THE Sad End of Policarpo Quaresma is a Brazilian pre-modernist novel written by Lima Barreto (1881-19922) published in 1915, is considered the main book representing this literary movement.
The work is extensive, divided into three parts, it was published in Jornal do Commercio, in 1911, taking exactly five years to be published in its entirety in a book, a publication funded by the author. Unfortunately, Lima Barreto did not have much knowledge of his works, most of the time remained anonymous to readers, and his main writings were published soon after his death.
The stories of Policarpo Quaresma are set in the early years of the Republic, the year of the then government of Floriano Peixoto (1891-1894) But it is curious to note that the work was only written in 1911, the year that completed twenty years since then. government. The main character is characterized as an engaged and revolutionary man, which is the basis for the discussion of social-historical facts.
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Index
The work is divided into three parts each with five chapters, all chapters are organized in a chronological way for better understanding of the entire narrative described.
Narrative Focus: Like almost all literary works, Policarpo Quaresma is narrated in the third person, that is, an omniscient narrator, this type of narrative guarantees great depth. of the characters in the story, unveiling feelings, thoughts and emotions, with the more distant narrator, open up the possibility of a psychological analysis and distancing of some kind of personal involvement, apart from the fact that the omniscient narrator gets involved with the characters described, creating a certain sympathy and dedication for them.
Action: The facts presented in the book allow for a chronology of exact and continuous actions, making the action dynamic and fast, all this context is objectified in the behavior of the main protagonist, Polycarp. The narrative continues, that is, its Linearity is broken from the moment of hospitalization and departure from Polycarp of the so-called asylum, after four months the narrator returns and explains the reasons for this event.
Time: As already mentioned, the time is chronological, the historical moment is spent in the period before and after the Armada Revolt, between the years from 1891 to 1894, the year that marks the republic's first past and the then government of Floriano Peixoto, this whole context explains this name. given the work, Triste Fim de Policarpo Quaresma, it is considered a novel that marked an era, as it involves themes such as politics and elements social
Space: The space adapted in the work is in Rio de Janeiro, where all the action and romance of the narrative takes place. At a given time in history the place "quiet" is mentioned, located in the village of Curuzu
Polycarp Lent: The character is the main character of the entire narrative, he is characterized as a patriot and undersecretary at Arsenal da Guerra, a true lover of books and the Brazil, his physical characteristics were seen with curiosity by people, with small and thin stature, he was a great scholar, but he kept away from the politics. Unfortunately throughout history he is seen as crazy by people, he proposed that the official language of Brazil was Tupi, he was killed in a prison.
Ricardo Heart of others: A character who had a direct connection with Policarpo, his guitar teacher, he played great modinhas and songs, he is an artist who he wins great admiration from all people, and becomes a great friend of Quaresma because they share great patriotism in ordinary.
Olga: In the narrative, she is the goddaughter of polycarp, she maintains a good relationship with her godfather at the time, likewise her godfather Quaresma maintained the same revolutionary thoughts, unfortunately he married against her will, without being in love, just to fulfill the famous social orders of the era.
ismenia: During the work she is shown as a neighbor of Quaresma, she was engaged for a long five years, when finally the wedding had a right day, her fiancé disappeared without explanation. Ismenia was so shaken and saddened by the situation, that she progresses emotional and psychological problems, over time she became ill and died dressed in her wedding dress.
General Albernaz: Ismenia's father is also Quaresma's neighbor
Adelaide: In the narrative is Irma de policarpo, single, moves to the place with her brother
Coleoni: He is Olga's father
Anastasius: Anastácio, a black character and Policarpo's employee, considered a faithful servant of the character and companion in hours of solitude, also accompanied him to the site
Bustamante: Character who participated in the revolt, Lieutenant Colonel and great friend of General Albernaz
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The book, as mentioned, is divided into three parts:
Routine of Major Policarpo Quaresma: The narrative begins by approaching the character Policarpo Quaresma, a born patriot who always sought to value the culture and beauty of the country. He was a man of short stature and very thin, among people he was considered strange, this strangeness came from his courage and revolutionary thoughts, he was a great admirer of books. At that time the learning of certain instruments was not very used, Policarpo started taking lessons with his guitar teacher Ricardo Coração dos Others, who over time became a great friend, in addition to the guitar, Quaresma was very dedicated to learning the Tupi-Guarani language, no one understood him. truly, not even his closest friends, Policarpo always liked to delve into truly Brazilian things, such as food, clothing, the places. At a certain point in the narrative, Quaresma decides to make an official letter to the Minister, in this letter it contained the Tupi script, claiming that it could becoming the official language, considered insane, he was interned for a long six months in an asylum, receiving only visits from his goddaughter Olga and the father.
In the second part of the narrative, after the hospitalization process, Policarpo receives the advice of his goddaughter to move of place, taking on new air, Quaresma then decides to live in a farm with his sister and his faithful employee, Anastácio. Quaresma dubs the site “O sossego”, and from this change of air, a new passion emerges, botany, the wealth of Brazilian lands. At one point, the clerk and lieutenant Antonio Dutra invites him to help organize the Festa de Conceição, Quaresma totally against the exchange of political favors, denies the request, with this denial, the politicians, disgusted with the character, decide to affect Policarpo's site, charging absurd fees and taxes, with these events, the character of Quaresma begins to be sad and discouraged, thinking of only one way out, agrarian reform, but the idea was small compared to Brazil's desires for progress, Polycarp wanted a change in the government general
In the third part of the narrative, Quaresma ends up becoming aware of the new armed revolt in Rio de Janeiro, with this fact the character he returns to the city and is invited to join the revolt, he is listed as a Major, with the war happening, the daily lives of the residents changes completely, during the polycarp war that gave the orders, and ended up exchanging shots with a man, killing him, Quaresma is just wounded slightly. During this event Polycarp is indignant and saddened, he writes a letter to his sister asking for forgiveness, a mixture of guilt and fear, at this stage Polycarp is removed of the war, and soon after its end, he is arrested for no apparent reason, during prison, Quaresma wonders the reason for that end, a man who dedicated his entire life to homeland. Ricardo, seeing that situation, tries to save his friend, but nothing happened, unfortunately he is accused of treason by Marshal Floriano, and is sentenced to execution, dying like a hero.
The work is an analysis of Brazilian society at the time, at the time of the great rise of the republic and political tension. With an omniscient narrator, during the narrative the facts are not judged, leaving this mission to the reader, that is, the narrative does not show a side, does not show a position. We can see this whole context in Policarpo, while reading the reader can feel sorry for his naivete and at the same time graced in his great passion for the motherland, his escape constant reality and rather unusual concerns for a man who did not go to college and showed great dedication to books, which for us readers is not a problem. some.
The text makes a small comparison with Don Quixote, this comparison was made, as both did not understand the reality, they just lived idealized dreams, full of naivety, leaving for a true denunciation Social
It is curious to think that the three parts of the book are dedicated to the three dreams of the character Polycarpo, in the first part shows the character's great desire to learn to violate and play modinhas, seeking culture Brazilian. In the second, a change of air, of life, in a place, seeing in Brazilian lands the opportunity for a possible agrarian reform, which was not possible. And in the third part, the revolt part, he seeks the transformation of the country through its participation in the war, a fact that did not happen.
It is possible to see that in the title of the book “Sad End of Policarpo Quaresma”, it is not difficult to notice that the ending would not have a happy ending, Polycarp, a character who believed in change, who so valued his environment, his country, ends up being accused of treason and killed without pity. During this imprisoned process, before his death, Policarpo realizes that all that was in vain, the homeland he always idealized, never existed.
In addition to this context, the author makes real criticisms of the then government of Floriano Peixoto, and portrays social criticisms of society current, such as the exchange of favors, social injustices, the large bureaucracy, political interests, and especially the patronage
The work is a pre-modernist novel, highlighting nationalism and regionalism, social denunciation, historical and everyday themes, and a very colloquial language.
Lima Barreto's classic work also gained space on the small screens of cinema, in a cinematographic version, in 1998, the The film was named “Policarpo Quaresma, Hero of Brazil”, the script was adapted by Alcione Araujo and director Paulo Thiago.
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