RIZAL’S IMMORTAL NOVELS Rizal used the words Noli me Tangere because the book contains

Rizal’s Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are two historical things nobody in the Philippines had dared speak about because they were
novels which form a part of the intellectual heritage of the Filipinos. They are delicate matters and could not be touched by anyone.
literary works which give a cross-section of the Philippine society during
Rizal’s time. They describe the political, economic, educational, religious and ♥The writing of the Noli
cultural life with great realism. In laying bare the conditions of his time, Rizal ½-Madrid, Spain (1884) ¼-Paris, France ¼-Berlin, Germany (1886)
dramatically presented characters in order to show the situations then March 21, 1887-Noli came off the press with the financial assistance of
obtaining. Through his powerful description of the main characters, the Maximo Viola
reader gets acquainted with the social forces which oppose each other thus PURPOSES:
presenting the realization of Rizal’s aspirations for the Filipinos to regain their 1. to picture the past and the realities in the Philippines
lost human rights, especially human dignity, justice and freedom. 2. to reply to insults heaped on the Filipinos and their country
As the characters appear in each novel and as they interact, the 3. to unmask the hypocrisy that have impoverished and brutalized the
wills and desires, and the struggle of beliefs and attitudes are presented. The Filipino people
reader cannot help but approve or reject the feeling, acting and thinking of 4. to stir the patriotism of the Filipino people
the characters in terms of his own sense of values. In thus sharing the
thoughts, emotions and behavior of the characters—which in many cases ♥Noli as the Charter of Filipino Nationalism
are the thoughts, emotions and behavior of Rizal—one shares the author’s The novel calls on the Filipino to: regain his self-confidence;
varied principles and actions. Such is the main reason why we need to appreciate his self-worth; return to the heritage of his ancestors; assert
understand the intellectual legacies in the novels. himself as co-equal with the Spaniards. It insists on the need for education,
dedication to the country; assimilating the aspects of Western cultures that
NOLI ME TANGERE: A Diagnosis of Filipino Society could enhance native traditions.
It outlines the reforms of the following: radical reforms in the
♥A Proposal on writing a novel about the Philippines armed forces, clergy and administration of justice; more respect for human
In a reunion of Filipinos at the house of his friend Pedro A. dignity; greater security for the individual; less strength in the constabulary;
Paterno in Madrid on 2 January 1884, Rizal proposed the writing of a novel and less privileges for organizations prone to abuses and corruption.
about the Philippines written by a group of Filipinos (Circulo-Hispano). His
proposal was unanimously approved by the Filipinos present at the party, ♥Defenders vs. attackers
among whom were Pedro, Maximino Viola and Antonio Paterno, Graciano DEFENDERS ATTACKERS
López Jaena,Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente and Valentin Fr. Francisco Sanchez Sen. Fernando Vida,Deputy Luis
Ventura. However, this project did not materialize. The people who agreed to -told Rizal that the pamphlet de Pando, PM Praxedes Mateo
help Rizal with the novel did not write anything. Initially, the novel was written by Fr. Rodriguez was Sagasta
planned to cover and describe all phases of Filipino life, but almost written with the feet -unjustly lambasted and criticized
everybody wanted to write about women. Rizal even saw his companions Rizal and his Noli in the 2
spend more time gambling and flirting with Spanish women. Because of this, chambers of the Spanish Cortes
he pulled out of the plan of co-writing with others and decided to draft the (1888,1889).They condemned the
novel alone. novel as anti-Catholic, Protestant
and Socialist in orientation and
♥Ideas on writing a novel about the Philippines leaning
1. Juan Luna’s Spoliarium Fr. Vicente Garcia(aka Desiderio Vicente Barrantes
-a painting depicting in the center the slaves dragging the vanquished Magalang) -attacked Rizal in La Espana
gladiators to the gloomy dungeon located at the Roman Colosseum called -he said the book was a work of Moderna, by describing him as a
Spoliarium. These gladiators would be despoiled of their armor and literature and should be judged man of contradiction whose
weapons, and together with the dead wild beasts, tigers and lions, would be that way and not on a doctrinal criticisms of the friars and the
burned. The painting also shows at the right, a group of figures which level. “If reading the Noli is a Spanish regime were actually an
symbolize the pathetic and suffering human race represented by a woman mortal sin, then [Link] had insult of the Filipinos themselves
sitting on the pavement crying because she saw the body of a beloved one, also committed a mortal sin.”
an old man with a torch searching for someone, and by two other women Marcelo [Link] Pilar Fr. Salvador Font
weeping in the dark shadows. At the left of the painting is the group -wrote a pamphlet entitled Caiigat -tried to prevent the circulation of
representing the human vultures—the prostitutes, mercenaries, money Cayo(be slippery as an eel) in the novel by publishing a few
lenders eager to despoil the dead gladiators of whatever valuables they response to Rodriguez copies of his reports
could get from them. -Rizal’s response was a satirical
-it conveyed the plight of the vanquished and the pathetic suffering of the essay entitled Por Telefono
human race; a reflection of the spirit of the social, moral and political life of Ferdinand Blumentritt Fr. Jose Rodriguez
the time because it clearly showed mankind under severe ordeal, mankind -Rizal’s novel was patriotic. It was -issued a series of pamphlets
unredeemed and reason and aspiration in an open struggle with fanaticism truthful and heartfelt effort to make under the title Cuestiones de
and injustice. Spain realize the need to remedy Sumo Interes (Katanungan na may
2. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin the social ills plaguing Filipino Dakilang Interes); he said that the
-this novel portrayed the brutalities committed by the American slave-owners society then. novel should not be read by
against their Negro slaves. devout Christians as the book is
3. Eugene Sue’s The Wandering Jew full of heresies, blasphemies and
-anti-clerical(religious) novel that aroused Rizal’s feeling against the existing the grossest errors
Philippine situation and at the same time, communicate to the Filipinos the -Rizal’s response was a satirical
ideals he wanted them to embrace pamphlet entitled, La Vision del
Fray Rodriguez
♥Why did Rizal write the novel and call it Noli me Tangere?
Noli me Tangere (Latin for Touch me not) are the words of Jesus
Christ to Mary Magdalene when she visited the tomb of Christ early on the
morning of Easter Sunday.
‘Noli me Tangere (do not touch me), for I have not yet ascended
to my Father, but go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend to my Father
and your Father, to my God and your God…’(John 20:17)
Christ must not be touched for He is holy and Mary Magdalene
was a sinner.