The Spring, the Word, and the Water

a reading of Guimarães Rosa's "The third bank of the river" based on Tertuliano

Abstract

This essay examines the symbolic and theological elements of the short story "The third bank of the river" by João Guimarães Rosa through the lens of Tertullian of Carthage, an exegete who lived between the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries. By exploring the central role of water in Rosa's narrative, the analysis focuses on its transcendental aspect, linking it to its mediating function between the earthly and the spiritual in the Christian tradition. The study highlights the triads present in the text, such as river/father/son, relating them to Tertullian's reflections on the nature of the Holy Trinity. The father, an enigmatic and mythicized figure, is associated with the Creator; the son, both narrator and frustrated interpreter, mirrors the trajectory of Jesus Christ; and the river, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, connects them within a space of transcendence. The essay draws on Tertullian's reflections on water as a vehicle for supernatural action, to suggest a representation of Rosa's river as a channel to the extraordinary. It thus proposes a reading that combines literary and theological elements, highlighting the interpretive richness of Rosa’s work and its potential to engage in dialogue with diverse sources.