Memória e literatura: memória ancestral e escravidão em Úrsula, de Maria Firmina dos reis

Abstract

The present research aims to explore the relation between ancestral memory as well as history, highlighting the black characters in the literary novel Úrsula (1859), written by Maria Firmina dos Reis. Consequently, we will discuss race and ethnical questions and the conditions of slavery people into the literary work studied. Based on the theorical reference, we will focus on memory and ancestry, as well as the narrative construction through the black characters (Susana and Túlio). In this research composition, we intent to point aspects which evince questions like slavery and ancestry among others questions related with the colonialism and the patriarchy. In addition, the narrative shows in its plot many subjugations which the black characters faced in the slavery during the 19th century. Therefore, the analyses proposed is based on bibliographical, quantitative and descriptive research which the main purpose is to analyze the literary work through the critical and social perspective of the characters chosen. For that matter, this research justifies itself for approaching the black characters memories chosen, evincing how those elements are important in the memory construction related to the social and cultural aspects which from different ways are still current in our society. In order to base this discuss we studied the theorical contributions of: Andrade (2021); Andreta (2013); Duarte (2005); Agenor Gomes (2022); Halbwachs (2003); Reis (1859; 2018); Evaristo (2007-2022); Hall (1996) among others. For this purpose, the results aim that the literary work Úrsula holds a connection between the historical facts in the slavery time, but it expands its historical dignity, embodying itself as a fiction. That way, the literary work brings a reflection in relation to the memory dialogues and the ancestry of the black characters, as long as this ancestral memory struggles a dialogue with the construction of the afro- brazilian and african identities.