Chapter 17 Misfortunes in Madrid (1890-91)

Rizal tried to take legal means to seek justice for his family in Calamba, he
sought the help of some Filipinos in certain publishers in Madrid but failed “To cover the
ears, open the purse, and fold the arms” said to be the Spanish Colonial Policy. Bad
news kept on reaching Rizal, one of them is that his parents was forcibly ejected to their
home and were living in the house of Narcisa.
Rizal was, by nature, neither hot-tempered nor pugnacious. Being known as loyal
to his people, family, women or friends, he never hesitated to fight even if he were
risking his own life, when their honors was besmirched. He then challenged Wenceslao
E. Retana to a duel, a talented Spanish scholar, known for attacking Filipinos, including
Rizal, in various newspapers in Madrid and other cities in Spain. Later on, Retana then
published a retraction and an apology in the newspapers, for he was warned that he
had no chance against Rizal on a field of honor, because he was his superior in both
pistol and sword.
Rizal experienced some other misfortunes during his stay in Madrid, but later on
he left for Biarritz.