Noli Me Tangere Historical Background

This article aims to introduce the Noli Me Tangere historical background, the masterpiece of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. We will learn how it began, the events during its writing, and its impact on Philippine history.

Related: Noli Me Tangere Summary of the Entire Novel (Short Summary) »

Noli Me Tangere Historical Background

Introduction to the Author

Noli Me Tangere is the first novel written by Dr. Jose Rizal, whose full name is Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda. He was the son of Francisco Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Alonso Realonda y Quintos. He was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna.

Rizal studied medicine in Manila, and in May 1882, he continued his studies in Spain at the Universidad Central de Madrid. It was in Spain where he wrote his first novel, Noli Me Tangere. Rizal was 24 years old when he started writing this novel. He dedicated it to his motherland, and it portrayed the “cancer” of society under Spanish rule.

The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase meaning “Touch me not,” taken from the Gospel of John, Chapter 20, verses 13 to 17. This verse refers to Jesus Christ’s words to Mary Magdalene, telling her not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to His Father.

Influences and Inspiration for Writing

Rizal was inspired to write Noli Me Tangere after reading three books: The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the Bible.

The Wandering Jew is the story of a man who mocked Jesus on His way to Golgotha and was punished to wander the world endlessly. Meanwhile, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is about the cruelty of white Americans toward Black slaves. These books gave Rizal the idea to create a novel that would expose the oppression of the Spanish toward Filipinos and awaken the patriotic spirit of his fellow countrymen.

Beginning and Development of the Novel

By the end of 1884, Rizal began writing Noli Me Tangere in Madrid. Initially, he planned to collaborate with his Filipino writer friends in Madrid, such as Pedro, Maximo, and Antonio Paterno; Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Lorente, and Valentin Ventura. However, since they did not contribute to the novel, Rizal decided to finish it alone.

After his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid, he went to Paris in 1885, where he continued writing and completed three-fourths of the novel. He finished the last part of Noli Me Tangere in Germany on February 21, 1887.

See also: Noli Me Tangere Characters and Their Roles »

Challenges in Publishing

Publishing the novel was a huge challenge for Rizal due to a lack of funds. Since the money sent by his brother Paciano often arrived late, Rizal endured hunger and sometimes ate only twice a day to save money. The lack of funds almost prevented the novel from being published. Fortunately, his friend Dr. Maximo Viola lent him 300 pesos to print 2,000 copies at Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft in Berlin, Germany.

Analysis and Reception of the Novel

The printing was completed, and the novel was released on March 21, 1887. After its publication, Noli Me Tangere was praised by many, including Rizal’s friend Ferdinand Blumentritt, who said the novel was written with the blood of the heart. However, not everyone was pleased; many, especially the priests, were angered by it.

Father Salvador Font led the review of the novel, and on December 28, 1887, its distribution was banned in the Philippines due to its allegedly subversive content.

Reasons for Writing and the Novel’s Message

In his letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt, Rizal explained the purposes of writing Noli Me Tangere. These were:

• To defend Filipinos against the slander of the Spanish.
• To present the true social conditions, lifestyle, and beliefs of Filipinos.
• To expose the misuse of religion for the personal gain of those in power.
• To show the difference between true and false religion.
• To reveal the evil and hypocrisy hidden behind the government’s power.
• To depict the mistakes, bad habits, and hardships in the lives of Filipinos.

Rizal’s Return to the Philippines and Departure Again

Despite warnings from his friends and family, Rizal returned to the Philippines to see the impact of his novel, to have his mother’s worsening cataracts operated on, and to find out why Leonor Rivera did not respond to his letters from 1884 to 1887.

His family was happy about his return but also worried about the possible dangers posed by his enemies. When Governor General Emilio Terrero summoned him to Malacañang, he questioned Rizal about the subversive content of his novel. Rizal responded that he had only presented the truth in his work.

Due to the growing threat to his safety and his family, Rizal was advised to leave the Philippines again. He left on February 3, 1888.

During his travels abroad, Rizal defended Noli Me Tangere against critics through his works La Vision del Fray Rodriguez and Por Telefono, which criticized priests like Father Jose Rodriguez and Father Salvador Font.

Conclusion

Noli Me Tangere is not just a novel but a historical work that awakened Filipinos to the cruelty of the Spanish. It became a way to reveal the truth, expose the cancer of society, and promote patriotism. Rizal’s work was a significant contribution to awakening the spirit of freedom and love for the country among Filipinos.

See also: Noli Me Tangere Summary of Each Chapter (1-64) »

And that concludes the Noli Me Tangere historical background. If this lesson has been helpful to you, we invite you to share it with your friends and classmates so they can learn as well.