A violação dos direitos humanos nos contos “Muribeca”, “O caso da menina” e “Faz de conta que não foi. Nada”, de Marcelino Freire

Abstract

Violence is a widely discussed topic both historically and literary nowadays. Many notable contemporary theorists, such as Antonio Candido (1987), Karl Erich Schollhammer (2009a) and Tânia Pellegrini (2008), have been exploring violence in the literary context. More specifically, we will focus on how Human Rights violations be able to seen in literature as a consequence of violence. We are going to investigate the perception of violence in the collection Angu de Sangue (Freire, 2000). Through a critical analysis of three short stories by Pernambuco writer Marcelino Freire, namely: “Muribeca”, “O caso da menina” and “Faz de conta que não foi. Nada”. Because Freire wrote a literary work in the same historical setting –the 21st century – and because his narratives consistently feature violence, which is influenced by the worries of Brazilian critics and scholars, Freire was chosen for the study. This literary text is analyzed to show how critique of modern ethics and values is approached from the standpoint of the stories' violence. It also explores at how critical thinking is developed with an emphasis on contemporary issues. For this assessment, we will take into account the historical context in which Brazil finds itself to situate the country's moment with the work in question. The study is justified by the discussion about the violation of Human Rights in Marcelino Freire's stories, expanding the invisible reality. Through highlighting their challenges and opposition in the face of adversity, the Brazilian author's work delivers a voice to the underprivileged. In order to achieve this, we will present instances of Human Rights violations that call attention to social inequality in literature and modern society. These violations are not always marked explicitly; instead, they are implied through the language used by marginalized characters, whose voices look like raw, indignant, hopeless, and helpless screams. The study highlights how the author's life experience underlies this artistic expression, which, if in partial view, feels like reality.