Abstract
The paper inquires about interpretations of Machado de Assis's literary production from an Afropessimist perspective. In contrast to the conventional understanding of pessimism present in Machado de Assis's writings, in the works of critics such as Sílvio Romero, Alcides Maya and Alfredo Pujol, the paper suggests that Afropessimism offers support for an understanding of Machado de Assis's radicalized view of the consequences of slavery for Brazilian society, presenting some remarks on the short stories "Mariana" (1871) and "Pai contra mãe" (1906).
Keywords:
literary critic; Afropessimism; slavery