By: Raezzelle M. Calizo B.S.

N 3-1

 His

readings of Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin

 Anti-hero

of the novel Rizal was 23 yrs old when he write the novel Noli Ibarra-main protagonist of the novel. Capitan Tiago- undesirable character. the money prayed for him Dona Victorina, Tiburcio de espadana

 Rizal

proposed the writing of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos Approved by: the Paternos (Pedro, Maximo, and Antonio), Graciano Lopez JAguaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente, Melecio Figueroa, and Valentin Ventura

 Toward

the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about onehalf of it. 1885, he went to Paris, he continued writing the novel, finishing one-half of the second half. He fished the last fourth of the novel in Germany. He wrote the last few chapters of the Noli in Wilhelmsfeld in April-June, 1886 Febuary 1886, Rizal made the final revisions on the manuscript of the Noli.

 Rizal

received a telegram from Dr. Maximo Viola, was a scion of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan. He arrived in Berlin shortly before Christmas Day of 1887 He gladly agreed to finance the printing cost of the Noli After Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches of his novel.

 Febuary

21, 1887, the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing. Berliner buchdruckrei-ActionGesselschaft Which charged the lowest rate, that is 300pesos for 2000copies of the novel.

 One

morning, the chief of police Berlin paid a sudden visit to Rizals boarding house and to see his passport. Unfortunately Rizal could not produce one, for he had none. The chief of police told him to secure a passport within 4days, otherwise he would be deported.

Viola accompanied Rizal to the Spanish embassy to seek help of the Spanish ambassador, the Count of Benomar, who promised to attend the matter, but failed to keep his promise. At the expiration of 4day ultimatum, Rizal presented himself at the German police chief. The police informed him that he had received intelligence reports that Rizal had made frequent visits to the villages and little towns in the Rural Areas, thereby arousing the German governments suspicion that he was as French Spy.

 Rizal

in fluent German language, explained to the police chief he was not a French spy, but was a Filipino physician and scientist, particularly an ethnologist. He visited the rural areas of the countries he visited to observe the customs and lifestyles of their simple inhabitants.

 March

21, 1887, the Noli Me Tangere came off the press. Rizal sent the first copies of the printed novels to his intimate friends including, Blumentritt, Dr. Antonio M. Regidor, G. Lopez Jaena, Marciano Ponce, and Felix Hiidalgo.

 March

29, 1887, Rizal gave Viola the galley proofs of Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing it and a complimentary copy.

 Noli

Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means Touch me Not. It is not originally conceived by Rizal, for he admitted taking it from the Bible. Noli Me Tangere, word taken from the Gospel of St. Luke, signify do not touch me. In citing the Biblical source, Rizal made a mistake. It should be the Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20, Verse 13-17)

 Rizal

dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines- To my Fatherland

 The

novel Noli Me Tangere contains 63 chapters and an epilogue. It begins with a reception given by Capitan Tiago (Santiago de los Santos), for the honor of Crisostomo Ibarra. Ibarra was the only son of Don Rafael Ibarra and a fianc of beautiful Maria Clara, supposed daughter of Capitan Tiago.

 Among

the guests during the reception were Padre Damaso, a fat Franciscan Friar who had been the parish priest for 20yrs of San Diego. Padre Sybila, a young Dominican parish priest of Binondo. Senor Guevara, an elderly and kind lieutenant of the Guardia Civil. Don Tiburcio de Espadana, a bogus Spanish physician, lame, and henpecked husband of Dona Victorina and several ladies.

Ibarra, upon his arrival, produced a favorable impression among guests, except Padre Damaso. Padre Damaso was in bad mood because he got a bony neck and hard wing of the chicken tinola. After the dinner, Ibarra left to return to his hotel. On the way, Lieutenant Guevara told him the sad story about his fathers death in San Diego. On hearing about his fathers story, Ibarra thank the kind Spanish Lieutenant and vowed to find out the truth about his fathers death.

 The

following morning, he visited Maria Clara, his childhood sweetheart. Maria Clara teasingly said that he had forgotten her because the girls in Germany were beautiful. Ibarra replied that he had never forgotten her. After the romantic reunion with Maria Clara, Ibarra went to San Diego to visit his fathers grave.

 At

the cemetery, the grave-digger told Ibarra that the corpse of Don Rafael was removed by order of the Parish priest to be buried in the Chinese cemetery, but the corpse was heavy and it was a dark rainy night so that he simply threw the corpse into the lake.

 Ibarra

angered by the grave-diggers story. On the way he met Padre Salvi, Franciscan parish priest. Ibarra pounced on the priest demanding redress for desecrating his fathers mortal remains. Padre Slavi told him that he had nothing to do with it, for he was not the parish priest at the time of don Rafaels death.

 In

his town, he met several interesting people, such as the wise old man, Tasio the philosopher, whose ideas were too advanced for his times so that the people, who could not understand him, called him Tasio the Lunatic

 The

most tragic story in the novel is the tale of Sisa, who was formerly a rich girl but became poor because she married a gambler, and a wastrel at that. She became crazy becasuse she lost her two boys, Basilio and Crispin, the joys of her wretched life.

 Capitan

Tiago, Maria Clara, and Aunt Isabel arrived in San Diego. Ibarra and his friends gave a picnic at the lake. Among those present in this picnic, were Maria Clara and her four friends- Sinang, Victoria, Iday and Neneng. Aunt Isabel, chaperon of Maria Clara Albino,the ex-theological student who was in love with Sinang One of the boatmen was a strong and silent peasant youth named Elias.

 An

incident of the picnic was the saving of Eliass life by Ibarra. It was the crocodile incident who struggled furiously so that Elias could not subdue it. Ibarra jumped into the water and killed the crocodile Another incident, which preceded the above-mentioned near-tragic crocodile. Was the rendering of a beautiful song by Maria Clara who had a sweet voice.

Sweet are the hours in our Native land, Where all is dear the sunbeams bless; Life-giving breezes sweep the strand, And death is softend by loves caress

Warm kisses play on mothers lips On her fond, tender breast awakening When round her neck the soft arm slips, And bright eyes smile, all love partaking
Sweet is death for ones native land, Where all is dear the sunbeams bless; Death is the breeze that sweeps the strand, Without a mother, home or loves caress.

After the meal, Ibarra and Capitan Basilio played chess while Maria Clara and her friends play the Wheel of Chance. Padre Salvi came and tore to pieces the book, saying that it was a sin to play such a game. A sergeant and 4 guardia civil arrived, looking for Elias, who was haunted for assaulting Padre Damaso and throwing the alfarez into a mudhole. Fortunately, Elias has disappeared. Ibarra received a telegram from the Spanish authorities notifying him of the approval of his donation of the schoolhouse for the children of San Diego.

 The

next day, Ibarra visited Tasio to consult him on his pet project about the schoolhouse. He saw the old mans writings were in hieroglyphics. Tasio explained to him that he wrote because for the future generations who would understand them and say, Not all were asleep at night in the night of our ancestors

 The

construction of the schoolhouse was continued under the supervision of the architect called Nor Juan. Meanwhile San Diego was merrily preparing for its annual fiesta, in honor of its patron saint San Diego de Alcala, whose feast day is the 11th of November. Afters Padre Damasos sermon. The Mass was continued by Padre Salvi. Elias quietly moved to Ibarra, who was kneeling and praying and praying by Maria Claras side, and warned him to be careful during the ceremony.

 Elias

suspected that the yellowish man, who built the derrick, was a paid stooge of Ibarras enemies. True to his suspicion, in the presence of big crowd, went down into the trench to cement the cornerstone, the derrick collapsed. Elias, quick as flashed, pushed him aside.

 At

a dinner that night, a sad incident occurred. The arrogant Padre Damaso, speaking in the presence of many guests, insulted the memory of Ibarras father. Ibarra jumped from his eat and then seized a sharp knife to the friar.

 Ibarras

attack on Padre Damaso produced two results: (1) His engagement to Maria Clara was broken (2) He was excommunicated
The

fiesta over, Maria Clara became ill. She was treated by a quack Spanish physician, Tiburcio de Espadana, whose wife, a vain and vulgar native woman.

touch of comedy in the novel was the fight between two ludicrous senoritasDona Consolacion, the vulgar mistress of the Spanish Alfarez and Dona Victorina, the Flamboyantly dressed wife of a henpecked Spanish quack doctor.

 The

story of Elias, like that of Sisa, was a tale of pathos and tragedy. He related it to Ibarra. Some 60 yrs ago, his grandfather, who was then a young bookkeeper in a Spanish commercial firm in Manila, was wrongly accused of burning the firms warehouse. His wife was pregnant and became a prostitute in order to support her sick husband and son. After her husband died, she fled with her 2 sons, to the mountains.

 Years

later, the first boy became a dreaded tulisan named Balat. One day he was caught by the authorities. His head was cut off and was hung from a tree branch in the forest. Balats brother, fled and became a trusted laborer in the house of a rich man in Tayabas. He fell inlove with masters daughter.

 The

unfortunate lover was sent to jail while the girl gave birth to twins, a boy (Elias) and a girl. Their grandfather took care of them, keeping secret their scandalous origin. Elias was educated in Jesuit College in Manila His sister studied in La Concordia. They lived happily until one day owing to certain dispute over money.

 Elias

and his sister left. One day his sister disappeared, was found dead on the beach of San Diego. Since then, Elias live a vagabond life, wandering from province to province- until he met Ibarra.

 Ibarras

enemies engineered an attack on the barracks of the Guardia Civil. They deceived the attackers by telling them that the mastermind was Ibarra. Elias, learning of Ibarras arrest, burned all the papers that might incriminate his friend and set Ibarras house into fire. He went to prison and helped Ibarra escape. He and Ibarra jumped into a banca loaded with sacate.

 Ibarra

stopped at the house of Capitan Tiago to say goodbye to Maria Clara, Ibarra forgave Maria Clara for giving up his letters to the authorities who utilized them as evidence. Maria Clara revealed that those letters were exchanged with a letter from her late mother, Pia Alba, which Padre Salvi gave her. From those letters, it was revealed that her real father was Padre Damaso

 Ibarra

and Elias paddled up the Pasig River toward Laguna de Bay. The Guardia Civil pursued them. Elias told Ibarra to hide under the zacate. As the police boat was overtaking the banca, Elias jumped into the water. The Soldiers fired at the swimming Elias, who was hit and sank. Ibarra was able to escape.

 Elias

was seriously wounded, reached the shore and staggered into the forest. He met Basilio, who was weeping over his mothers dead body. Sisas body was burned to ashes. It was a Christmas eve. Basilio prepared a funral pyre. As lifes breath slowly left his body. Elias looked toward the east and murmured: I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land! You, who have it to see, welcome it and forget not those who have fallen during night.

 Maria Clara Padre Salvi

entered the Santa Lara nunnery. left the parish of San Diego and became a chaplain of the nunnery. Padre Damaso was transferred to a remote province, but the next morning he was found dead in his bedroom. Capitan Tiago became an opium addict and human wreck. Dona Victorina, still henpecked poor Don Tiburcio, had taken eyesglasses because of the weakening eyesight. Linares, who failed to win Maria Claras affection, died of dysentery and buried in Paco cemetery.

 The

alfarez, who successfully repulsed the abortive attack on the barracks, was promoted major. Returned to spain, leaving his shabby mistress, Dona Consolacion. novel ends with Maria Clara, an unhappy nun in Santa Clara nunneryforever lost to the world.

The

 The

Places and characters and the situations really existed. The facts I narrate there, said Rizal, are all true and happened; I can prove them.

 The

Characters Ibarra, Maria Clara, Elias, tasio. Capitan Tiago, Padre Damaso, Padre Salvi, etc, were drawn by Rizal from persons who actually existed during his times

 Maria

Clara(Leonor Rivera) Ibarra and Elias (Rizal) Tasio (Paciano-his elder brother) Padre Salvi (Padre Antonio Piernavieja) Capitan Tiago (Capitan Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas) Dona Victorina (Dona Agustina medel) Basilio and Crispin (Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy) Padre Damaso (typical domeeniring Friar)

 Elias

and Salome In the woods

 The

friends of Rizal hailed the novel, praising it in glowing colors. As expected, Rizals enemies condemned it. As he told Blumentritt: The governement and the friars will probably attack the work, refuting many statements, but I trust in God of Truth and in the persons who have actually seen our sufferings

 From

Blumentritt - according to him, the novel was written with the blood of the heart, and so the heart also speaks. Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, a Filipino patriot and lawyer who had been exiled due to his complicity in the Cavity Mutiny of 1872, read the Noli avidly and was very impressed by its author.