De Capitu a Macabéa: a construção da imagem feminina por narradores masculinos

Abstract

Capitu and Macabéa are two female figures in Brazilian literature, explored from different perspectives. One is accused of cheating by her husband, while the other is constantly subjugated by her living condition and the people around her. The works have in common a male narrator who shapes the narrative and defines the characteristics of the characters. It is through this perspective of the narrators that the characters are developed and presented to the reader. This research aims to analyze the construction of the characters Capitu and Macabéa in the narrative of Bento Santiago and Rodrigo S.M. The study has a bibliographic methodological aspect, with exploratory characteristics and a qualitative approach, using the theoretical assumptions of Bruner (1998), Carvalhal (2006), Soares (2007), Brait (1985), among other authors who studied narrative structures, characters, narrators and comparative literature, relevant to the foundation and development of research. The study concludes that the female figure in Dom Casmurro and A Hora da Estrela is presented in a way that highlights the discursive power of the narrators, who shape and silence the characters according to their own visions.