A interação entre narrador e seus personagens em Venha ver o pôr do sol de Lygia Fagundes Telles: uma análise de intenções e vozes à luz da psicanálise

Abstract

This undergraduate thesis aims to investigate the work Venha Ver o Pôr do Sol by renowned Brazilian author Lygia Fagundes Telles, with a focus on the complexity of the human mind evident in the plot. The brief yet intense narrative discusses universal themes such as death, revenge, and the duality between life and death, using symbolic elements and a narrative structure that encourages the reader to uncover its implicit layers. The complexity of the short story can be noticed through the narrator's perspective, who, in a (re)vealed game, guides the reader through the labyrinthine space of the text to understand the characters and their reactions, which play a decisive role in creating an atmosphere of tension and suspense. This thesis aims to analyze the story from a Freudian psychoanalytic perspective, focusing on exploring the psychological aspects of the narrator and characters, highlighting unconscious impulses, the duality between Eros and Thanatos (life and death), and power and seduction dynamics. In the story, the author presents two main characters: Ricardo and Raquel. Ricardo, the male protagonist, acts as the narrator and guide in the plot, using manipulation and persuasion to lure Raquel into a cemetery, a dark setting that already suggests the presence of death. He is portrayed as seductive and charismatic, traits that Freud would associate with the narcissistic ego, whose goal is to fulfill his own interests without caring about the other’s well-being. Raquel, on the other hand, is described as cautious and distrustful but ultimately succumbs to Ricardo’s request, possibly revealing an unconscious attraction to mystery and danger. When analyzed from a Freudian perspective, it is possible to identify how Ricardo embodies the impulse of Thanatos, leading the situation towards a tragic outcome and revealing the tension between desire and destruction. The story thus reflects a struggle between the life instinct (represented by Raquel's curiosity and attraction) and the death instinct (represented by Ricardo's hidden intention), which ties into Freud’s theory of opposing impulses that govern the human unconscious. Finally, the conclusion of the thesis will examine how Lygia Fagundes Telles constructs seemingly simple dialogues, yet filled with subtext, to delve into the characters' hidden intentions and the inevitability of the tragic ending, as well as how she uses these psychoanalytic elements to create a narrative that not only explores psychological horror but also reflects on the complexities of the human psyche and its repressed desires. The analysis proposed in this work delves into how Lygia Fagundes Telles uses these elements to develop a story that, although brief, offers a profound reflection on human nature and the consequences of personal choices. The research is based on a critical reading of the work, as well as theoretical references on short narratives, literary symbolism, and psychological character analysis, aiming to provide a broader understanding of Lygia Fagundes’ literary legacy.