Jealousy in the Novels of Machado de Assis

Abstract

M UCH HAS BEEN SAID and written about Machado de Assis's Domr Casmurro (1901), with greater part of critical comment concerned with theme of jealousy. This trait of human character is found by Helen Caldwell to be a theme in twenty eight of Machado's stories, plays, and articles. Caldwell notes that jealousy a fat part in seven of his nine and that the plots of ten short stories turn upon ugly passion.' Inasmuch as Dorm Casmurro is perhaps most of all an exercise in jealousy at work, one might wonder how theme is treated in Machado's other novels, functions and effects produced by jealousy, and author's reason, or reasons, for employing it in way that he did. In this study we will discuss these four points. It is our belief that principal reason for Machado's use of jealousy as a motif can be found in author's own life, which is true of other recurring themes in Machado as well as single references (nonrecurring events). Some of these are ingratitude,2 insanity,3 death and burial of a family's pet dog in garden, a Negro peddler of sweetbreads,5 fear of death, megalomania,' and epilepsy.8 Jealousy in his works does not necessarily stem from any of author's own experiences in love, but is a reflection of his changing views of humanity and life in general. Machado's first novel was published when he was around thirty-four years of age, and his final one appeared thirty six years later, shortly before his death. Given fact that his novels span almost all his life as a writer, and at same time represent all phases of his career better than any other form of his fiction, an analysis of his nine novels should be sufficient to establish a link between his life and works with particular regard to trait of jealousy. In Machado's novels jealousy is presented in a varying pattern of frequency, intensity, number of people involved, and functions. The groundwork for Dom Casmurro, Machado's best-known jealousy-based plot, is found in his first novel, Ressurreikao (1872). Among similarities are these points: there is involvement of two men, a woman and her child; no proof of infidelity on part of woman is to be found; and outcome for two men is identical in both stories, for each loses love of woman in case. The jealousy experienced by FRlix (Ressurreiqao) is very moderate in comparison with that of Bento (Dom Casmurro). Machado's second novel, A mao e a luva (1874), does not continue theme of jealousy although there are three suitors in contention for Guiomar's hand. Helena (1876) marks return of jealousy, but with a variation that is unique in Machado's novels. Estaicio believes Helena to be his half-sister, and thus kind of love he feels for her is shameful. Consequently his jealousy is even more unreasonable than might have been case if no family relationship had been involved. laid Garcia (1878), final novel of Machado's first phase, or romantic period, carries jealousy theme further, with a situation that involves several people and covers a period of more than five years in its development. The theme has not yet reached point at which thoughts of violence occur to jealous individuals. This will be introduced in Machado's second phase, or psychological period of his writing, starting with Memdrias p6stumas de Bras Cubas (1881). The theme of jealousy in Brdas Cubas occasions yet another variation in that author permits his chief male character to tell his own story. This first-person narra-