Perambulanças de João Grilo : do pícaro lusitano ao malandro brasileiro, as peripécias do (anti-)herói popular

Abstract

There is, in studies of literary criticism, a number of heroes: on one hand, the classic ones, whose mission focuses on great achievements and personal growth; on the other, there are the low heroes, whose strength is closely related to the comic discourse. Among these, is the picaro and the trickster. This research, therefore, is guided by the analysis of the construction of the figure of the folk hero, namely John Cricket on Portuguese soil, and the transformation of his features upon his arrival on Brazilian soil. Thus, the Lusitanian picaro, guided by luck, abdicates fate in favor of the Brazilian trickster, guided by his insight and thoroughness. Populating the most different textual genres, is in the cordel flyer that Joãoa Grilo makes lasting abode and where wages a class struggle, exposing social inequalities in Brazil. From the study of these literary texts, this research sets out to create a popular cosmology, created based on the intense process of cultural exchanges between Portugal and Brazil. By scholars such as Aristotle (1993), Campbell (2007), Propp (1983), Damatta (1997), Jung (2008), González (1994), Mendes (2008) and Müller (1997), the theory about the hero is opposed to literary narratives. Abreu (1999), Peloso (1996), Haurélio (2010), Maxado (2012) and Cavignac (2006) were used to relate the construction of this hero to popular culture. Based in Duarte (2006) and Minois (2003), the comical dialogues with picaro and trickster speech. In addition, through the theoretical assumptions of Ortiz (1978) and Rama (1982), the concept of transcultural narrative is used to better understand the culture shock and the formation of popular trickster on Brazilian soil. Therefore, through the studies undertaken, it is pertinent to consider that an unequal society, the picaro and the trickster serve the subaltern classes, to see, in their actions, a cathartic moment to deal with everyday frustrations, and to the powerful people, to keep the current status quo.