Mulheres, raça e literatura: as representações femininas presentes no romance Úrsula (1859), de Maria Firmina dos Reis

Abstract

The present work aims to analyze the way in which women are represented in Úrsula, a novel written by Maria Firmina dos Reis and which today is considered the first on abolitionist theme whose origin is Brazilian. For the analysis in question, the social and intellectual context of Maria Firmina dos Reis is described. This same situation is marked by the patriarchal regime, the slavery regime and also by ideas of European origins that were adapted to the slavery reality of Brazilian society. Some of these ideas were Darwinism, liberalism and positivism. Furthermore, this same context was marked by the entry of women into the practice of writing and teaching. Also noteworthy are the countless texts of various genres written at this time when the abolition of slavery was a prominent theme. For the analysis of the female characters present in Úrsula, the works Women, Race and Class (2016) and Gender: a useful category of historical analysis (1995), written respectively by Angela Davis and Joan Scott, form the theoretical basis of this search. The research methodology used to carry out this work is Discourse Analysis, based on the work Discourse Analysis: principles and procedures (2015), by Eni Orlandi. The female characters that are present in Úrsula, have different personality, race and classes. However, the hardships that the patriarchal regime causes to the female sex is the common point between these women.