Rizal wrote Noli Me Tangere in Berlin in 1887 with the financial support of his friend Maximo Viola. The novel depicts the oppression of Filipinos under Spanish colonial rule and was inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. Rizal drew on his own experiences and people he knew in the Philippines to create the characters. The novel was an immediate success among Rizal's friends but was condemned by his enemies, including the Spanish clergy and government.

1. Noli Me Tangere Published in Berlin (1887)

2.  Dr. Maximo Viola – Rizal’s friend from Bulacan,
arrived in Berlin at the height of his despondency
and loaned him the needed funds to publish the
novel.
Legendary Santa Claus


3. 
 Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin – book
which portrays the brutalities of American slave –
owners and the pathetic conditions of the
unfortunate Negro slaves.
 A book that inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel that
would depict the miseries of the Filipinos under
Spanish Rule.
Idea of Writing a Novel on the
Philippines

4.  Rizal proposed the writing of a novel about the
Philippines.
 Approved by:
 Paternos (Pedro, Maximino, and Antonio)
 Graciano Lopez Jaena
 EvaristoAguirre
 Eduardo deLete
 JulioLlorente
 MelecioFigueroa
 ValentinVentura
Madrid on January 2, 1884


5.  Rizal’s project did not materialize. Due to:
 Compatriots who were expected to collaborate on thenovel
did not write anything.
 However, most of them wanted to write onwomen.
 Wasted their time in gambling or flirting with Spanish
señoritas.
 He was disgusted and decided to write the novel alone.
Madrid on January 2, 1884


6.  Paris, in 1885 – completed his studies in the Central
University of Madrid and continued writing the
novel.
 He finished one – half of the second – half of the
chapters.
 He finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany.
Wrote the last few chapters of Noli in Wilhelmsfeld
from April – June, 1886.
The Writing of the Noli


7.  Maximo Viola – arrived in Berlin a day before Christmas
Day of 1887.
 He was shocked when he found Rizal living in poverty
and deplorably sick due to lack of nourishment.
 Seeing his friend’s struggle and poor condition, he gladly
lend him a hand. He loaned him some cash for living
expenses and as well as funding the printing cost of his
novel.
Viola, Savior of the Noli


8.  After Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches on
his Novel.
 To save printing expenses, he deleted certain passages and
chapter of “Elias and Salome”.
 February 21, 1887 – the novel was finally finished and
ready for printing.
 They managed to find cheap printing shop: Berliner
Buchdruckrei – Action – Gesselschaft. Charging them
with only 300 pesos for 2, 000 copies of the novel.
Viola, Savior of the Noli


9.  In old days of travel, it was possible to travel from
another country without having a passport.
 This lead the German Police to suspect as a French Spy
because Rizal doesn’t have any passport to show.
 However, Viola quickly accompanied Rizal to the Spanish
Embassy to seek help from the Spanish Ambassador. But
the ambassador failed to keep his promise due to that he
had no power to issue the passport.
Rizal Suspected as French Spy


10.  Being fluent in German Language, he explained to
the police chief that he was not a French Spy, but
was a Filipino physician and scientist.
 The chief was impressed by his explanation and
fascinated by his mastery of the German Language
and personal charisma, so the police chief allowed
him to stay freely in Germany.
Rizal Suspected as French Spy


11.  March 21, 1887 – the Noli Me Tangere came of the press.
Immediately, Rizal sent the first copies to his close
friends:
 Blumentritt
 Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor
 G. LopezJaena
 MarianoPonce
 FelixHidalgo
 March 29, 1887 – Rizal gave Viola the galley proofs of the
Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he used in
writing the novel and a complimentary copy.
Printing of the Noli Finished


12.  Noli Me Tangere – is a latin phrase which means “Touch Me
Not”. It is, however, not originally conceived by Rizal, for he
admitted taking it from the Bible.
 March 5, 1887 – Rizal, wrote to Felix R. Hidalgo and said: “The
words were taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke, signify “do
not touch me””.
 However, Rizal made a mistake. It should be the Gospel of John
(Chapter 20, verses 13 to 17).
 Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines - “To
My Fatherland”.
The Title of the Novel


13.  The characters:
 Capitan Tiago ( Santiago de los Santos) – father ofMaria
Clara and a friend of Ibarra.
 Crisostomo Ibarra – a young and rich Filipino who had just
returned after seven years of study in Europe. The only son
of Don Rafael Ibarra. A fiance of Maria Clara.
 Padre Damaso – a fat Franciscan friar who had been parish
priest for 20 years of San Diego (Calamba).
 Padre Sybila – a young Dominican parish priest of
Binondo.
 Señor Guevara – an elderly and kind lieutenant of the
Guardia Civil.
Synopsis of the Noli


14.  The characters:
 Don Tiburcio de Espadaña – a bogus Spanish physician, lame,
and henpecked husband of Doña Victoria.
 Maria Clara – childhood faithful sweetheart of Crisostomo
Ibarra, a good friend and obedient daughter. She symbolizes
purity and innocence of a sheltered native woman.
 Padre Salvi – Franciscan parish priest of San Diego.
 Tasio the Philosopher (Pilosopo Tasio) – wise oldman whose
ideas were to advanced for his times so that the people, who
could not understand him and called him the “Tasio the
Lunatic”.
 Don Filipo Lino – the teniente – mayor and leader of the
liberal faction.
Synopsis of the Noli


15.  The characters:
 Don Melchor – the captain of the cuadrilleros (townpolice).
 Don Basilio and Don Valentin – former gobernadorcillos
and were prominent citizens.
 Sisa – the tale of sisa – formerly a rich girl who married a
gambler and became poor. She’s also the deranged mother
of Basilio and Crispin.
 Basilio – an acolyte (servant) tasked to ring the church bells
for the Angelus. Accused of crimes he did not commit.
 Crispin – an altar boy and who was as well accusedof
stealing money from the church.
Synopsis of the Noli


16.  The characters:
 Doña Consolacion – the vulgar mistress of the Spanish
Alferez.
 Doña Victorina – the flamboyantly dressed wife of a
henpecked Spanish quack doctor.
 Elias – distrusts human judgment and prefers God’s justice
instead. He prefers a revolution over the reforms.
 Pia Alba – a young beautiful and spiritual woman. Maria
Clara’s mother.
 Gobernador Heneral - occupies the second most powerful
rank in the colonial government, second only to the king
Supported Ibarra against Padre Damaso.
Synopsis of the Noli


17.  The characters:
 Alferez – lieutenant of the Guardia Civil.
 Alfonso Linares – cousin of Don Tiburcio and godson
of Padre Damaso’s brother – in – law.
Synopsis of the Noli


18.  A true story of Philippine condition during the last
decades of Spanish rule.
 The places, the characters, and the situations really existed.
 The characters were all drawn by Rizal persons who
actually existed.
 Characters in reality:
 Maria Clara – Leonor Rivera
 Ibarra and Elias – represented by Rizal himself
 Tasio the Philosopher – elder brother of Rizal, Paciano.
The “Noli” Based on Truth


19.  Characters in reality:
 Maria Clara – Leonor Rivera
 Ibarra and Elias – represented by Rizal himself
 Tasio the Philosopher – elder brother of Rizal,
Paciano.
 Padre Salvi – Padre Antonio Piernavieja
 Capitan Tiago – Capitan Hilario Sunico
 Doña Victorina – Doña Agustina Medel
 Basilio and Crispin – were the Crisostomo brothers of
Hagonoy.
 Padre Damaso – typical domineering friar, arrogant,
immoral and anti – Filipino.
The “Noli” Based on Truth


20.  In the original manuscript of Noli Me Tangere, there
was a chapter entitle “Elias and Salome” which
follows Chapter XXIV “In the Woods”.
 Deleted by Rizal so it was not included in the printed
novel. His reason was definitely economic:
 By reducing the chapter would its cost of printing.
Missing Chapter of the Noli


21.  Friends of Rizal hailed the novel, praising it in glowing colors.
 However, Rizal’s enemies condemned it.
 Rizal wrote to Blumentritt – “The government and the friars will
probably attack the work, refuting my statements, but I trust in the
God of Truth and in the person who have actually seen our
sufferings.”
 Blumentritt read Rizal’s novel and praised and said “As we Germans
say – written with the blood of the heart and so the heart also speaks.”
Rizal being an extraordinary person.
 Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor – a filipino patriot and lawyer exiled due
to his complicity in the Cavite mutiny of 1872. Avid read the noli
and was very much impressed.
Rizal’s Friends Praise the Noli
