A percepção do envelhecimento no conto o espelho de Machado de Assis

Abstract

The aging process in Machado de Assis9s short story O Espelho (The Mirror) is examined through the lens of the narrative9s exploration of the human condition, particularly as reflected in the protagonist9s internal conflict before the mirror, which functions as a metaphor for life. The mirror exposes the fragility of identity, the lack of self-referential grounding, and the denial of one9s own reality, as the character comes to recognize himself only through the gaze of the other. In this context, the social gaze emerges as a pivotal element in the construction of the elderly subject9s identity, since the way aging is socially perceived and represented plays a decisive role in how older individuals view themselves, come to terms with aging, and interact with the world. The findings of this research highlight the diverse literary representations of old age and aging, revealing how these experiences differ markedly between men and women, as well as across individual trajectories of aging. The gaze of the other4when directed toward one9s age and lived experiences4plays a formative role in shaping self-perception and the understanding of aging. This study seeks to analyze the representation of aging and old age in Machado de Assis9s short story O Espelho (The Mirror), examining how these themes are articulated through questions of identity, reflection, and the human condition. To achieve this general goal, the study proposes the following specific objectives: to analyze how aging is represented in the short story and how it interacts with the narrative structure; to examine the relationship between aging and identity within the text; and to investigate the portrayal of old age in terms of reflection and self- analysis. The theoretical framework of this study is grounded in the works of Beauvoir (1970), Mota (2012), Mucida (2006), Sant9Anna (2003), Zimerman (2007), Fiuza (2016), Goldfarb (1998), and Matos (2019). Accordingly, the research adopts a qualitative approach, based on a comprehensive literature review and focused on the examination of relevant themes through a close reading of Machado de Assis9s O Espelho (The Mirror), followed by a literary analysis of the short story