Jose Rizal’s first novel, Noli me Tangere, means “don't
touch me” or “touch me not” is the Latin version of words spoken, according to
John 20:17, by Jesus to Mary Magdalene when she recognizes him after his
resurrection. The book was first published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany,
originally written in Spanish but later been translated to different languages
and made copies distributed around the world.
The title was controversial, and the novel itself created so
much controversy that only a few days after his arrival in the Philippines,
Jose Rizal was summoned the greatest enemy of the state in the 19th century.
They even called him, a freemason, a sorcerer, a damned soul and evil. The
novel depicted the Spanish abuse government to the Philippines.
Many characters in the Noli personify Rizal. Like Ibarra,
Pilosopong Tasyo and Elias. But the last part portrays Rizal execution as if he
already knew he’d be executed…
