The quest to find hidden meanings in Jose Rizal

Note: Dedicated to the enlightening professor, Mr. Fojas.

Jose Rizal has the great misfortune of being so venerated that people years after his time seem to overanalyze his writings, his thoughts, and his life.

People have always been keen on finding symbolisms and patterns, particularly concerning his two novels, the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. For example, Maria Clara was supposed to represent the Philippines, the Filipinos, our natural resources, or the Filipino woman – depending on who your professor was in High School.

Admittedly, I have always been an unwilling participant in these attempts to find hidden meanings. From my exposure to the writings of Rizal, he has never struck me as the type to bury his intention to the point of being undefined – yes, despite the existence of Pilosopo Tasio and his hieroglyphics.

The Rizal I know is someone who wants to awaken the people of his time immediately. Yes, he may be guilty of being “too poetic,” too wordy, and, I have to admit, of constantly beating around the bush, but his intentions has always been crystal clear.

A key characteristic in Rizal’s writings was the abundance of similes, metonymy, and personification. He would also use metaphors, but it would always be laid out so conspicuously that it leaves very little room for misinterpretation.

The quest for hidden meanings has been going on since time immemorial. Filipinos have always romanticized Rizal as having more depth and mystery – maybe to prove to themselves and to the world that Rizal is much more than what he has laid out on the table.

We should all start to accept Rizal for who he is, and not mold him in our own glamorized image of how he should be.

The lack of hidden meanings does not make our Jose Rizal less of a hero.