An author’s influence can be measured by how much others imitate his eccentricities. Except for Gonçalves Dias, probably no Brazilian writer ever saw a real Indian. Even so, Indianist literature became fashionable, spawning dozens of idle, almost unreadable works, because they were obviously false. All these names of plants, animals, and tribes only harmonize with Portuguese vernacular tradition when such harmony represents nothing more than the author’s inner essence. Obviously, this is an eccentricity, which suits Gonçalves Dias well because it could, itself, be called Gonçalves Dias. How many, however, did not notice this! And so, with a view of the beautiful Guanabara Bay, they spent their leisure time talking about Indians they had never seen! Fortunately, the best learned from their failed attempts, and an angel convinced them that, to make good art, it is enough to take as raw material what the eyes can see.
Category: Notes
Every Life Contains a Drama of Its Own…
Every life contains a drama of its own that does not fit most generalizations. Even the simplest nature, with the most mundane interests, brings something entirely individual into existence. That is why it is sometimes resistant to advice and plunges into seemingly unsolvable problems. What is hidden in this stems from the old observation of St. Thomas Aquinas: particular circumstances require particular procedures. To ignore this is to always remove the reality of the situation.
For the Reader, Nothing Compares…
For the reader, nothing compares to those moments when the lines he reads seem to come from within himself. Of the many sensations that literature can produce, this is perhaps the most special, since, inside or outside literature, moments of such identification are rare. And if, in life, it produces true friendships, in literature it gives rise to a similar bond. From then on, those lines will be shared among the most cherished, the author will be among the favorites, even if, to others, he seems inferior. It is a pity that, usually dead, the author will not be able to enjoy it; but if he were given the choice, there is no doubt that he would trade a sea of readers for a single connection like this.
Everything Involved in Creating a Literary Work…
Everything involved in creating a literary work, as well as everything related to the evolution of the art of writing, is irrelevant if not based on a commitment to regular dedication. This alone seems to be indispensable. And this alone seems to guarantee both the work and its evolution, even if one does not plan much, even if one does not study much. Practice reveals the truth of any theory, and without it, true assimilation can never be achieved. Thus, despite all their differences and particular inclinations, this is where the great masters of universal literature are identified.