Abstract

SOUSA, Sérgio Guimarães de. A romantic hero, after all and despite himself, a calvary cadet: About A Filha do Doutor Negro. Diacrítica [online]. 2012, vol.26, n.3, pp.283-311. ISSN 0807-8967.

In A Filha do Doutor Negro (1864), by Camilo Castelo Branco, there are two characters of notorious Romantic imprint. Without the any lethal rivalry (or even any rivalry at all), both men are passionately drawn towards the same lass (Albertina). António da Silveira, one of the contenders, will abdicate from his aspiration and will play a fundamental supporting role for the other contender in helping to conquer the heart of the lady. As it should be expected the father of the young lady plays his part in preventing any approaches. Our aim will be that of putting forward an analysis of these characters who seem to be playing a dual role of romantic heroes, with all that this conception demands and means, and also of heroes marked by unequivocal signs (more or less residual) of an Ancient Regime mentality. This duality is never mutually excluded in these characters considered in a quite dis-comfortable position, that of an in-between existence.

Keywords : desire; marriage; patriarchy; Romanticism; Ancient Regime.

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