Philippine Nationalism and Rizal's Novel

Positive Results in the Philippines and Spain

• Positive outcomes emerged despite the withdrawal of the Spanish-oriented group, fostering a more unified purpose.
• The concept of a newspaper as a platform for Filipino interests gained traction among Filipinos in both Spain and the Philippines.

Growing Nationalism and Rizal's Novel

• Influences were at play, accelerating the spirit of nationalism and reform in the Philippines.
• Rizal's first political novel held a significant role.
• Published in early 1887, it began circulating widely months later and potentially fueled the newspaper's radicalism.

The "Noli Me Tángere," 1887 - Early Filipino Protests

• Prior to 1887, Filipinos' challenges to colonial administration and friars were sporadic and veiled.
• Their sense of national identity received limited public expression.
• Rizal's novel marked the first clear departure from this hesitant stance, providing a comprehensive critique of the Philippine political and religious system.
• Rizal's book proclaimed Filipino nationalism and aimed to regenerate the Filipino people by exposing societal issues.
• Rizal aimed to address the unfounded accusations that had been directed against Filipinos for generations.

Plot Summary:

• Juan Crisostomo Ibarra returns to the Philippines after studying in Europe.
• Ibarra's father faced disapproval from Fray Dámaso and others.
• Ibarra father got imprisoned until death after an incident involving a Spanish tax-collector.
• Dámaso denied the father Christian burial and ordered his exhumation.
• The Governor-General was angered, and transferred Dámaso.
• Ibarra encounters Fray Dámaso, who insults him; sparking the novel's plot.
• Ibarra learns that his father's remains were desecrated
• He, instead of extracting vengeance, is focused on education.
• He wants to build a new school, but is harassed by suspicious and bad priests.

Events during the town fiesta

• Ibarra is saved from potentially fatal accident by Elias.
• During the feast, Dámaso once again offends Ibarra, who subdues him.
• Ibarra's action leads to excommunication.
• María Clara is forbidden to see Ibarra again due to pressure from the friars.
• The excommunication is liftred and new attempts target destruction of Ibarra.
• Head-sacristan organizes uprisings among San Diego, falsely claiming they are led by Ibarra.
• Fray Salví reports to civil guard, resulting in the rebellion's suppression

Ibarra's Conviction and Escape

• Ibarra is imprisoned based on misinterpreted lette.
• He plans his escape, aided by Elias.
• On his escape, he bids goodbye to Maria Clara.
• Maria's betrayal due to Salvi, by extracting the letter.
• Elias swims to shore as distraction as Ibarra drifts away in boat.
• Newspapers report Ibarra's death.
• Maria refuses to marry a Spaniard and enters a convent.

Elias' Role

• Elias argued against the existing system.
• He saw no way of winning against Spain.
• Ibarra counters with patience, government trust, and need for education.
• Elias says there can be no light without freedom, and argues for revolution.
• He claims radical clergy reforms, to which Ibarra cites gratitude to those who gave them their faith.

Character Arguments

• Elias argues faith is a commerce, and superstitions.
• He says that superstition predates this society, and its what is being commercialized.
• He calls to look back at early missionaries with gratitude.
• He asks if they'll submit to abuse of descendants of these people.

Ibarra Driven to Despair

• He is about to dedicate himself to making waves.
• Elias remstrates to him.

Elias' Arguments Against Ibarra

• It may cause a war using Ibarra's own money and brains.
• The innocents and defenseless will suffer the most, but also, society is not looking for separation.
• Extreme remedies are only used when there is no other hope.

Character Actions:

• Rizal wrote about debasing efforts of gambling in one scene.
• Vivid All Souls' Day dialogue of tertiaries details denunciation of fanaticism.
• Vividness and Philippine version of Fray Gerundio details protests against vulgar ignorance and religious descpotism.

Summary of "Noli me tángere"

• More powerful as series of episodes and vignettes than novel itself.
• Defects as a novel, but powerful and moving as propaganda for politics.
• Harder-to-spot message, but defects are clearly laid bare.
• Threat of revolution if reforms don't come.

More character summaries of the Spanish in the Philippines

• The civil patrol's corruption and brutality drives good men to criminal status.
• Self-seekers crawl.
• Honest few end up frustrated.
• The friars use Catholicism in order to enrich themselves and consolidate their power.
• Filipino Ilustrados are persecuted if they don't make themselves the friars' servile flatterers.

Rizal and his Fellow Countrymen

• The novel details the superstitious with many hypocritical religious people.
• Notes their gambling and ignoring duty and responsibilities.
• Their efforts to distance themselves.
• Notes that its traceable to Spaniard associations, as well as misguided policies of the government, and negative practices.

Rizal and his Fellow Countrymen: Portrait Balances

• Modesty is highlighted, as well as Filipino women devotions.
• He highlights generosity in families and gratitude.
• Common sense with the uneducated.
• References Tagalog poets.

Filipino Language

• Rizal said, "The beauty of the Tagalog language and the Perfections of its peak are detailed."
• It's not just an attack, but a nationalism charter.
• Calls on to recover confidence, and appreciate worth.
• Become equal to the Spaniard.
• Education is needed.
• It's needed to accept all aspects of the culture as enhancing.

Rizal's Original Plan

• Rizal writes to his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt that he's going to write it in French to tell of the plight.
• Believed better to write to countrymen in order:
  • To wake slumber of the fatherland.
  • He wants countrymen to struggle with bad habits, and reform.
  • Other writers can present the country to Europe.

Development of Novel

• He works slowly to write when free from study.
• He proposed a collective with Filipinos.
• This project did not prosper, and he wrote it himself instead.
• Had impression by Eugene Sue after reading The Wandering Jew.
• He started thinking this was the best way.

Germany's Impression

• Germans gave way to moderating effect, seeing things in perspective, with calm peoples; positively influencing too.

Initial Reactions

• Great enthususiasm and the few that know how to understand it.
• The book's a photo reproduction of what affects the country.
• People had a shout of indignation based on the horrible systems.
• Overvivid Filipinos said.

Reactions with Filipinos

• Books were sought after; rare to find.
• Freedom of info desired.
• Many wanted to see what has not been dared.

Reactions with Philipinos in Santo Tomas

• Committee created.
• Heretical, impious in religous order, and subversive.

Archbishop's Plan

• Terreo needed.
• The truth was only desired by Rial.
• He then went to Jesuits to get a copy, but was refused, but attained it via bad-copy friend.
• Augustine then made report in Dec-87.
• Not only attacks, but full of new theories.

Rizal the Political

• His goal is independence of country.
• Nothing doneto ban novel as of Feb-88.
• He had trouble due to accusuations and rumors. He raised German flag.

Spain View towards the book

• They had a power struggle with archbishop.

The novel View Summary

• Poorly-written; makes priest fantastic.
• Article later says its impossible to attack friar if you don't show whats wrong with the current situation.
• This caused dispute in Spain, as Filipinos have been told that religious estates will be taken.
• Censure had divided actions.

Additional info on the book

• Meant to summarize everything.
• Led to further conclusions.
• Meant to those that have the ability to supress it.

Rizal's Defense

• "Font's publication made me happy and must be an pendix to next printing."
• "What a critique, responsible for everything everyone says and does, good heavens, must come to author in next name, must find circumstances."
• Some other things of note. I can't remember right now.

Other attacks and defenses

• Some others had intended a letter to Rodriquez.
• Did better writing, better ideal with what had happened at the time.