Entre a doçura e as contradições: uma análise da representação da cultura social açucareira presente no Brasil colonial entre 1570 e 1670, pela ótica da obra de Gilberto Freyre

Abstract

The work proposes a critical analysis of the book <Sugar: a sweet sociology= by Gilberto Freyre, which addresses the influence of sugar on the formation of Brazilian society and culture in the colonial period. The objective is to problematize Freyre’s vision of colonial Brazil, which is based on the idea of a racial democracy and a harmonious miscegenation between whites, blacks and indigenous people. The work also seeks to compare Freyre’s work with that of other authors who studied the theme of sugar, such as Caio Prado Júnior and Roger Chartier. The work is divided into three parts: In the first moment, Freyre’s book, which was published in 1939 and is considered a classic of Brazilian sociology, is presented. It explains how Freyre uses sugar as a central element of Portuguese colonization in Brazil, which gave rise to an original, flexible and creative society, based on the patriarchal family and miscegenation. It is inferred how Freyre gathers recipes of traditional sweets from the Northeast, which exemplify the culture and identity of the Northeasterners. In the second moment, Freyre’s approach is questioned for ignoring the inequalities and violence that marked the process of invasion and acculturation of the Brazilian territory by the Portuguese. Freyre’s representativeness, historical perspective and economic analysis are also questioned, which can be seen as partial and ideological. The limitations of Freyre’s methodology, which is based on secondary sources and personal impressions, are also pointed out. Later, Freyre’s work is compared with that of other authors who are interested in culture and society, such as Caio Prado Júnior and Roger Chartier. The differences and similarities between these authors are highlighted, who use different methods and perspectives to analyze the economic, social and cultural formation of colonial Brazil. It is also shown how these authors contribute to a broader and more complex understanding of the role of sugar in Brazilian history.