José De Alencar - Blog Posts

American students, do you really enjoy studying northen-american literature? So far I've read "The Catcher in the Rye" and I'm almost done with "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", and I honestly believe that american characters are much more relatable with the brazillian ones. I mean, I totally respect Machado de Assis and I recognize the importance of José de Alencar to our literature, but honestly, Holden Caulfield and Tom Sawyer are much more interesting than Brás Cubas and Iracema...

Love and Revenge

"Convinced that all those who professed love for her, without exception, sought only her wealth, Aurelia reacted to this affront by responding to these individuals in kind."

About the Book

Title: Senhora: Profile of a Woman Author: José de Alencar Published: 1875 Original Title: Senhora

Summary

Senhora follows Aurélia Camargo, a young woman who inherits a fortune and uses it to buy back her former fiancé, Fernando Seixas, who once abandoned her for a wealthier match. As her plan for revenge unfolds, Aurélia finds herself torn between love and pride.

P.S. There is a happy ending.

Key Themes

Love vs. money

Female agency

Honor

Idealist vs. reality

America

"Who has taught you, white warrior, my brothers' tongue? From where have you come to these woods, which have never seen another warrior like you?"

About the Book

Title: Iracema Author: José de Alencar Published: 1865 Original Title: Iracema

Summary

The story follows the romance between Iracema, an indigenous woman, and Martim, a Portuguese colonizer. Iracema's name is an anagram of America. There is a lot of critique of colonialism in this story, as Martim represents the colonizers (the Portuguese).

Key Themes

Colonialism

Heritage

Cultural clash

National Identity