Jose Rizal's first novel

63 chapters and an epilogue

- Student of Medicine at Universidad Central

de Madrid
- 26 yrs old (publication)

- originally written in spanish

Spanish – the language of the colonizers and

the educated at that time
1887 in Europe

Noli – shorten name

Touch Me Not/ The Social Cancer – english translation

Touch Me Not- taken from the Christ's words.

John 20:17 “Touch me not; for I am not yet
ascended to my Father.
The Writing of the Novel
Influence by Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin

January 1884 – meeting of the Filipinos in Madrid

at Paterno residene , Rizal suggested the creation of the book

Approved by :

Paternos (Pedro, Maximino & Antonio)

Graciano Lopez Jaena
Valentin Ventura
Eduardo de Lete
Evaristo Aguirre
Julio Llorente
January 2,1884 – approved

Leaving France in 1885, he had written

the third quarter of the Novel in Paris.

In Wilhelmsfeld, he penned the last few chapters

of Noli from April to June 1886.

The Novel was completed in Berlin, Germany at the end

of 1886.
And the final draft was ready for publication
at the onset of the year 1887.
The Printing of Noli
1886 & 1887 – most stressful parts of Rizal's life.

Maximo Viola – a friend from a rich family at

San Miguel, Bulacan, lend money.
- savior of Noli

Elias and Salome – the chapter 25 that Rizal deleted

P300 first 2,000 copies of the Noli.

March 29, 1887 – Noli came off press.

Rizal gave Maximo, the first copy to

come off the press on which Rizal inscribed
a dedication, which described Viola as the
“first to read and appreciate Rizal's work”
The Synopsis
The Spirit of the Noli
ØCrisostomo Ibarra
ØDamaso
ØCapitan Tiago
ØPilosopo Tasio
ØElias
ØSisa and her sons Crispin and Basilio
ØDona Victorina
ØDon Tiburcio
ØPadre Salvi
ØDon Rafael Ibarra
Reactions to Noli
Ferdinand Blumentritt, Dr. Miguel Morayta, Federico Faura –
‘’everything in it was the truth”, “You may lose your head
for it”

Paciano – “storm” was “threatening Makiling” “It is only

waiting for time” he added, “It should not surprise those
who know that this time for typhoons”

Governor- General Emilio Terrero summoned Rizal to the

Malacanan Palace

Pedro Payo, found and denounced Noli as ecclesiastically

heretical, impious, scandalous, politically unpatriotic,
subversive of public order, harmful to the Spanish
government and its administration in the Ph.
Vicente Barrantes labelling it as ‘’anti-Catholic,
Protestant, socialistic’’

Jose Rodriguez write eight anti-Noli pamphlets

Rizal considered a German spy, a Protestant, a

freemason, a sorcerer, a damned soul and evil
Enemies – Burned
Friends – Bought

‘’If you… think you have a grievance, then

challenge us and we shall pick up the gauntlet,
for we are not cowards like you, which is not
to say that a hidden hand will not put an end
to your life’’ – A friar
Noli Artifact
Peacock Garden Resort in Baclayon, Bohol.