Chapter 7 - NOLI ME TANGERE: A Diagnosis of Filipino Society

Rizal’s proposal of writing a novel was welcomed by his fellow expatriates in Spain.
He started writing the novel Noli Me Tangere in 1884 while he was studying in Europe.
He completed one half of the novel in Madrid. One fourth of the novel was written when
he was at Paris while the remaining one fourth was completed in Berlin, Germany on
February 21, 1887.

The novel came off the press on March

21, 1887 with the financial assistance of
Maximo Viola lending him P300.00 pesos
printed by Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-
Gesselschaft- a printing shop which charged
the lowest rate, that is, 300 pesos for 2,000
copies of the novel.

The title of the novel means “do not touch

me” in Latin taken from the gospel of St. Luke
but was mistaken from the gospel of St. John,
Chapter 20, verses 13 to 17 when Mary
Magdalene met Jesus Christ after his
resurrection.

Moreover, he dedicated this novel to the

Philippines in which he warned of a social
cancer and that he is exposing the ills of a
society portraying the conditions of the country,
such as the widespread arrogance of the friars,
government officials and their corruption of
society. It further aimed to portray complacency
of the Filipinos and the loss of their native
identity and finally, unite the Filipino people by opening their eyes to the existing social
and economic conditions.

The “Noli Me Tangere” deals with the customs and traditions of the Filipino people.
It further exposed the greed for power of the friars, government and military that nobody
dared touching their unconscionable offenses and roots of social cancer.
 The Noli Me Tangere is an urgent call for the Filipinos to see for themselves the
social ill and to do something for the country. It is a warning that the book contains
expose’s which unmask hypocrites and Pharisees. Lastly, it contains biting satires,
parodies, and allegories on the weaknesses and flaws of all Filipinos (Daquila, 2008).

Intended Learning Outcome:

At the end of the lesson the students will be able to:

1. Appraise important characters in the novel and what they represent;

2. Examine the present Philippine condition/ situation through examples examined in
Noli; and
3. Determine the comparison of the two novels.

Noli Me Tangere is a novel filled with controversies. The first five chapters deal with
conspiracy, murder and coded communications.

A PROPOSAL ON WRITING A NOVEL ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

 Filipinos were practically on unknown nation. They were mistaken for Chinese in
Spain. And Japanese in Paris.
 Rizal encouraged his fellow expatriates to call themselves “Indios Bravos” for
them to have a sense of national identities.
  Rizal presented a proposal on writing a novel about the Philippines to the
Circulo-Hispano Filipino on January 2, 1884.
 Pedro Paterno published his novel entitled “Ninay” with its subtitle “Costumbres
Filipinas” (Philippine Customs) that delved only on one aspect of Filipino culture.

IDEAS ON WRITING A NOVEL ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

 Juan Luna’s Spolarium

Luna’s canvass conveyed the plight of the vanquished and the pathetic suffering
of the human race.

 Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

This novel portrayed the brutalities committed by American slave

owners against their Negro slave.

 The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue

Rizal used this novel as a model to arouse the feeling against the
existing Philippine situation and at the same time communicate to
the Filipino ideals he wanted them to embrace.
THE WRITING OF THE NOLI ME TANGERE

 Rizal started writing the Noli Me Tangere in 1884 while he was studying in
Europe. He completed one half of the novel in Madrid. One fourth of the novel
was written when he was at Paris while the remaining one fourth was completed
in Berlin, Germany on February 21, 1887.
 The novel came off the press on March 21, 1887 with the financial assistance of
Maximo Viola.
 Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft- a printing shop which charged the
lowest rate, that is, 300 pesos for 2,000 copies of the novel
 The title can be translated into English as “Touch Me Not”

RIZAL’S LETTER TO FERDINAND BLUMENTRITT

I send you a book…. It is the first impartial and bold book on

the life of the Tagalogs. The Filipino will find in it the history of
the last ten years (1877-1887) …. Here I answer all the false
concepts which I have been formed against us and all the
insults which have been intended to belittle us.

RIZAL’S LETTER TO MARCELO H. DEL PILAR

I wrote my Noli Me Tangere to stir the

patriotism of my countrymen. I would be
happy if among those I have stirred, I shall
find notable companions…...

PURPOSES FOR WRITING NOLI ME TANGERE

 To picture the past and the realities in the Philippines.

 To reply to insults heaped on the Filipinos and their country.
 To unmask the hypocrisy that have impoverished and brutalized the Filipino
people.
 To stir the patriotism of the Filipino people.
CHARACTERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE

1. Juan Crisostomo Ibarra - He represented the affluent and liberal European –

Educated Filipino. Civic – minded, liberty – minded and patriotic, he desired the education
of the people.

2. Elias - He represented the Filipino masses and as a symbol of common people.

Elias did everything to vindicate them from the injustices suffered from the Spaniards. He
believes that the redemption of the country depends on the Ilustrados. He is a mouthpiece
of Rizal’s contradictory thoughts and purposes.

3. Maria Clara - As the object of Ibarra’s love and affection, Rizal represented Filipino
womanhood trained in a convent and immersed in education basically religious in
orientation. She symbolizes the Filipino womanhood in their fidelity coyness and modesty.

4. Don Rafael Ibarra - He symbolizes an affluent landlord with a social conscience.

Father Damaso considered him a heretic and Filibustero owing to his liberal and
independent views.

5. Sisa - The mother of Basilio and Crispin and lost her mental balance. She
represented the typical characteristics of Filipino mothers – fully cognizant of the
attributes of their sons and daughters; and willing to defend them from all forms of injustice
or accusations.
6. Capitan Tiago - His wealth was derived from his involvement in the illegal opium
trade. He was a symbol of cacique mentality. He represented the subservient Filipino to
the authorities who protect his personal and business interest.

7. Doña Victorina - As a social climber, she married Don Tiburcio de Espadaña to

support her claim of being a Spaniard. She symbolizes the colonial mentality among some
Filipinos during Rizal’s time.

8. Doña Patrocinio - Mistress of the Alferez, she was noted to be imprudent, vulgar,
cruel, and quarrelsome. As such, she symbolized the mentality of the Guardia Civil. Being
the only competitor of Capitan Tiagoin Godliness, she did everything to pretend that she
was really religious by showing off to the public what she could contribute for the church.

9. Pilosopo Tasyo - He represented Rizal’s epitome of a philosopher. He was

perceived to be a sage by the educated and a weird or lunatic by those who did not know
him.

10. The School Master of San Diego - He symbolized intellectual dissatisfaction in

Filipino society during Rizal’s time. As an educated individual, he dreamed of changing
the methods of teaching to facilitate greater learning on the part of the pupils then.

THE FILIPINO SOCIETY AS PICTURED IN THE NOLI

 The government was administered by self-seekers, motivated by the desire to

enrich themselves at the expense of the people.
 Honest and sincere officials were few.
 Corruption is rampant.
 Banditry became a way of life for many due to the corruption and brutality of the
Guardia civil.
 Friars used the Catholic Church to amass wealth and perpetuate themselves into
power.
 Filipinos were not spared in Rizal’s criticism of Filipino society. He criticized his
fellow countrymen for their blind religious fanaticism, corruption, passion for
gambling, subservience of the wealthy Filipinos toward the friars and government
officials and their ridiculous efforts to distance themselves from the common
people.

GOOD QUALITIES AND VIRTUES OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

 Modesty and devotion of the Filipino woman.

  Open-handed hospitality of the Filipino family.
 Devotion of parents to their children and children to their parents.
 Deep sense of gratitude of the Filipino peasant.

RIZAL’S DIAGNOSIS OF FILIPINO SOCIETY

 Friars were the enemies of reform, progressive and justice in the country
because of:
1. The agrarian problem in Calamba between the tenants and the Dominicans.
2. Rizal’s stay in Europe.
3. Influence of the Spanish anti-clericalism.

ROLES OF FRIARS

 Parish priest
 Tax collector
 School inspector
 Superintendent of public work by force labor
 Intelligence officer
 President of local boards

NOLI ME TANGERE AS A CHARTER OF FIIPINO NATIONALISM

It calls on the Filipino to:

• Regain self-confidence
• Appreciate his self-worth
• Return to the heritage of his ancestors
• Assert himself as a co-equal of the Spaniards
• Need for Education
• Dedication to the country
• Assimilating the aspects of western cultures

Reform needed by Filipino:

• Radical reforms in the armed forces, clergy and administration of justice.

• More respect for human dignity.
 • Greater security.
• Less strength in the constabulary.
• Less privileges for organizations prone to abuses and corruption.

FIRST REACTIONS TO THE NOLI ME TANGERE

Antonio Regidor

A Filipino exile for his allege complicity in the 1872 uprising. “The book is superior, if Don
Quijote has made its author immortal because he exposed to the world the sufferings of
Spain, your Noli Me Tangere will bring you equal glory”

Ferdinand Blumentritt

“Your work, as we Germans say, has been written with blood and heart…. Your work has
exceeded my hopes and I consider myself fortunate and happy to have been honored
with your friendship. Not only I but your country, may feel happy for having you, a patriotic
and son.

August 30, 1887

Archbishop Payo found the book to be heretical, impious and scandalous in its religious
aspect, unpatriotic, subversive of public order and offensive to the government of Spain.

December 29, 1892

Father Salvador Font recommended the prohibition of the importation, reproduction and
circulation of the pernicious books in the Philippines.

ATTACK AND DEFFENSE OF THE NOLI ME TANGERE

Vicente Barantes

A Spanish academician, he attacked Rizal in 1889 by describing him as a man of

contradiction, whose criticisms of the friars and the Spanish regime were actually an
insult to the Filipinos themselves.

Anonymous Friars

Rizal was labelled an ungrateful man and challenged him to come out into the open if
he had a grievance against the religious establishment.
Father Salvador Font

Tried to prevent the circulation of the novel by publishing a few copies of his report.

Four Parts of His Report:

1. Attacks on the religion of the state.

2. Attacks on the administration, the government employees and the court.
3. Attacks on the civil guards.
4. Attacks on the territorial integrity of the Spanish kingdom.

Fr. Jose Rodriguez

Wrote a series of pamphlets under the title “Cuestiones de Sumo Interes” that judge
Rizal’s novel on a doctrinal level that devoted Christian shouldn’t read it because it
contains alleged blasphemy and heresy.

Fr. Francisco Sanchez

Rizal’s teacher in rhetoric at Ateneo. After reading the pamphlet written by father
Rodriguez, he told Rizal that it was that pamphlet written with the feet and not the Noli
Me Tangere. He defended Rizal publicly.

Fr. Vicente Garcia

A Filipino priest and the translator into Tagalog of the famous imitation of Christ writing
under the pen name of “Desiderio Magalang”.

“Noli Me Tangere was a work of literature and should be judge that way and not on a
doctrinal level.”

“If reading the Noli Me Tangere is a mortal sin, then Fr. Rodriguez had also committed a
mortal sin.”

“Rizal was not ignorant man because he was an alumnus of Spanish Universities and a
recipient of numerous academic honors and awards.”

Blumentritt
Rizal’s novel is a patriotic one. It was a truthful and heartfelt effort to make Spain realize
the need to remedy the social ills plaguing the Filipino society.