The Women in

Rizal’s Life
 In May 1888 Rizal visited London
for short time, boarding the house
of the Beckett family: Mr. & Mrs.
Beckett; their two sons, and their
four daughters. The eldest daughter
was named Gertrude.

Gertrude Beckett
A Chiseled Beauty
Gertrude Beckett
The Artist’s Right Hand
 Young lady with blue eyes and brown hair
 She helped Rizal mix his colors and prepare his clay, when Rizal
stayed indoors painting and sculpting
 Rizal called her “Gettie”
 She called Rizal “Pettie”

Leaving for a Higher Cause

 Rizal withdrew before the relationship become more serious.
 Rizal realized that he could not marry Gettie for he had a
mission to fulfill in life.
 On January 28, 1890, Rizal
left for Brussels, Belgium. He
stayed for a considerable time,
paying for room and board. His
landladies had a pretty niece
named Petite Suzanne
Jacoby. She was taken by
Rizal's charm and gallantry, and
provided him good company.

Suzanne Jacoby
A Love Unrequited
Suzanne Jacoby
A Broken Heart
 Suzanne fell in love with Rizal, and wept when he left for
Madrid in July 1890.
 Rizal could have flirted with the lady, considering that his
beloved Leonor was far away and he was a lonely man
in a strange and foreign land, but he realized he could
not deceive her.
"Where are you now? Do you think of me once in a while? I am reminded of
our tender conversations, reading your letter, although it is cold and
indifferent. Here in your letter I have something which makes up for your
absence. How pleased I would be to follow you, to travel with you who are
always in my thoughts.

You wish me all kinds of luck, but forget that in the absence of a beloved one
a tender heart cannot feel happy.

A thousand things serve to distract your mind, my friend; but in my case, I am

sad, lonely, always alone with my thoughts -- nothing, absolutely nothing
relieves my sorrow. Are you coming back? That's what I want and desire
most ardently -- you cannot refuse me.

I do not despair and I limit myself to murmuring against time which runs so fast
when it carries us toward a separation, but goes so slowly when it's bringing us
together again.

I feel very unhappy thinking that perhaps I might never see you again.

Goodbye! You know with one word you can make me very happy. Aren't
you going to write to me?"
 In 1891, Rizal took a vacation in
Biarritz in order to find reprieve from
his troubles in Madrid. He was a
guest of the Boustead family in their
winter residence, Villa Eliada. Mr.
and Mrs. Boustead had two
beautiful daughters, Adelina and
Nellie.

Nellie Boustead
A Failed Proposal
Nellie Bousted
An Emotional Rebounce
 Rizal develop considerable affection for Nellie
 Rizal found her to be intelligent, morally upright, and full of life.
 Rizal wants to marry Nellie.

Consent from the Lady’s Past Love

 Antonio Luna had previously loved Nellie
 With all the encouragement from the friends of Rizal, Rizal
wooed Nellie.

A Broken Engagement
 Rizal’s marriage proposal failed for two reasons: Religion and
Nellie’s Mother
 Rizal and Nellie parted as good friends..
 Rizal's exile in Dapitan was one
of the most lonesome and
sorrowful periods of his life. He
missed the company of his friends
and family, and the death of
Leonor Rivera on August 28, 1893
left a gaping void in his heart.
 Josephine Bracken arrived at
the shores of Dapitan
accompanying her blind adoptive
father, Mr. George Taufer. No
ophthalmologist in Hong Kong, their
home country, could cure the
man's blindness and so they sought
the services of the famous Dr. Jose
Rizal.

Josephine Bracken
True Love in Exile
Josephine Bracken
Overcoming Barriers
 Rizal and Josephine fell in love at first sight.
 Rizal and Bracken romantic interlude went on for about a
month, after which they decided to marry.
 Mr. Taufer attempted to kill himself with a razor to his throat.
 Mr. Taufer's blindness was venereal in nature, it was incurable.

Exchanging Vows
 The priest of Dapitan refused to conduct the ceremony without
consent from the Bishop of Cebu.
 Since no priest would marry them, Rizal and Josephine held
hands, exchanged vows, and married themselves before God.
The Loss of a Child
 Rizal and Josephine lived together in Dapitan as husband and
wife, and in early 1896 they were expecting a baby.
 Josephine had to go into premature labor after Rizal played a
prank and frightened her.
 A little boy of eight months was born, who lived for only three
hours.
 Rizal named him Francisco in honor of his father, and buried the
child in Dapitan.
Rizal’s True Love:

Philippines