LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL

The Novels of Jose Rizal

Welcome to the eight lesson of the course on the Life and Works of
Jose Rizal. This lesson provides a discussion and analysis of the novels
of Dr. Jose Rizal. It discusses the important information about the
novels and discusses Jose Rizal’s thoughts and ideas imbedded his
novels.

Objectives:
The following are the learning outcomes we are expected to achieve at the
end of the lesson:

• Discuss the basic information/facts about the novels of Rizal

• Relate the novels to the present Philippine society
• Compare and contrast the novels written by Rizal
• Analyze the historical context of the novels written by Rizal
• Form conclusions on the value of Rizal’s novels at present

Activities/Exercises

Accomplish the module execises. Read the fultext of Rizal’s novels

I. The Rizal Law

The novels of Jose Rizal were so powerful that they served as eye-opener for
Filipinos and Spaniards on the social ills and defects perpetuated by Spanish
authorities and clergies and imbibed by some Filipinos. The novels reflected the
social conditions of the Philippines at that time. Though it must be noted that these
novels particularly the Noli and El Fili were written in Spanish and their publication
and circulation were prohibited and punishable by the law, Jose Rizal through these
novels had inspired the revolution that ended more than three centuries of Spanish
colonial rule in the Philippines. He also expressed his views and ideas about the

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Philippine society and its people. His unfinished third novel was another attempt to
expose the social ills and defects he had observed plaguing the Philippines.

II. Noli Me Tangere

It was published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany through the financial aid
from Maximo Viola. The title means “Touch Me Not”. It is a Latin version of
words spoken by Jesus in Mary Magdalene after the resurrection (John 20:13-17).
The original English translation is ‘The Social Cancer’. In the introduction, Jose
Rizal dedicated the novel to the Philippines [‘fatherland’] hoping that by exposing
the social cancer, reforms will be granted for its improvement. It was written in
Spanish which intended to raise political consciousness in relation to the current
state of affairs in the Philippines. Jose Rizal hoped that through this novel, Spain
the mother country will be aware of the conditions of the Philippines and grant
her the needed reforms for the betterment and progress of the country and its
people.

Thoughts and ideas of Jose Rizal in the novel

1. Social cancer
Jose Rizal referred to the social cancer as the abuses and injustices
committed by the Spanish authorities and clergies and the defects of Filipinos
(See the Introduction of the Noli Me Tangere) which constituted the prevailing
social conditions of that time. The ‘flaws’ in the main characters of the novel
reflect the traits of Spanish authorities and clergies and the Filipinos who have
imbibed and/or assimilated these ‘defects’ cause and perpetuated by the
Spanish colonial regime.

2. Jose Rizal viewed the friars as the major cause of the social cancer.
Jose Rizal emphasized in the novel that the friars hindered the
attainment of progress, justice and reforms in the Philippines. The country
became stagnant and backward because the friars controlled almost every
aspect of the Filipinos (this could also be inferred in his essay on the ‘On the
Indolence of the Filipinos’). Rizal also exposed the power and influence of the
friars that they were the ones who practically ran the government. He also
showed the power struggle between the Spanish civil authorities and Spanish
clergies.

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3. Jose Rizal criticized religious fanaticism of Filipinos.

The NoliMe Tangereportrayed the religious fanaticism of Filipino through the
mindless religiosity exhibited by main characters in the novel. The Spanish clergies were
blamed as the perpetrators of religious fanaticism.

4. Jose Rizal emphasized that education is a prerequisite of reform, progress and

social change.
Rizal emphasized through the character of Crisostomo Ibarra how education
would bring about progress and social change. In the novel Ibarra planned to establish
a school that will educate the Filipinos but was not realized due to the opposition of
Spanish clergies who had personal grudge on him.

III. El Filibusterismo
It was published in 1891 in Brussels, Belgium through the financial aid from
Valentin Ventura. The title was derived from the word filibustero a word which
according to Jose Rizal was little known by the Filipinos at that time and that the
educated class feared the reach of the word. This word was also used by the Spanish
authorities to refer to a revolutionary person. Rizal further defined filibustero as a
dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged or a presumptuous man. Jose Rizal
dedicated the novel to the GOMBURZA –the three priests who were executed in
Bagumbayan for being implicated in the Cavity Mutiny in 1872. Like the Noli Me
Tangere, it was written in Spanish and intended to raise political consciousness in relation
to the state of affairs in the Philippines observed by Rizal. The theme of the El
Filibusterismo focuses on revolution as an alternative solution to reforms that failed to
create significant change in the country. However, Jose Rizal also emphasized the danger
of a revolution that is built upon hatred and vengeance or personal vendetta.

Thoughts and ideas of Jose Rizal in the novel

1. Jose Rizal’s thoughts of how justice must be attained

Jose Rizal through the characters of Kabesang Tales and Simoun discussed
the moral issues in attaining justice especially when the injustices were committed by
Spanish authorities.

2. Revolution as an alternative to reform

Jose Rizal discussed the alternatives for the Philippines and Filipinos
in the debate between Simoun andBasilio about reform and revolution. Simoun
tried to convince Basilio that revolution is the only way to attain independence

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and progress. Basilio remained naïve andmaintained that social change could
be achieved through the reforms that Spain will grant the Philippines. He was
hoping to alleviate the physical ills of the Filipinos and live his own life and
fulfill his ambition of becoming a doctor.

Jose Rizal posited that rebellion or revolution that will topple the Spanish
colonial regime could be an alternative for the failure of reforms coming from
Spain.The failure of the rebellion was attributed not on the idea of rebellion as
a means of social change but on the motives and qualities of the people who
supported and perpetrated the rebellion.

3. Qualities that a leader of social change must possess

Jose Rizal might be advocating rebellion as a means of social change
but killed Simoun - the main character that instigated rebellion against the
Spanish authorities. Historians and Rizal scholars inferred that Simoun was
killed in the novel for he was not worthy to lead the rebellion. It was pointed
out that though the motive of rebellion is noble and justified (social
transformation), Simoun’s objectives were personal hatred and vengeance for
the injustices committed to him and to his family and loved ones.
Simounmanipulated others to get his vengeance.

The failure of revolution was further explained by Rizal through the

character of FatherFlorentino who stressed the importance of education, justice
and morality in the attainment of freedom.

4. The defects of the Spanish colonial regime and the Filipino people
Jose Rizal did not only focus on the evils of the Spanish authorities
and clergies but also the defects of the Filipino people. Rizal pointed out
through the characters in the novel such as those of Doña Victorina, Basilio,
Simounand Kabesang Tales how Filipinos have imbibed these defects brought
about by the Spanish colonial regime.

III. Etikang Tagalog/Makamisa

It is considered as the third and unfinished novel of Jose Rizal. It is
believed that Rizal started writing this in 1892 while he was in Hong Kong.
The manuscript was first compiled under the drafts of the Noli Me Tangere and
was only discovered in 1987 by Prof. AmbethOcampo. ‘Makamisa’ is the title
given by Prof. AmbethOcampo who wrote the English translation of the novel.
‘Etikang Tagalog’ is the title given by Dr. NiloOcampo who wrote the Tagalog
translation of the novel.

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The third novel is considered as more anti-clerical, satirical and humorous

compared to the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Jose Rizal began writing the novel in the Tagalog language and dedicated this to the
Filipinos. However, Rizal experienced difficulty in writing in Tagalog so he continued
writing it in Spanish.Rizal tried not to deal with politics in the novel and concentrated on
the qualities and defects of the Spanish clergies embodied by the character of Padre
Agaton and of the Filipinos.

Thoughts and ideas of Jose Rizal in the novel

1. The ‘defects’ of the Spanish clergies and the Filipinos

Jose Rizal exposed in the novel the qualities and defects of the Spanish
clergies and the Filipinos. The novel revolves around the qualities of Padre Agaton and
his actions during and after officiating a Sunday mass. The novel attempts to portray
how the lives of the town folks were affected by Padre Agaton (a Spanish friar).
Rizal also portrayed the religious fanaticism which the Filipinos had imbibed from the
Spanish clergies

Read the novels of Jose Rizal in the following websites:

Noli ME Tangere
http://joserizal.nhcp.gov.ph/Writings/portal-rizalswritings.htm
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=noli+me+tange
re
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10676/10676-h/10676-h.htm
http://philhist.pbworks.com/w/page/16367051/Rizaliana#Novels

Makamisa/Etikang Tagalog
http://joserizalthirdnovel.blogspot.com/2012/05/third-novel-
of-dr.html
http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2012/01/makamis
a-rizals-third-novel-full-text.html

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References
• Almario, Virgilio. 1999. Noli Me Tangere, translation of Rizal’s novel.
National Centennial Commision
• Almario, Virgilio. 1999. Noli Me TangeElFilibusterismo, translation of
Rizal’s novel. National Centennial
Commision
• Craig, A. 1909. The Story of Jose Rizal. Manila, Philippine Education
Publishing Co.
• Craig, Austin. Lineage Life and Labors of Jose Rizal Philippine Patriot
• Guerrero, Leon Ma. 1998. Jose Rizal: The First Filipino. Manila
• Ocampo, Ambeth R. 2000. Rizal Without the Overcoat. Pasig City: Anvil
Publising Inc.,
• Ocampo, Nilo S. 1995. Rizal: Makabayan at Martir. Diliman, Q.C.: University
of the Philippines Press
• Quibuyen, Floro C. 1999. A Nation Aborted: Rizal, American hegemony and
Philippine nationalism. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press

Internet Sources:
• http://www.philstar.com/arts-and-culture/690710/enigma-jose-rizals-third-novel
• http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2012/01/makamisa-rizals-third-novel-full-
text.html
• http://joserizal.ph/