A Verdade Dispensa a Verossimilhança: O Fato e a Ficção no Romance Historico as Minas de Prata, de Jose de Alencar

Abstract

In the historical novel As minas de prata, written by José de Alencar, one may notice a clear intent to keep records of historical facts beyond what it was kept in History books. In other words, this novel gives the reader the opportunity to know important historical facts, but, mainly, get to know minor characters – average people, with no relevance to the official historiography. Therefore, the approach to the facts does not happen from a distant perspective, but an intimate one. The reader gets involved in a broader way, since he identifies himself with the fiction characters. Such relationship happens through personal truths the characters convey, revealed through their actions. The making of a hero, with personal pursuits above subjects such as loyalty to motherland and his people, make Estácio the main character of the novel, closer to problematic characters of modern times, despite being wrapped in an epic aura and with other characters who serve to enhance other aspects. A meticulous study of the novel reveals the author’s choice to use a historical fact as an instrument of the nationalization of Brazilian literature in the 19th century. Alencar intended to create people’s historical conscience, bridging the gap between the real facts from the past and the reader, in order to engrave in his spirit the nationality pride. By being carried away to the world of one of the characters, the reader feels intimately connected to that character, by participating of the daily life, by being conscious of his country’s social and political development, by finding his origins, even living with notorious characters from the past – without the detachment that official accounts impose. This approach occurs through the reader’s identification with the passion that moves the characters, revealing their personal truths.