Noli Me Tangere novel

Noli Me Tangere is a novel written by José Rizal, and published in 1887, in Europe. The name is Latin, and means "do not touch me." Rizal took these words from the Bible, specifically the Gospel of St. John 20: 13-17. This was his first novel. He was 26 at that time. This book was historically significant and in instrumental in the creation of the Philippines, and indirectly influenced a revolution, although the author, Jose Rizal, advocated a non-violent means and only direct representation to the Spanish government. The novel was written in Spanish, the language of the educated at that time. There were many and diverse native languages and regional cultures.

Rizal started his novel in Madrid, Spain. Half was done by the time he left for Paris, and it was completed in Berlin, Germany.

Significance

This novel and its sequel, El Filibusterismo, were banned in the Philippines because of their exposure and portrayal of the corruption and abuse of the of the country's Spanish government and clergy. An example which has become a classic in the Philippines is 'Padre Damaso' which reflects the covert fathering of the Spanish clergy of children. In the story, Padre Damaso impregnates a woman. Copies were smuggled in nevertheless and when Rizal returned to the Philippines after completing medical studies, he quickly ran afoul of the local government. First exiled to Mindanao, he was later unjustly arrested for "inciting rebellion" based largely on his writings. He was executed in Manila in 1896. He was only thirty-five.

The book was instrumental in creating a racial Filipino identity and consciousness as many Filipinos identified with their respective regions to the advantage of the Spanish authorities. It lampooned, caricatured and exposed various elements in the colonial society.

Synopsis

The book is a social novel narrating the romance of Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara. Crisostomo Ibarra is the son of Don Rafael Ibarra, and had studied in Europe. Maria Clara is a girl blessed with beauty, grace and charm. She is the daughter of a Spanish fray (priest), Padre Damaso and a Filipina, Dona Pia Alba who married Capitan Tiago.

The Spanish authorities, particularly Padre Damaso, hated and feared Crisostomo Ibarra, a young, wealthy, European-educated Filipino, because he had patriotic ideas of helping his oppressed countrymen.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia article. Browse Wikipedia for more information.