Philosophy of the Humanism in Father against Mother, of Machado de Assis

Abstract

In this essay we are going to prove a very intimate connection in three texts by Machado de Assis: the novels Quincas Borba e Posthumous memories of Brás Cubas e the story Father against Mother. The link is in the philosophy of the humanism, that portrays human survival to the cannibalism of the social system. That is, it is necessary to be strong to fight a living, as the weak ones are defeated by the system. Thus, the slave hunter Cândido Neves puts in practice Quincas Borba’s philosophy when, in order to bring his son up, he has to the capture a fugitive slave who also is pregnant. His son’s survival depends on the sacrifice of somebody else.

Keywords: Machado de Assis, philosophy of the humanism, Father against mother