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[Historical necessity and human action in Morte e vida severina].
Historia, Ciencias, Saude--Manguinhos
|January 1, 1996
Summary
This study compares Aristotelian tragedy elements in Morte e vida severina and Oedipus rex, revealing how human necessity and action create tension. It questions whether Morte e vida severina fits the Aristotelian definition of tragedy.
Area of Science:
- Literary Criticism
- Comparative Literature
- Classical Studies
Background:
- This analysis applies Aristotles Poetics framework to compare João Cabral de Melo Neto's Morte e vida severina with Sophocles Oedipus rex.
- The study focuses on the tension between human necessity and human action as depicted in both literary works.
Discussion:
- Epidemiological events, famine in Morte e vida severina and plague in Oedipus rex, serve as crucial links between the narratives.
- The analysis examines the finalis (purpose) and formalis (form) causes driving the protagonists' actions and movements.
- Essential elements of tragic action are scrutinized to understand their role in the narrative arcs.
Key Insights:
- The comparison highlights how external necessities (famine, plague) precipitate tragic discovery and action.
- Severino's migration and Oedipus's investigation are driven by dire circumstances, illustrating the interplay of fate and free will.
- The study posits that Morte e vida severina may not align with Aristotelian tragedy due to its specific causal factors and thematic focus.
Outlook:
- Further research could explore other Brazilian or world literature through the lens of Aristotelian tragic elements.
- Investigating the concept of necessity in tragedy across different cultural contexts offers avenues for deeper understanding.
- Comparative studies can illuminate universal themes of human action and consequence in literature.