Uma ida aos arquivos da história nacional: a percepção histórica da literatura

Abstract

Archive theory received a contemporary review by Jacques Derrida, whose deconstruction in this subject implies in two different but complementary features on the archive word. Therefore, there is an authority which consists in an interpretation on this archive, and a place to support it. An approach between this theory and the development on Gilberto Freyre interpretation about the formation of the Brazilian family leads to the characterization of Freyre as an archon. Freyre uses the new history theory and its use of new kinds of documents, such as houses, Literature and Arts, as an interpretation of man in his daily life. Using those materials as documents, he interprets the Brazilian family in its formation and analyses the construction on Regionalism (related to its political and social overtones) as an archive. Freyre uses Literature in its symbolic characteristic on proving it as a document, as a supplement to his archive. This work consists on seeing his reading on José de Alencar writings. He writes a paper called José de Alencar in which analyses some novels of this author, such as Senhora and O Tronco do Ipê, as well a play called Mãe. These fictional writings themes are slavery, and because of this it is possible an ideological approach to other Alencar’s play, O Demônio Familiar. On the other hand it is possible to figure out how Freyre uses the houses as documents to point them out as well on his archive interpretation, like a support, as well as he interprets family home, on the characterization of the “casa-Brasil”. It is also related how he develops his theory about Regionalism considering it as an archive, at the same time that it is seen a recovering on the Romantic characteristic about the genius, that recovers on Freyre’s generation on the 1920’s and 1930’s. At least it is seen also how the archon choices implies violence on the archon’s archive, by the consignation on its construction. Freyre collets sorts of documents to support his archive, at the same time he does not select important historical documents about Brazilian History. He is the first that introduces black people on the country history, and at the same time, he feels the importance on conducting this matter to the cultural subjects, and therefore, he contributes to the perception of the people importance on the cultural and on the nation definition.