An Economic Reading of Aluísio Azevedo’s O Cortiço

Authors

  • Vivaldo Andrade dos Santos Georgetown University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-901X.v0i54p53-66

Keywords:

Aluísio Azevedo, O cortiço, economical criticism, money, capital, Marxism, ethics, naturalism, modernity.

Abstract

This essay reexamines the novel O cortiço [The Slum], by AluísioAzevedo, considering the new economic criticism, which hasemerged in the field of literary studies in the last decades. Theauthor of the article is interested in shedding light to the theme ofcapitalism development in the naturalist fiction, of the end of XIXcentury, to reflect on the present economical crisis that took placein 2008, and from which our society is still suffering its impact. Theessay focuses on fundamental principles to the development of thenovel’s main character, João Romão, such as greed, ethics, trust,speculation, as part of a capitalist project, tied at the same time, to aproject of modernity.

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Author Biography

  • Vivaldo Andrade dos Santos, Georgetown University
    Professor associado de Literatura Brasileira, Georgetown University

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Published

2012-03-01

Issue

No. 54 (2012)

Section

Articles

License

 

  • Todo o conteúdo do periódico, exceto onde está identificado, está licenciado sob uma Licença Creative Commons do tipo atribuição BY-NC.

How to Cite

Santos, V. A. dos. (2012). An Economic Reading of Aluísio Azevedo’s O Cortiço. Revista Do Instituto De Estudos Brasileiros, 54, 53-66. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-901X.v0i54p53-66