Machado De Assis

Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, often known as Machado de Assis or simply Machado, was a Brazilian novelist, poet, playwright, and short story writer. His most notable work, The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas (1881), is a landmark in Brazilian literature.

Machado de Assis was born in Rio de Janeiro. His parents were Francisco José de Assis, a wall painter and the son of freed slaves, and Maria Leopoldina da Câmara Machado, a Portuguese washerwoman. Although he had limited educational opportunities, Machado de Assis taught himself several languages, including French, English, German, and Greek.

Growing up in Morro do Livramento, a poor neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Machado de Assis faced significant challenges. He attended public school but did not excel academically. After his mother's death when he was ten, he and his father moved to São Cristóvão. His stepmother, Maria Inês da Silva, helped him continue his education, and he learned French from an immigrant baker. Machado de Assis began his literary career early, with his first poem, Ela (Her), published in 1855 when he was just fifteen.

Machado de Assis worked various jobs to support himself, including as a typographer's apprentice. His first job in publishing was at the newspaper Correio Mercantil in 1858. During this time, he made influential friends, such as the writer José de Alencar, who introduced him to English literature. Machado de Assis's passion for literature and writing grew, leading him to publish his works in several newspapers and magazines.

The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas (1881) is one of Machado de Assis's most significant literary works. The novel broke with the traditional realist structure of the time. Instead, it used surreal narrative techniques, metaphors, and playful construction. The story is told by its deceased protagonist, Brás Cubas, who narrates his life story from beyond the grave. This unique perspective allows Brás Cubas to offer sharp criticism of Brazilian society without fear of retribution.

The novel begins with Brás Cubas dedicating his memoirs "to the worm who first gnawed on the cold flesh of my corpse." It sets the tone for the book's dark humor and critical examination of life and death. Brás Cubas reflects on his life, from his wealthy yet unfulfilled childhood to his various romantic entanglements and ultimate failures. His narrative is filled with wit and irony, exposing the absurdities and hypocrisies of society.

Machado de Assis's work is noted for its innovative narrative techniques and deep psychological insight. The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas is often compared to the works of European writers like Laurence Sterne and Jonathan Swift. Machado de Assis's ability to blend humor with critical social commentary has earned him a lasting place in world literature.

Machado de Assis wrote prolifically throughout his life, producing numerous novels, short stories, and plays. He was a founding member and the first president of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. Machado de Assis died on September 29, 1908.