Sub-citizenship and unequal modernization in Conceição Evaristo's Becos da memória

Abstract

In a decentered and collective poetic, Conceição Evaristo narrates the bitterness of exclusionary Brazilian modernization process, directly linked to slavery cleavage that exceeds the Slavery Abolition (1888). Under strong capital speculation, configured in urbanizing impulse (understood as “sanitary”), we see a shantytown dismantling occurring in a central high-value area of Belo Horizonte. The collective figuration that emerges in Becos da memória points to the modern transformation of domination, which is no longer personal and direct, and passes to the effectiveness of its liberal exercise, an efficacy that appears to be rationally justified. To analyze the formal arrangements used by Evaristo in contemporary literary scene, this article will discuss some fictional production characteristics of Luiz Ruffato, especially his novel in fragments Eles eram muitos cavalos. The comparative analysis purpose seeks to show continuities and differences in the working classes representation of the projects undertaken by these authors. In the case that the analysis is successful, the formal choices that were outlined should themselves highlight the diversity in the range of possible poetic directions when dealing with such demanding referential dynamics.