Mulheres de machado: o feminino nos romances Helena e Dom Casmurro de Machado de Assis

Abstract

This study provides a historical and social analysis of the creation and consolidation of the characters Helena and Capitu, understanding them as central figures in the discussion of female representation in the novels of Machado de Assis. Based on readings of Helena (2018) and Dom Casmurro (2004), the research examines how these characters, situated between Romanticism and Realism, reveal tensions, limits, and fractures within the social norms of the 19th century. The main objective is to analyze the female figures Helena and Capitu in Helena and Dom Casmurro. The specific objectives include understanding the formation process of these Machadian female characters; examining the influence of space and social dynamics on their construction; identifying their transgressive traits; and recognizing the relevance of female characters as a strengthening element of Machado’s work. The methodology employed is bibliographical, grounded in a review of books, articles, theses, and monographs. The theoretical framework includes fundamental literary scholars such as Bosi (2015), Cândido (2004), Veríssimo (2014), and Coutinho (2004), essentials for initially contextualizing Brazilian literary formation and illuminating aspects of Machado’s style. The study also draws on specific theorists, including Sène and Diego (2018), Meyer (1986), and Nicola (2004). To analyze the structure of the characters in Machado’s novels. To investigate the social and strategic dynamics present in the narratives, the research relies on the principles of Game Theory, initially applied to mathematics by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern (1944) and later expanded to other fields of knowledge, as explained by Souza (2003). The analysis reveals that Helena and Capitu remain essential figures for understanding the aesthetic and critical strength of Machado’s work. Moreover, the study reaffirms that Machado de Assis, by constructing female characters who challenge expectations and negotiate with social norms, broadens the understanding of human experience and sustains the dialogue between past and present. Thus, the research confirms that the lasting presence of these characters in the literary imagination is due not only to Machado’s stylistic brilliance but also to the way his female figures stimulate contemporary debates on identity and representations of femininity.