NOLI ME TANGERE: A DIAGNOSIS OF FILIPINO SOCIETY

A PROPOSAL ON WRITING A NOVEL ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

o While Rizal was in Paris he had observed that Filipinos were sometimes mistaken for
Chinese in Spain and Japanese in Paris. Thus, during the Paris Exposition of 1889, Rizal
encourage his fellow expatriates to call themselves Indios Bravos (Brave Indians) for
them to have a sense of national identity.
o Rizal presented a proposal on writing a novel about the Philippines to the Circulo
Hispano Filipino on January 2, 1884. The organization approved this proposal but the
project did not materialize because those who were expected to collaborate with Rizal
did not write anything on the subject.
IDEAS ON WRITING A NOVEL ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
o Rizal had got many motivation and ideas on writing a novel
Lunas Spolarium his canvassed conveyed the plight of the vanquished and the
pathetic suffering of the human race. This made Rizal write a novel depicting the
country to be redeemed from bondage and repression.
Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe portrayed the brutalities
committed by American slave-owners against their Negro slaves.
Anti-clerical novel authored by Eugene Sue entitled The Wandering Dew
He stated writing the novel in 1884, while he was in Europe. He completed one half of the novel
in Madrid. One-fourth of the novel was written while 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, 1877, with the financial assistance of Maximo Viola. The title Noli Me Tangere can be
translated into English Touch Me Not. This words were uttered by Jesus Christ to Mary
Magdalene when the latter visited His tomb before sunrise of Easter Sunday. It was because the
said title contained delicate things nobody wanted to talk about or touch during his time.
PURPOSES OF RIZAL WHY HE WROTE THE NOVEL
o To picture the past and the realties in the Philippins
o To reply to insults heaped on the Filipinos and their country
o To unmask the hypocrisy that have impoverished and brutalized the Filipino people
o To stir the patriotism of the Filipino people
THE CHARACTERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
o Juan Crisostomo Ibarra represents the affluent and liberal European educated Filipino.
Civic-minded, liberty minded and patriotic, he desires the education for the people.
o Elias represent the Filipino masses. As the symbol of the common people, Elias did
everything to vindicate them from the injustices suffered from the Spaniards.
o Maria Clara the object of Ibarras affection and love, represents womanhood trained
in a convent and immersed in education basically religious orientation.
o Don Rafael Ibarra the Father of Juan Crisostomo. Symbolizes the landlord with social
conscience.
o Sisa through her, Rizal was able to illustrate lack of concern in facing and resolving
problems confronting Filipino society. She was also used by Rizal in Noli to illustrate 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.
o Capitan Tiago symbolizes the cacique mentality of the common people. Professing to
be religious but never did he pray to Go even in the face of difficulties. Instead, he let his
money pray for him.
o Doa Victorina symbolizes the colonial mentality of the Filipinos
o Doa Patrocinio symbolizes the mentality of the Guardia Civil (imprudent, vulgar, cruel
and quarrelsome)
o Pilosopo Tasyo represented the epitome of Rizal as a philosopher. Perceived to be a
sage by educated and a weird or lunatic by those who did not know him
o The school Master of San Diego symbolizes the intellectual dissatisfaction in the
Filipino society during the time of Rizal