A escravidão e seus vestígios retratados nos romances maranhenses do século XIX: uma análise das obras O mulato, de Aluísio de Azevedo e Ursula, de Maria Firmina dos Reis

Abstract

The present paper investigated the thematic of slavery existing in the nineteenth - century Maranhão novels, Ursula, by Maria Firmina dos Reis, and O Mulato by Aluísio de Azevedo. The chosen books bring representations of slavery, and of the pernicious vestiges that resound up to this day. Initially, we discussed the place of literary works in the Brazilian Canon, after analyzing the structure of the texts, from Comparative Literature, in search of a deeper understanding of the meanings of the works. Next, the issues of slavery brought by the authors were discussed, concomitantly, analyzing with the historical moment. We presented the possibilities of reflection that the works elicit in order to look at the reality of the present days. We have realized that the works dealt with bring about issues related to blackness that have not yet been overcome. We also note that the works produced in the past are still important tools for the understanding and reflection of Brazilian slavery.