of the Spaniards. However this does not
mean that his means are justifiable. At the end of the story, we see that he and his plans failed.

At the end of Noli Me Tangere, Basilio - still a child - is deeply grieved by the loss of his
beloved mother, Sisa. It’s in this time that a man who is severely wounded approaches him. The
man requests that Basilio build a pyre out of firewood. Then, put him and Sisa on it - setting it on
fire. As Basilio collects firewood to build the pyre, the man whispers in the Noli Me Tangere the
quotes “I die without seeing dawn’s light shining on my country. You, who will see it, welcome
it for me, don’t forget those who fell during the night time” Like the wounded man, Jose Rizal
died before he saw his country gain independence from the Spaniards. Through the quote, he
tells us to welcome the light shining on our country: our independence, a future, hope. And, he
reminds us to not forget those who fell during the night while in El-Filibusterismo. At the end,
Jose Rizal showed that violence is never the answer to anything meaning the violence is not the
answer to anything It is just a way to create replace the old problem with a new one.

2. What are Jose Rizal’s 3 great essays? Why and how are they relevant in our history,
culture and society?
  THE HISTORY OF THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS
 INDOLENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES
 THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY HENCE

- In “The History Of The Young Women Of Malolos” They taught us that going to heaven
would be easier if we were not rich are those that make themselves as wealthy as possible. Those
that taught us service are those that accept bribery. What an example they made. If what they do
are of God's will, then it would be better to turn our back on that god. Rizal also pointed out that
living a God oriented life is not by saying endless prayers and novenas but by living on our own
reason, the reason god intended for us. The duties and responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their
children, also the duties and responsibilities of a wife to her husband and also the counsel to
young women on their choice of a lifetime partner in the “Indolence Of The Philippines” He
defends the Filipinos by saying that they are by nature not indolent, because in fact, Filipinos
have been engaged in economic activities such as agriculture and trade even before the arrival of
Spaniards. In the end, Rizal summarizes the main causes of indolence to the limited training and
education Filipino natives receive and to the lack of national sentiment and unity among them. If
they were not being fooled by the wrong doctrines, they would still have their own ways. If they
were just taught the best, they would not be worsening. But it’s never too late to correct the
wrong impression. We Filipinos should also do our part for this. Be educated and learn from the
past. It is true that education and liberty would be the cure for Filipino indolence. it represents
his defense of the Filipino from the charge that they were inherently lazy or indolent and the last
“The Philippines A Century Hence” Because of the use of force, the Filipinos learned to submit
themselves to the will of the foreigners. It will be the forecast the future of our country within a
hundred years. Rizal felt that it was time to remind Spain that the circumstances that ushered in
the French Revolution could have a telling effect for her in the Philippines. The novels reflect
about Philippines and Philippine society during the Spanish and the modern times. In my
opinion, the novels really portray what Dr. Jose Rizal wishes for Filipinos those times want to
realize and his fears of what the country may become. How oppressive are the people in power
and gullible and powerless the people are. In modern times, it could be observed by the corrupt
politicians and even church officials who can be related to the friars.