Chapter 5The Noli Me Tangere and the

Tour with Its Savior

T o foretell the destiny of a nation, it’s necessary to open the book that tells of her past

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Idea of Writing a Novel

Rizal’s writing the novel was inspired by his reading of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” which was about the brutalities of the Americans and the miserable lives of the slaves in Southern United Sates

January 2, 1884 Rizal proposed to the member of Circulo

assembled in the Paternos residence the publication of a book by association, the writing of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos

Proposal was agreed upon by The Paternos (Pedro, Maximo, and Antonio) Graciano Lopez Jaena Evaristo Aguirre Eduardo de Lete Julio Llorente Melecio Figueroa Valentin Ventura

Project did not materialize because those who agreed to write the novel did not do anything.

Not discouraged by his friends’ indiffe-rences, Rizal had a strong desire and determination to finish the novel alone

Writing the NOLI

Toward the end of 1884, he began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about one-half of it

1885 in Paris, after completing his studies in Central University of Madrid, he continued writing, finishing one-half of the second-half

Finished few chapters more in Germany and the remaining chapters in Wilhemsfield in April-June, 1886

In Berlin, Rizal made the final revisions of the manuscripts of Noli

Sick and penniless, he desperately hoped that the novel would be published

“I did not believe that the Noli Me Tangere would ever be published when I was in Berlin, heart-broken, weakened, and discouraged from hunger and deprivation. I was on the point of throwing my work into the fire as a thing accursed and fit only to die…”

-Jose Rizal, a letter to his friend

Francisco Canon

Savior of the NOLI

Rizal received a tele-gram from Barcelona by Dr. Maximo Viola telling him that he was coming to Berlin

Shortly before Christ-mas, Viola arrived and was shocked to know that he was living in poverty and was sick due to lack of proper nourishment

Viola, Rizal’s friend from San Miguel, Bulacan, readily agreed to finance the printing of the novel and even loaned Rizal some amount for his daily expenses.

After Christmas season, Rizal made some finishing touches on the novel deleting some passages in the manuscript, including a whole chapter “Elias and Salome”, to save printing expenses.

February 21, 1887 The Noli was finally finished and ready for

printing

Printing shop:

Berliner Buchcdrukrei Action Gesselchaft which charged the lowest rate for 300pesos for 2,000 copies.

Printing press:

Berliner Buchdruckerei Aktienggesellschaft

Publisher :

Setzerinnenschule des Lette-Vereins

Publication of NOLI

March 21, 1887 Noli Me Tangere came off the press, it

contains 63 chapters and an epilogue

Rizal immediately sent the first copies to his intimate friends: Blumentritt Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor Graciano Lopez Jaena Mariano Ponce Felix R. Hidalgo

March 29, 1887 Rizal, in token of his appreciation and

gratitude, gave Viola the galley proofs of the Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing the novel and a complimentary copy of the book, with the following inscription:

“To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate my work – Jose Rizal..”

Title of the Novel

Noli Me Tangere The title is a Latin phrase which means

“Touch Me Not” which is not originally conceived by Rizal for he admitted taking it from the Bible

Rizal, writing to Felix Hidalgo on March 5, 1887, said:

“Noli Me Tangere, words taken from the gospel of Saint Luke, signify ‘do not touch me’.”

In citing the Biblical source, Rizal made a mistake. It should be the Gospel of Saint John.

“Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God.”

- John 20:13-17

N oli Me Tangere… signify ‘do not touch me’. The book contains things of which no one among ourselves has spoken up to the present ; they are so delicate that they cannot be touched by anybody… I have endeavored to answer the calumnies which for centuries had been heaped on us and our country: I have described the social condition, the life, our beliefs, our hopes, our desires, our grievances, our grieves… the facts I narrate are all true and they actually happened; I can prove them.

- Jose Rizal

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CHARACTERS OF NOLI

The Noli Me Tangere was a true story of the Philippine conditions during the last decades of Spanish rule

› Maria Clara – Leonor Rivera, although in real life she became unfaithful and married an Englishman

› Ibarra and Elias – Rizal, himself

› Tasio the Philosopher – his brother, Paciano

› Padre Salvi – identified by Rizalists as Padre Antonio Piernavieja, the hated Augustinian friar in Cavite who was killed by the patriots during the Revolution

› Capitan Tiago – Captain Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas

› Doña Victorina – Doña Agustina Medel

› Basilio and Crispin – Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy

› Padre Damaso – typical of a domineering friar during the days of Rizal who was arrogant, immoral and anti-Filipino

Rizal’s Grand Tour of Europe with Viola (1887)

I go where there are no slaves, hangmen or oppressors; where faith does not kill; where the one who reigns is God.

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Dr. Maximo Viola agreed to be his travelling companion

He received 1,000 pesos from his brother Paciano through Juan Luna which he immediately paid Viola the amount he loaned from him for the printing of the Noli

With extra cash left in his pocket, he decided to see the other parts of Europe before returning to his hometown Calamba

At dawn of May 11, 1887, Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train

Dresden First destination Their visit coincided with the regional floral

exposition One of the best cities in Germany They visited Dr. Adolph Meyer In the Museum of Arts, which they also visited,

Rizal was deeply impressed by a painting “Prometheus Bound”

Teschen (now Decin, Czechoslovakia) – next stop-over after leaving Dresden

The Tour Begins

LEITMERITZ At 1:30 pm of May 13,1887 – the train,

with Rizal and Viola on board, arrived at the railroad station of Leitmeritz, Bohemia

For the first time, the two great scholars – Rizal and Blumentritt – met in person

May 13 – 16, 1887 – Rizal and Viola stayed in Leitmeritz

Blumentritt helped the two get a room at Hotel Krebs, before he brought them to his home and introduced to the whole family

Rosa – the wife, a good cook and prepared special Austrian dishes which Rizal liked very much

Blumentritt siblings - Dolores (called Dora or Dorita by Rizal), Conrad and Fritz May 16 at 9:45 am, Rizal and Viola left

Leitmeritz by train

PRAGUE They carried letters of recommendation from

Blumentritt to Dr. Willkomm, professor of natural history in the University of Prague

Rizal and Viola visited the: Tomb of the famous astronomer, Copernicus Museum of natural history Bacteriological laboratories The famous cave where San Juan Nepomuceno,

the Catholic saint, was imprisoned The bridge from which this saint hurdled into the

river

According to Viola, “nothing of importance happened” in this city.

VIENNA May 20, 1887 – Rizal and Viola arrived in the

beautiful city of Vienna known as the “Queen of Danube”

Norfenfals – one of the greatest Austrian novelist which was favorably impressed by Rizal

Rizal received his lost diamond stickpin Hotel Metropole – where Rizal and Viola stayed They visited the city’s interesting places such as

churches, museums, art galleries, theaters and public parks

They met two good friends of Blumentritt – Masner and Nordmann, Austrian scholars

DANUBIAN VOYAGE TO LINTZ May 24, 1887 – Rizal and Viola left Vienna on

a river boat to see the beautiful sights of the Danube River

Rizal particularly noticed that the passengers on the riverboat were using paper naps during the meals, which was a novelty to him. Viola commented that the paper napkins were “more hygienic and economical than cloth napkins”

FROM LINTZ TO RHEINFALL Munich – where Rizal and Viola sojourned for

a short time to savor the famous Munich beer, reputed to be the best in Germany

Nuremberg – one of the oldest cities of Germany

The Cathedral of Ulm – the largest and tallest cathedral in Germany

From Ulm, they went to Stuttgart, Baden and then Rheinfall (Cascade of the Rhine) where they saw the most beautiful waterfall of Europe

CROSSING THE FRONTIER TO SWITZERLAND

From Rheinfall, they crossed the frontier to Schaffhausen, Switzerland and stayed in this city from June 2-3, 1887.

Continued their tour to Bassel, Bern and Lausanne

GENEVA

After Lausanne, they left on a little boat crossing the foggy Leman Lake to Geneva

This Swiss city is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, visited by world tourists every year

Geneva people talked with Rizal in 3 languages: French, German, and Italian

June 19, 1887 – Rizal treated Viola to a blow-out. It was his 26th birthday

Rizal and Viola spent fifteen delightful days in Geneva

June 23, 1887 – Viola and Rizal parted ways – Viola returned to Barcelona while Rizal continued the tour to Italy

RIZAL IN ITALY Rizal proceeded to Italy where he visited

Turin, Milan, Venice, and Florence

June 27, 1887 – he reached Rome, the Eternal City and also called as the City of Caesars

June 29, 1887 – the Feast Day of St. Peter and St. Paul, Rizal visited for the first time the Vatican, the City of Popes and the capital of Christendom