Analysis Of Dom Caasmurro

Katie Philyaw

Mrs. Mastin

IB HL English

15 April 2016

Latin American Literary Movements in Relation to Assis’s Style Dom Casmurro, by Machado de Assis, was published in Brazil in 1899 and later translated from Portuguese to English. In observing the characteristics of the novel, Dom Casmurro does not easily fit into the literary movements popular in Latin America: like romanticism, realism, and naturalism. Many commentators have criticized Assis for not incorporating the principle, nineteenth century Brazilian literary characteristics. In addition, many characterized Assis as a “romanticized realist” (Schwarz). The novel consists of the literary technique of metafiction, where the author and narrator are directly polar, which makes the reader question the narrator’s reliability. In understanding the style and tone of Dom Casmurro, the analysis of how Assis uses the characteristics from the prevalent literary movements of Latin America help the reader develop

The differences in Bento’s father, a former plantation owner, and Capitu’s father, a “man who spent his whole hoard of hopes on a single lottery ticket”, show the acceptance of the younger generations intermixing among the upper and lower classes. In focusing on the mundane, realistic everyday life, Assis’s chapter, “Capitu’s curiosity”, portrays the limitations that females faced in Brazil during the 1800’s. Bento was able to learn Latin and go to seminary, when Capitu was forced to stay within the boundaries of the home and garden. Assis emphasizes the psychology of the protagonist, Bento, by expressing his inner conflict with his mind versus body that occurred when around Capitu. Capitu, who had tied-like eyes, had the persuasive power over Bento, and often he had “an idea without tongue” and “words that deserted