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    Works of Jose Rizal

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    Johnny Carlos
    Rizal is considered the national hero of the Philippines. He used his literary works to oppose Spanish abuse and inspire nationalism. His most important works include poems written as a student expressing hope for the youth, letters advising women on their roles, two novels depicting Philippine society under Spanish rule that helped spark the revolution, and a farewell poem written before his execution. Rizal continues to be studied for his literary contributions to Philippine independence.

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    Works of Jose Rizal

    Uploaded by

    Johnny Carlos
    452 views7 pages
    Rizal is considered the national hero of the Philippines. He used his literary works to oppose Spanish abuse and inspire nationalism. His most important works include poems written as a student expressing hope for the youth, letters advising women on their roles, two novels depicting Philippine society under Spanish rule that helped spark the revolution, and a farewell poem written before his execution. Rizal continues to be studied for his literary contributions to Philippine independence.

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    WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL

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    Rizal is considered the national hero of the Philippines. He used his literary works to oppose Spanish abuse and inspire nationalism. His most important works include poems written as a student expressing hope for the youth, letters advising women on their roles, two novels depicting Philippine society under Spanish rule that helped spark the revolution, and a farewell poem written before his execution. Rizal continues to be studied for his literary contributions to Philippine independence.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    452 views7 pages

    Works of Jose Rizal

    Uploaded by

    Johnny Carlos
    Rizal is considered the national hero of the Philippines. He used his literary works to oppose Spanish abuse and inspire nationalism. His most important works include poems written as a student expressing hope for the youth, letters advising women on their roles, two novels depicting Philippine society under Spanish rule that helped spark the revolution, and a farewell poem written before his execution. Rizal continues to be studied for his literary contributions to Philippine independence.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 7

    The 8 Most Important

    Literary Works by Jose Rizal

    For Dr. José Rizal, the well-respected national hero of the Philippines, “the pen is
    mightier than the sword.” Through his literary masterpieces, he voiced strong opposition
    to the abuse of Spaniards and conveyed messages that he hoped would inspire his
    fellow countrymen. We round up his best works and uncover the underlying meaning
    behind them.

    To the Filipino Youth


    Rizal wrote this literary poem when he was still studying at the University of Sto. Tomas
    (UST). Originally written in Spanish (A la juventud filipina), Rizal submitted this piece for
    a poem contest organized for Filipinos by the Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature. At
    the age of 18, this work is beaming with strong messages to convince readers, the
    youth in particular, that they are the hope of the nation. He also stresses the importance
    of education to one’s future. Rizal won the first prize and was rewarded with a feather-
    shaped silver pen and a diploma.

    Monument in memory of Jose Rizal at Rizal Park © ARTYOORAN / Shutterstock


    Goodbye to Leonor
    This literary piece gives an insight into the romantic relationship of Rizal and his
    beloved, Leonor Rivera. The two met when in the province of Dagupan when Rivera
    was only 13-years-old. Rivera’s parents were not in favor of their relationship and
    though distance separated them, the two kept in touch by sending letters and
    photographs to each other. Rizal later found out that her lady love would soon tie the
    knot with Henry Kipping, and the news definitely disheartened him. The lonely,
    heartbreaking feelings he felt, resulted in this melancholic poem.

    To the Young Women of Malolos


    Addressed to the Filipino women, Rizal’s letter entitled To The Young Women of
    Malolos reflects his inheritance and issues reminders to Filipino women. In his letter, he
    addresses all kinds of Filipino women – mothers, wives, and even the single women.
    Throughout this literary piece, he highlights the qualities that Filipino mothers should
    possess, the duties of wives to their husbands and children, and a counsel on how
    young women should choose their lifetime partners. The idea behind this letter sparked
    after he was impressed by the women of Malolos who won the battle they fought. Rizal
    advises women to educate themselves, protect their dignity and honor, and live with
    good manners – setting up as a role model.

    Kundiman
    A kundiman traditionally refers to a love song where a man serenades the woman he
    loves. For scholars, this word was derived from the Tagalog phrase “Kung Hindi man” (if
    it should not be so) which suggests that people put their faith in a Higher Being who
    decides whether or not something is meant for them. But in Rizal’s literary work, he
    wrote a kundiman to profess his intense love for his motherland. This piece reflects his
    high hopes that one day, the Philippines would be free from treachery and injustice. At
    the time, the country faced great threats while he was in Europe. And, through this
    work, he voices his hopeful thoughts despite being far away from the country.

    Philippines flag © Rob Nguyen / Flickr


    Junto Al Pasig
    When translated into English, the title of this work means Beside Pasig River. In
    response to the Jesuits’ request, Rizal wrote this one-act play in the Spanish language
    for the velada – a gala variety program during the principal feast days. The play centers
    around Leonido (a young Filipino who has a strong faith in the Virgin) and the
    Diwata/Satan, which symbolizes the Spanish oppression towards Filipinos. Its theme
    highlights Christianity, good vs. evil, and paganism. The Philippines’ national hero wrote
    it in honor of the Our Lady of Peace and Voyage of the UST, and the play was staged
    on December 8, 1880.

    Noli Me Tángere
    One of the most sought-after books in Philippine literature until today, is Rizal’s famous
    novel titled Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not). Driven by his undying love for his country,
    Rizal wrote the novel to expose the ills of Philippine society during the Spanish colonial
    era. At the time, the Spaniards prohibited the Filipinos from reading the controversial
    book because of the unlawful acts depicted in the novel. Yet they were not able to ban it
    completely and as more Filipinos read the book, it opened their eyes to the truth that
    they were being manhandled by the friars. In this revolutionary book, you’ll learn the
    story of Crisostomo Ibarra, how he dealt with Spanish authorities, and how he prepared
    for his revenge, as told in Rizal’s second book, El Filibusterismo.

    Noli Me Tángere © Berliner Buchdruckerei-Aktiengesellschaft

    El Filibusterismo
    This is Rizal’s sequel to his first book, Noli Me Tángere. In El Filibusterismo (The Reign
    of the Greed), the novel exhibits a dark theme (as opposed to the hopeful atmosphere
    in the first novel) in which it depicts the country’s issues and how the protagonist
    attempts a reform. The story takes place 13 years after Noli Me Tángere, where
    revolutionary protagonist Crisostomo Ibarra is now under the guise of Simoun – a
    wealthy jewelry tycoon. Because the novel also portrays the abuse, corruption, and
    discrimination of the Spaniards towards Filipinos, it was also banned in the country at
    the time. Rizal dedicated his second novel to the GOMBURZA – the Filipino priests
    named Mariano Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora who were
    executed on charges of subversion. The two novels of Rizal, now considered as his
    literary masterpieces, both indirectly sparked the Philippine Revolution.

    Rizal's novels © Sky Harbor / Wikimedia Commons

    Mi último adiós
    After being associated with the Katipuneros, Rizal was arrested and later sentenced to
    death by firing squad for acts of sedition and rebellion. During his final days in Fort
    Santiago of Manila, Rizal bid farewell to his motherland and countrymen through
    letters. Mi último adiós or My Last Farewell is one of the few last works that Rizal wrote.
    Some historical accounts say he wrote it on the eve before his execution, while others
    claim that he wrote the poem a few days before his death in Manila on December 30,
    1896. But, because there was no title ascribed to this poem, his good friend and fellow
    reformist Mariano Ponce came up with the title.

    Today, Rizal’s literary works, specifically his two novels, are alive and continuously
    being analyzed by students and professionals. Colleges and universities in the
    Philippines even require their students to take a subject which centers around the life
    and works of Rizal. Through his work, the country’s national hero is always remembered
    and looked upon with high regard for his contribution towards
    the Philippine independence.

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