Module 4

Works (Major)
Rizal’s Novels

R. De los Reyes

The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Rizal's Novels

This deals with the two famous novels of Jose Rizal, Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterimo published in 1887 and 1892 respectively in Europe.

These two novels are instrumental good to resolve the difficulties people have
been experiencing for a long period of time. It is a prescription of Jose Rizal with end
view of curing the malady in the society.
Rizal's Novels

“Noli Me Tangere”

The title, in meaning Touch me not, pertains to scriptural verse of John 20:17
in the as tried to touch the newly
risen , He said "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.“

JOSE RIZAL opted that the prospective novel narrates the backward, anti-progress
and anti-intellectual way Filipino culture was.

Gregorio F Zaide and Sonia Zaide: Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero. All-Nations Publishing
Co. Inc, 2007
Rizal's Novels

- completed writing Noli Me Tangere in December 1886.

- foreseen the novel might not be printed.
- Thru Máximo Viola’s monetarial assistance, the novel is printed in
Berliner Buchdruckerei-Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin, Germany
Rizal's Novels

Primary Characters in Noli Me Tangere

Son of a Filipino businessman, Don Rafael Ibarra, he studied in Europe for seven
years and also María Clara's fiancé.
Maria Clara
-raised and treated by Capitán Tiago as his only daughter girl
-.an illegitimate daughter of Father Dámaso.
Capitan Tiago
-real name is Santiago de los Santos and his nickname Tiago and the poblacion
chieftain or cabeza de barangay or San Diego.
-Maria Clara’s de facto father
Padre Damaso
 Rizal's Novels
Elias
- Ibarra's mysterious savior and friend
- dreamed of liberating the society from Spanish tyrannical governance using violence.
Don Anastacio
-same with Elias ‘ dream of liberating the country from the tyrannical reign via non
violent way- using a cryptographic alphabet that someday generation in thr future can
uncover the meanings. A bit similar to Rizal in the use of pen to awaken the sleeping minds of
the people to the oppression by the colonial government.
Doña Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña
- Filipina trying to upgrade herself as a Spanish in almost in many ways such as clothings,
dialects and make-up on her face
Narcisa or Sisa
-mother of Crispin and Basilio who became mentally ill out of intense thinking of
serious problems.
Rizal's Novels

Crispín is Sisa's 7-year-old son. An altar boy, he was unjustly accused of stealing
money from the church. After failing to force Crispín to return the money he
allegedly stole, Father Salví and the head sacristan killed him. It is not directly
stated that he was killed, but the dream of Basilio suggests that Crispín died during
his encounter with Padre Salvi and his minion.

Basilio is Sisa's 10-year-old son. An acolyte tasked to ring the church bells for the
Angelus, he faced the dread of losing his younger brother and the descent of his
mother into insanity. At the end of the novel, Elías wished Basilio to bury him by
burning in exchange of chest of gold located on his death ground. He will later play
a major role in El Filibusterismo.

Gregorio F Zaide and Sonia Zaide: Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero. All-Nations Publishing
 Rizal's Novels
El Filibusterismo is a sequel of Noli Me Tangere
 Rizal's Novels

Rizal had to define the word filibustero to his German friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, who
did not understand his use of the word in Noli Me Tangere. In a letter, Rizal explained:

“The word filibustero is little known in the Philippines. The masses do not know it yet. I
heard it for the first time in 1872 when the tragic executions took place. “

“The Filipinos belonging to the educated class fear the reach of the word. It does not have
the meaning of freebooters; it rather means a dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged
or well, a presumptuous man.”
Gregorio F Zaide and Sonia Zaide: Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero. All-Nations Publishing Co. Inc, 2007
 Rizal's Novels

The El Filibusterismo is dedicated to the three martyred priest execution on the year
1872. They were wrongly implicated as having involved in the planning and execution of
the mutiny in Cavite in 1872.They were Father Mariano Gomez, (85 years old ), Father
Jose Burgos(30 years old and father Jacinto Zamora(35 years old).
They were executed at the Bagumbayan field on February 28, 1872. Gregorio F Zaide and
Sonia Zaide: Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero. All-Natons Publishing Co. Inc, 2007
Rizal's Novels

Some points Comparison and Differences between Noli and El Filibusterismo

1. Noli is a social novel, while El Fili is a political novel

2. Noli is inspired by the heart, while El Fili is propelled by the head
3. Noli injects color and freshness, while it provokes hatred and bitterness
4. Noli is composed of 63 chapters, while El Fili has 39 chapters
5. Noli is printed in Berlin,Germany while El Fili is printed in Ghent, Belgium
Rizal's Novels

5 characters present in both Noli Me Tangere & El Filibusterismo

1. Ibarra, turned Simoun

2. Basilio
3. Padre Salvi
4. Padre Sibyla
5. Capitan Tiago
Rizal's Novels

Worth pointing is the seemingly analogous of what Rizal mentioned in one of

the verses in the Mi Ultimo Adios: “ I am to die just when I see the dawn break “
and that of the one of last statements uttered by the dying Elias in the Noli novel-
“ You, who have it to see, welcome it, forget not those who have fallen during the
night I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land!

“(Zaide,Jose Rizal:Life,Works and Writings of a Genius Writer, Scientist,and

National Hero)
Rizal's Novels

Upon completing El Filibusterismo Rizal wrote to Blumentritt:

"I have not written in it any idea of vengeance against my enemies, but only for
the good of those who suffer, for the rights of Tagalogs....“
Gregorio F Zaide and Sonia Zaide: Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero. All-Nations Publishing
Co. Inc, 2007