Module 9: Rizal's First Novel: Noli Me Tangere (SY2024-2025)

**MODULE 9** **Rizal's First Novel: *NOLI ME TANGERE*** I. **INTRODUCTION** II. **OBJECTIVES:** 1. appraise important characters in the novel and identify their symbolic representations as used by Rizal in the novel; 2. analyze the present Philippine situation critically through the...

**MODULE 9** **Rizal's First Novel: *NOLI ME TANGERE*** I. **INTRODUCTION** II. **OBJECTIVES:** 1. appraise important characters in the novel and identify their symbolic representations as used by Rizal in the novel; 2. analyze the present Philippine situation critically through the examples provided in Noli Me Tangere; and 3. assess how Rizal\'s message in Noli Me Tangere can be applied to the social conditions of 21st century Philippines III. **PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY:** **Instruction:** Jose Rizal personally designed the cover of Noli Me Tangere such that it contains symbols that depict the social conditions of the Philippines when it was written. 1. Examine and identify symbols in the cover designs, Noli Me Tangere 2. Why do you think the symbols in the cover were important to Rizal? IV. **LESSON DISCUSSION:** - Rizal started writing the novel when he was still a student at the Central university of Madrid. He was inspired to write after reading *Uncle Tom's Cabin* by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This book about the trial and hardship of the Negro slaves awakened in him his inherent love and concern for the afflicted. He was too affected and inspired that he thought of writing for the Filipinos who had the same oppressed experience under the Spanish government. - On January 2, 1884, Filipino colonials had a meeting at the house of the Paterno brothers. It was during this meeting that the Filipinos who attended were in unison to write a novel about the Philippines. They were Pedro Paterno, Maximino Paterno, Antonio Paterno, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente, Valentin Diaz, and Jose Rizal. - Though the enthusiasm for such promising venture was strong, the plan was not realized may be because the Filipinos then were not yet ready as a group for this kind of endeavor or they were still too young to seriously do this work. Disappointing as it may seem, Pedro Paterno in later time would come out with his writing entitled Ninay and Jose Rizal would have his novel Noli Me Tangere. - Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid, Spain and continued in France and Germany. He made the final revision in Berlin. In December 1886, Rizal was broken-hearted, deprived, hungry, and worried about the novel. He knew that he could not afford the cost of printing. He even shared this fear to his friend Fernando Canon. He said that in his desperation he almost threw the manuscript into the fire. To keep up with the very expensive publication cost, Rizal had to remove some chapters of the novel to reduce the number of pages. - With the help of some friends in Madrid and portion of his allowance send by his brother Paciano, such great work was destined to be read by the Filipinos. It was saved by his good friend Maximo Viola. Viola insisted on lending Rizal P300, the needed amount for the first 2,000 copies of the novel. - By March 29, 1887 the novel was finally printed by *Berliner Buchdrukrei-Action-Gesselschaft* in Berlin. Just when Jose was seemed to be at peace and contented with his achievements, there came another nerve-racking experience. The chief of police in Berlin received an intelligence report that Jose was seen regularly moving around the rural villages acting like a French spy. - During those times, the relationship of France and Germany was strained because of the issue of *Alsace-Lorraine*. He demanded to see Jose\'s passport but the latter failed to show one. And there was nothing unusual about that because during those times, anyone can travel around Europe without a passport. Fearing deportation, Jose tried to get one from the Spanish Embassy. Unfortunately the Spanish ambassador failed to issue one. The situation made Jose very worried. - After the four-day grace period, Jose presented himself to the chief of police. In fluent German he explained why he failed to secure a passport. He introduced himself as a Filipino doctor He added that his interest in local culture was basically because of his being an ethnologist and not a spy. The honesty and sincerity of Jose persuaded the chief of police to change his mind. Jose was finally allowed to stay in Germany. - After the fearful event, Jose and Maximo helped each other to finish the proofreading of the novel. On March 21, 1887, Noli Me Tangere was published. - Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce, and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo were the first to get their copy from Rizal. As a way of showing how he appreciated Maximo\'s help, Jose gave him the original manuscript of the Noli Me Tangere and a complimentary copy with the following dedication \"To my dear Friend, Maximo Viola, and the first to read and appreciate my work Jose Rizal, March 29, 1887, Berlin.\" - It can be attributed to the efforts of Jose Ma. Basa, the hero-smuggler of the propaganda Movement, the story of Noli Me Tangere was distributed in the Philippines, amidst the strict censorship implemented by the Spaniards. Through his connections and thriving business, he was able to arrange Hong Kong---Manila trips for Filipinos which became the way for subversive and anti-friar pamphlets to reach the hands of the Filipinos. One of them was Noli Me Tangere. According to reports, the Filipino travelers who served as couriers were instructed to disembark the ships without the books which were usually hidden in the coal bin of the ships. They would then hire a *carretela* and the books, usually placed inside *buri* sacks, would be loaded to the carretela. Afterwards, they would pretend to forget something in the ship. They would ask permission from a crew member to walk back to the ship leaving the buri sacks in the carretela. After sometime, the *cochero* would inspect the buri sacks and find the books. He would either dispose or leave them and another arranged carretela would pick up the sacks for people to freely get copies, thus disseminating them to the Filipinos. - The role of the Noli Me Tangere in the development of Filipino consciousness can never be discounted. However, its significance in the 21st century has greatly diminished considering that the Philippines is no longer a colony and has long been an independent nation. Nevertheless, many of the points raised by Rizal in Noli Me Tangere remain relevant today especially with the current threats to Philippine sovereignty. - Rizal explained that the title Noli Me Tangere means \"Touch Me Not.\" The title was taken from the Bible --- the Gospel of St. John, 20:13---17. Accordingly, on the first Easter of Sunday, Mary Magdalene visited the Holy Sepulcher and to her our Lord Jesus said: \"Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascent unto my Father; and to my God and your God.\" - The choice of title according to Rizal was fitting because he intended to write about themes that were banned in the Philippines for centuries; things that people dared not touch. - According to Rizal's biographers, Rizal first planned to write his novel in French, considered to be the language of the intellectuals in Europe at that time. He, however, shifted to Spanish because he intended to reach out to his countrymen in the Philippines. Rizal explained: - Jose dedicated the novel to the Philippines, his fatherland. Further, he said that the facts he narrated in the novel \"are all true and have happened: I can prove them.\" - In the initial pages of the Noli, the dedication titled \"A Mi Patria\" clearly articulated Rizal\'s purpose for writing the novel: 1. What are the possible reasons why Rizal chose the title *Noli Me Tangere?* 2. What were the different struggles of Rizal in writing his first novel? 3. Who was the person who help Rizal to published Noli Me Tangere? 4. What was the relevance of writing the novel Noli Me Tangere? Would you believe it was a novel for the masses? V. **ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: For further understanding** Retrieved from Retrieved from Retrieved from Retrieved from Retrieved from Retrieved from VI. **ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY:** A. **Student's Journal:** B. Creation of symbol of the Character Choose a character in the novel ***Noli Me Tangere*** and make a symbol about the personality, contributions or part of the character in the novel. C. **Quiz** VII. **REFERENCES:** - Agoncillo, T. (1991). Rizal and the Philippine revolution. In P. MelendresCruz & A. B. Chua (Eds.), Himalay: Kalipunan ng mga pag-aaral kay Jose Rizal (pp. 276-287). Manila, Philippines: Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas. - Chua, X. (2017, January 31). XIAO time: Ang tunay na kahulugan ni Rizal sa salitang Noli Me Tangere. PTV News. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aERAlL\_3YzU - David, R. S. (2011). Noli Me Tangere. In The anvil Jose Rizal reader: On the occasion of the sesquicentennial of his birth (1886-2011). Quezon City, Philippines: Anvil Publishing, Inc. - Doyo, M. C. P. (2012, June 12). Jose Ma. Basa: Hero-smuggler of the propaganda Movement. Inquirer.net. Retrieved from http://newsinfo. inquirer.net/210649/jose-ma-basa-hero-smuggler-of-propagandamovement - Hau, C. (2000). Necessary fictions: Philippine literature and the nation. Quezon City, Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University Press. - Schumacher, J. N. (1991). The Noli Me Tangere as catalyst of revolution. In The making of a nation: Essays in nineteenth century Filipino nationalism (pp. 91-101). Quezon City, Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University Press.