The political dimension of human corporeality

The Crime of Father Amaro, an anthropological analysis of the storyline

Resumo

This article presents an anthropological analysis of the storyline on the classic of literature by José Maria Eça de Queirós (1845-1900), The Crime of Father Amaro (1875), at the same time we review the imaginary of the Portuguese writer. Let us begin by briefly drafting our approach: corporeality, as far as political tool, represents a backbone in the exertion and practices of power, without obviating that modern authority may assume various forms, i.e.: generating knowledge about the body as well as promoting individual self-discipline. In other words, disciplinary and social domain practices can be exerted both coercively and auto regulative. The patriarchal system nests in the criticism of the Portuguese writer who interrogates social reality in his work, reflecting the hostility of a society and ecclesiastical institution in decline that fight for the disciplinary and particularly corporal dominance of women. A political anatomy where a new discourse on sexuality emerges. But whose objective is still to produce docile and useful bodies. Or, what is the same, useful to the extent of its docility. Hence, the foucauldian reading of this work. Women sexual experiences within the context described by Eça de Queirós appear mediated, at first, by a concrete socialization ab initio; by virtue of which a woman is instituted as a passive being; accordingly, daring to subvert the established order or contradicting the imposed social codes would result in discredit and, ultimately, in punishment.