Noli Me Tangere

Noli Me Tangere was a patriotic novel written by the national hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal. The book paints an ugly yet clear picture of the social cancer which deteriorates both the society and the government. BEFORE WRITING: Proposed Co-Writters:  Pedro Paterno  Maximo Paterno  Antonio Paterno  Graciano Lopez Jaena  Evaristo Aguirre

   

Eduardo de Lete Julio Llorente Melecio Figueroa Valentin Ventura

Two reason why Rizal write the novel alone:  most of them wanted to change the topic from Spanish abuse to somehow related to women  they spend more time gambling and flirting with Spanish women WRITING: Noli Me Tangere - Latin words meaning Touch Me Not from a bible verse. Uncle Tom s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - his inspiration Objectives:  to defend Filipino people from foreign accusations of foolishness and lack of knowledge;  to show how the Filipino people lives during Spanish colonial period and the cries and woes of his countrymen against abusive officials;  to discuss what religion and belief can really do to everyday lives; and  to expose the cruelties, graft, and corruption of the false government at honestly show the wrongdoings of Filipinos that led to further failure. The novel was written in 1. Madrid the half of novel (1884) 2. Paris a fourth part (1885) 3. Berlin the remainder part (1886) December 1886 - finished Noli Me Tangere

PUBLICATION Vicente Blasco Ibez - proofreader and consultant Maximo Viola - help Rizal in the publication of Noli Me Tangere by lending him money for the payment and for his daily need.

Berliner Buchcdrukei Action Gesselchaft - printing shop where Rizal pay P300.00 for 2000 copies of the novel The novel has 63 chapters and written in Spanish. Elas and Salome - removed by Rizal to reduce the cost of printing March 21, 1887 - Noli Me Tangere came off the press; he sent Blumentritt a copy AFTER PUBLICATION Significant people who negated the novel:  Archbishop Pedro Payo - found and condemned the novel as heretical, impious and scandalous in its religious aspect, and unpatriotic, subversive of public order and harmful to the Spanish government and its administration of these islands in its political aspect  Fray Salvador - the cura of Tondo and chairman of the Permanent Commission of Censorship composed of laymen and ordered that the circulation of this pernicious book" be absolutely prohibited  Jose Rodriguez - an Augustinian friar that warned the people that in reading the book they "commit mortal sin", considering that it was full of heresy according to a pamphlet Caiingat Cayo (Beware).  Vicente Barrantes - wrote an article about the novel as "anti-Catholic, Protestant, socialistic. Influences:  awakened sleeping Filipino awareness  established the grounds for aspiring an independence.  Spanish authorities will read it first with very high admiration with the novel but threatened of knowledge he had  defenders found every reason to justify its publication and circulation to the greatest number of Filipinos Noli Me Tangere Translation:  Au Pays des Moines (The Land of the Monks) (French)  Friars and Filipinos  Huwag Akong Salangin Nino Man (Somebody Touch Me Not) (Tagalog)  The Social Cancer (English)  An Eagle Flight  Noli me Tangere: (Noli Me Tangere: Filipino Novel)  "Noli Me Tangere" : A Complete English Translation of Noli Me Tangere from the Spanish of Dr. Jose Rizal (English)  The Lost Eden (English)  Noli Me Tangere (English)  Noli Me Tangere (Tagalog)  Noli Me Tangere (English)

The Noli Me Tangere Cover

Symbols Silhouette of woman Tombstone Laurel Flower of pomelo Laurel and flower of pomelo Burning torch words partly covered by the title the flower mirasol The author's name Bamboo A man in a cassock with hairy feet chain Whips the helmet of the Civil Guard

Meaning symbolizing constancy and Filipino women religious faith courage (carried by woman in her wedding) purity honor and fidelity rage and passion the secret, inner dedication by Rizal to his parents representing youth seeking the sun and the enlightenment for all Filipino meaning the green of renewal (most enduring of all Philippine trees) resilience priests using religion in a dirty way slavery cruelties arrogance of those in authorities

Hidden letter: A mis P(adres.) al escribir e(sta obra he estado) pensando continuamente e(n vosotros que me) habeis infundido los p(rimeros pensamientos) y las primeras ideas;a (vosotros os dedi)co este manuscrito de me (joventud com p)rueba de amor. Berlin, (21 de Febrero de) 1887. Meaning: To my Parents, on having written this work, I have been thinking continuously about you that I am
infused the first thoughts and the first ideas; I dedicate you thismanuscript of me raise as proof of love. Berlin, 21 Febrary, 1887.

Major Characters:

 

Juan Crisstomo Ibarra y Magsalin, commonly referred to the novel as Ibarra or Crisstomo, is the protagonist in the story. Son of a Filipino businessman, Don Rafael Ibarra, he studied in Europe for seven years. Ibarra is also Mara Clara's fianc. Mara Clara de los Santos y Alba, commonly referred to as Mara Clara, is the most beautiful and widely celebrated girl in San Diego. In the later parts of the novel, Mara Clara's identity was revealed as an illegitimate daughter of Father Dmaso, former parish curate of the town, and Doa Pa Alba. In the end she entered local covenant for nuns Beaterio de Santa Clara. Don Santiago de los Santos, known by his nickname Tiago and political title Capitn Tiago is a Filipino businessman and the cabeza de barangay or head of barangay of the town of San Diego. Dmaso Verdolagas, or Padre Dmaso is a Franciscan friar and the former parish curate of San Diego. He is best known as a notorious character who speaks with harsh words and has been a cruel priest during his stay in the town. Elas is Ibarra's mysterious friend and ally. Elas made his first appearance as a pilot during a picnic of Ibarra and Mara Clara and her friends. He wants to revolutionize the country and to be freed from Spanish oppression. Filosofo Tacio, known by his Filipinized name Pilosopo Tasyo is another major character in the story. Seeking for reforms from the government, he expresses his ideals in paper written in a cryptographic alphabet similar from hieroglyphs and Coptic figures hoping "that the future generations may be able to decipher it" and realized the abuse and oppression done by the conquerors. Doa Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaa, commonly known as Doa Victorina, is an ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as a Spanish and mimics Spanish ladies by putting on heavy make-up. The novel narrates Doa Victorina's younger days: she had lots of admirers, but she did not choose any of them because nobody was a Spaniard. Later on, she met and married Don Tiburcio de Espadaa, an official of the customs bureau who is about ten years her junior. However, their marriage is childless. Her husband assumes the title of medical doctor even though he never attended medical school; using fake documents and certificates, Tiburcio practices illegal medicine. Tiburcio's usage of the title Dr. consequently makes Victorina assume the title Dra. (doctora, female doctor). Apparently, she uses the whole name Doa Victorina de los Reyes de de Espadaa, with double de to emphasize her marriage surname. She seems to feel that this awkward titling makes her more "sophisticated." Sisa, Crispn, and Basilio represent a Filipino family persecuted by the Spanish authorities Narcisa or Sisa is the deranged mother of Basilio and Crispn. Described as beautiful and young, although she loves her children very much, she cannot protect them from the beatings of her husband, Pedro. Crispn is Sisa's 7-year-old son. An altar boy, he was unjustly accused of stealing money from the church. After failing to force Crispn to return the money he allegedly stole, Father Salv and the head sacristan killed him. It is not directly stated that he was killed, but the dream of Basilio suggests that Crispn 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, Elas 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.

Secondary Characters:   Padre Hernando de la Sibyla a Dominican friar. He is described as short and has fair skin. He is instructed by an old priest in his order to watch Crisstomo Ibarra. Padre Bernardo Salv the Franciscan curate of San Diego, secretly harboring lust for Mara Clara. He is described to be very thin and sickly. It is also hinted that his last name, "Salvi" is the shorter form of "Salvi" meaning Salvation, or "Salvi" is short for "Salvaje" meaning bad hinting to the fact that he is willing to kill an innocent child, Crispin, just to get his money back, though there was not enough evidence that it was Crispin who has stolen his 2 onzas. El Alfrez or Alperes chief of the Guardia Civil. Mortal enemy of the priests for power in San Diego and husband of Doa Consolacion. Doa Consolacon wife of the Alfrez, nicknamed as la musa de los guardias civiles (The muse of the Civil Guard) or la Alfreza, was a former laundrywoman who passes herself as a Peninsular; best remembered for her abusive treatment of Sisa. Don Tiburcio de Espadaa Spanish Quack Doctor who is limp and submissive to his wife, Doa Victorina. Teniente Guevara - a close friend of Don Rafael Ibarra. He reveals to Crisstomo how Don Rafael Ibarra's death came about. Alfonso Linares A distant nephew of Tiburcio de Espanada, the would-be fianc of Mara Clara. Although he presented himself as a practitioner of law, it was later revealed that he, just like Don Tiburcio, is a fraud. He later died due to given medications of Don Tiburcio. Ta Isabel - Capitn Tiago's cousin, who raised Maria Clara. Governor General (Gobernador Heneral) Unnamed person in the novel, he is the most powerful official in the Philippines. He has great disdain for the friars and corrupt officials, and sympathizes with Ibarra. Don Filipo Lino vice mayor of the town of San Diego, leader of the liberals. Padre Manuel Martn - he is the linguist curate of a nearby town who delivers the sermon during San Diego's fiesta. Don Rafael Ibarra - father of Crisstomo Ibarra. Though he is the richest man in San Diego, he is also the most virtuous and generous.

 

  

 

  

Dona Pa Alba - wife of Capitan Tiago and mother of Mara Clara, she died giving birth to her daughter. In reality, she was raped by Dmaso so she could bear a child.