“DELIGHT-ME THE LITERARY CONTESTS”:

NEWS ABOUT A CRITICAL DEBATE AROUND THE NOVEL SONHOS D’OURO [“GOLDEN DREAMS”] (1872), BY SÊNIO [JOSÉ DE ALENCAR PSEUDONYM].

Abstract

This article aims to certain critical discussion of the novel Sonhos d’Ouro [“Golden Dreams”], written by Sênio (José de Alencar pseudonym), at the time of its release. Polemicizing the theme of liberal ethics related to supposed maladjustment with the modus operandi of a patriarchal society, and a romantic aesthetic in process of decadence due to Realism, the debate between Sênio and Alceste reverberated the moral, cultural, and social aspects that shaped Brazil in the late 19th century. Thus, when reconstituting this dispute, we bring to light especially the cut of the female condition/representation at the time, since the literary writer and the critic opposed each other, particularly in their perceptions about Guida, the female profile created by Alencar.

Keywords: Brazilian literature; 19th century; literary criticismo; gender.