Caetés: naturalistic confluences and critical revision of the literary nationalism

Abstract

Considering Candido’s (2006) statement that Caetés is perhaps one of Graciliano Ramos’ works least studied by the literary critic, which considers it a work of initiation, this work will approach two moments: the first congregates some reflections on Graciliano Ramos’ poetic and his positioning in the literary historiography, opposed to Caetés, which distances from his other Works while novel that has absorbed aspects from Naturalism and that does not present a problematic hero. The second moment brings up a discussion about the exercise of the metalanguage in Caetés, as well as confluences between author and character in confrontation with the writing. The attempt of a novel about indians, inside another novel, configures a critical review of the literary nationalism, adage of the Romantism and, from this perspective, it has been stated that this work by Graciliano Ramos has assimilated modernistic influences, given the critical view about the Brazilian tradition.