Tracing a Path Toward Enlightenment: A Brief History of Brazilian Literature

For those who possess an understanding of it (or fancy themselves in believing that they do), literature is merely man's most primal perceptions of life and spirituality translated into a series of markings on a printed page to be finely polished and fastidiously arranged in an aesthetically pleasing sequence. But due to the inexactness and artificiality of human linguistics, a degree of beauty and conciseness is lost in translation between mind and page. The most talented artists, however, learn to narrow the gap between soul and paper and their works of poetry and prose have been celebrated worldwide for centuries. From England to North America, literature has informed and entertained billions; from Portugal to South America, it has helped a young Brazil to shape a cultural tradition set apart from Old World values and sustains the national integrity of a more mature, newly industrialized Brazil. Brazil, the shining beacon of progress of not only South America but of Latin America as a whole, has had a long and storied infatuation with high literature dating back to its earliest beginnings with the writings of the Jesuits in the Colonial Period and continuing through more modern times with more social, often liberal artists such as world-renowned author Jorge Amado.

The beginnings of Brazilian literature in the Colonial Period (1500-1882) rest almost exclusively in the writings of the Jesuits, a group whose writings worked to serve different purposes.[1] Writers of a more romantic inspiration were inspired to take account of the wild virginity of the Brazilian jungle and the exotic appearance and culture of the indigenous population. Conversely, Portuguese clerics such as Father Jose de Anchieta used their devotion to Christianity to fashion religious poetry and drama.2 De Anchieta developed a strong devotion to his work as a missionary and created works with the intent of converting the indigenous population and broadening the reach of Christianity.2 Brazil was hardly a hotbed of high culture during the Colonial Period; it was not until 1808 when the Portuguese royal court was transferred to Rio de Janeiro that Brazil embarked on a scholastic ascent that would ultimately leave it a significant player on the world's literary stage.

The transfer of the Portuguese royal court to Brazil brought about the publishing of the region's first periodicals and began a period of sophistication in literature which largely modeled that of the Romantic Movement in contemporary Europe.[1] The literature of Brazil ceased to be dominated by an infatuation (domestic or foreign) with its awesome jungles or indigenous inhabitants: a more developed and complex era began in which issues concerning individual freedom and social issues were propelled to the forefront of Brazilian debate.1 The plight of African slaves was explored by writers such as Antonio de Castro Alves, whose work Vozes d' Africa (Voices of Africa) humanizes individual slaves and lends an example of human understanding to a population believed to be savage and largely inhuman.3 And as Brazil declared its independence from Portugal in 1822, the nation's literature began to take a turn toward realism with works such as Epitaph of a Small Winner by Machado de Assis, who is widely believed to be one of the finest authors in Brazilian literary history. 4

Around the turn of the century, however, Brazilian literature developed an innovative attitude in mechanics as well as subject matter. João Guimarães Rosa, whose only novel The Devil to Pay in the Backlands has been compared to the works of Irish author James Joyce, has employed such manipulation of the Portuguese language that his works have nearly adapted an entirely new language.5 Brazilian literature in the 20^th century also began to analyze itself introspectively, placing greater importance on Brazilian folklore, history, and ancestry.6 And as a result of the nation's newfound pride and exploration of its rich cultural history, citizens of Brazil have begun to question the meager fruits of their great labor. Popular writers such as Jorge Amado, a liberal artist whose works deal primarily with the plight of the less affluent population of Bahia, have become popular and influential not only in Brazilian literature but in international literary society as well.6 Brazilian literature through the past century has taken a more social turn; artists have begun calling for a more equal distribution of capital which more accurately reflects the national workload and has set in motion a national move toward liberalism which continues through the present day.

From the earliest writings of the Jesuits in the Colonial Period to the present day influences of Jorge Amado, Brazil has had an infatuation with high literature from the moment Portuguese colonists first landed on the shores of South America. A literary history which began as an infatuation with indigenous Indian populations and breathtaking jungle landscapes quickly matured into one of social debate with the transfer of the Portuguese royal court. And in the 20^th century, innovations in mechanics and a newfound introspection led citizens to crave a greater piece of the economic pie, leading to a national liberal movement which exists through the present day. Only the future can tell whether or not the current liberal trend in Brazilian society will continue well into the 21^st century, but, judging by the nation's storied history, literature will play a central role in deciding and shaping whatever path Brazilian society chooses to undertake.

Notes

1. Graciliano Ramos, Consulate General of Brazil - Literature, http://www.brazilsf.org/ culture_literature_eng.htm (5 February 2006)

2. Jean-Claude Laborie, "From Orality to Writing: The Reality of a Conversion through the Work of the Jesuit Father José de Anchieta (1534-1597)," Academic Search Premier 48, no. 3 (2000): 56-72, http://proxy.lib.csus.edu/login?url=http://search.epnet.com.proxy.lib.csus.edu/ login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&an=5723233 (5 February 2006)

3. Antônio Carlos Secchin, "Introducing Castro Alves," Academic Search Premier 48, no. 3 (2000): 84-91, http://proxy.lib.csus.edu/login?url=http://search.epnet.com.proxy.lib .csus.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=5723231 (7 February 2006)

4. "Machado de Assis, 1839-1908," Literature Online, http://gateway.proquest.com. proxy.lib.csus.edu/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2003&xri:pqil:res_ver=0.2&res_id=xr i:lore-us&rft_id=xri:lore:rec:ref:11607 (7 February 2006)

5. Darlene Sadlier, "Latin American Novel (Brazil)," Encyclopedia of the Novel, 2 vols. (1998): http://gateway.proquest.com.proxy.lib.csus.edu/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2003&xri:pqil:res_ver=0.2&res_id=xr i:lore-us&rft_id=xri:lore:rec:ref:ETN0310 (7 February 2006)

6. Diane E. Marting, "Internationalizing Brazilian Literature," Latin American Research Review 39, no. 3 (2004): 327-338, http://proxy.lib.csus.edu/login?url=http://search.epnet.com. proxy.lib.csus.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&an=14780965 (7 February 2006)