A mulher maranhense na escravatura através da narrativa literária da escritora Maria Firmina dos Reis: a escrava, 1887

Abstract

The work analyzes the literary canon of the writer Maria Firmina dos Reis, in the 19th century, supported by her work: A slave. Maria Firmina is often appointed as the first Brazilian woman to publish a novel in book form, in line with the romantic period in Brazil, thickening the abolitionist discourse that was contemplated with the Lei Áurea of 1888. In her works, she points out the contradictions of an imperial Brazil that remains with the enslavement of Africans and Afro-descendants. Under the perspective of these historical moments, we narrate the life story of the northeastern novelist, looking at the intertwining with national history. Therefore, we seek to list the relationships between the historical narrative and the literary narrative, using the aforementioned work by Maria Firmina as a source, as well as a dialogue with authors who deal with the diaspora and Afro-Brazilian culture, aiming to unveil the intersections between race, class and gender produced from the role of this writer in the history of Brazil.