IDENTIDADE E DIFERENÇA NO POEMA “MARABÁ” (1849), DE GONÇALVES DIAS

Abstract

This paper analyzes Gonçalves Dias' Indianist poem “Marabá” (1849). The aim is to analyze this literary text in the light of Silva's (2000) discussion of the mutually determined relationship between identity and difference. We aim to observe and describe how identity and difference are represented in the poem. In addition, in the background we intend to show how the poem, within 19th century Brazilian Romanticism, is part of a nationalist current. Present in literature since colonial times, this current seeks, through the representation of identity and difference, to outline a Brazilian national identity. We conclude that Gonçalves' poem may represent the construction of a first national identity, the mestizo, in parallel with the difference between the native people, the indigenous, and the colonizer. Furthermore, nationalism in the poem can represent and establish a national identity. Our theoretical contributions are the discussions of Silva (2000), Hall (2006), Candido (2000; 2002) and Coutinho (1976; 2002)