Between fantasy and reality: Guedali’s conflicts in “The Centaur in the Garden”

Abstract

This work discusses the theme of fantasy and reality from Guedali's conflicts in "The Centaur in the Garden", by Moacyr Scliar. To do this, it carries out a detailed analysis of the protagonist's Bovarian characteristics, focusing on his notorious romantic dissatisfaction, evidenced through his fantasists’ desires and disconnected from reality. The theoretical approach adopted is based on Lacan's concept of "Object a", which is related to the character's Bovarian condition, as he incessantly seeks something that cannot be achieved. Passages of the text are examined to exemplify these desires and connect the analysis to the Lacanian framework, highlighting the protagonist's intrinsic duality. In addition to the novelistic dissatisfaction, the study also explores Guedali's inability to adopt a critical perspective. This is evidenced in their emotional and identity dilemmas throughout the narrative. The analysis not only describes these dilemmas, but also situates them within the broader context of the work, in view of Scliar's characteristic humor and his Jewish cultural roots. In the end, the study seeks to offer a deep interpretation of the themes covered, exploring the interconnections between fantasy and reality in Scliar's narrative. This provides a more complete understanding of the protagonist's conflicts and the way these issues are woven into the novel's plot.