Homens de letras, homens de ciência: discurso raciológico na literatura brasileira em Canaã, de Graça Aranha

Abstract

The starting question guiding this study is: how the races (s) discourse (s) is expressed (m) in Brazilian literature through the work Canaan (1902) Aranha? The overall aim of the thesis is to realize the racial speech modes of expression in the above work and establish the network of symbolic and social relations that dialogue directly and indirectly with his stance in his first novel which deals with immigration. More specifically, we seek to: a) analyze the way Aranha presented and discussed by means of their characters topics race, progress and civilization, key terms for the Brazilian racial speech; b) Peering social place Aranha and racial theories that influenced the "theses" presented in Canaan; c) Explore the way by which the racial ideology guided the debate on the bill of Brazil and the Brazilian identity; d) To investigate the senses of European immigration process (for Aranha, German) for Brazil and the relationship between blacks and whites in the early twentieth century and the beginning of the sword republic. Methodologically, there was a documentary research that had as data collection instrument to analyze the qualitative speech, following the basic guidelines of Orladi (1988, 1992, 1993) and Foucault (2009). In conclusion, it was realized that the literary work Canaan presented a kaleidoscope of related ideas to the common discourse at the time, since the nietzscheniano superman Lentz, passing to racial references Reef School to discuss, ultimately, the national identity and how this would be affected by foreign immigration phenomenon.