O homem cordial e a formação do povo brasileiro: um estudo das obras Memórias de um Sargento de Milícias, O Homem que Sabia Javanês e Macunaíma

Abstract

This master thesis is based on the study of the relationship between literature and society and discusses the literature role in the representation of Brazil’s cultural identity. In this study, we understood that some literary works can evidence the influences of sociocultural factors in their plots; and it is from this perspective that will be analyzed the literary works Memórias de um Sargento de Milícias (1854), written by Manuel Antonio de Almeida, O homem que sabia Javanês (1911), by Lima Barreto, and Macunaíma, (1928), by Mário de Andrade. We understand that these works present Brazilian cultural traits configured as elements of cultural identity that literature symbolically recreates, particularly patrimonialism, friendly and rogueness. Based on studies and empirical knowledge about this relationship, some questions emerged as guiding factors for this investigation: How do the mentioned works present Brazilian cultural traits like cultural identity elements symbolically recreated by literature and how the concepts of friendly man and rogue can be associated with the protagonists of each of them, while as categories of analysis? What meanings of ‘Brazilianism’ evokes? How does the plot of such works consent us to indicate the ideas of patrimonialism and Brazilian way? To find answers to these questions, we define as general objective to analyze the marks of friendly, patrimonialism, rogueness and Brasilian way in the novel, the story and the rhapsody and study the protagonists of each one as friendly man’s literary examples. Moreover, this purpose allows us to study these analysis categories as citizen Brazilian cultural characteristics and of the own Brazil’s cultural formation. Thus, this research is guided by comparative literature, based on the literary sociocritical, which assumes that literature must be analyzed as a phenomenon belonging to the sociocultural context of its arise. Therefore, this is a basic and qualitative research that aims at an interpretative analysis based on the bibliographical review about the categories listed above, articulated by sociological critique studies intertwined with comparative literature. Because of this research process, we reached the conclusion that friendly, rogueness and patrimonialism had been preponderant cultural characteristics at the time works publication, and even considering the culture dynamic character, these brands preponderated until the contemporaneousness as Brazilian cultural and social aspects.