Bento Santiago

Definition

Bento Santiago is a central character in Machado de Assis's works, representing the complexities of identity, social class, and personal conflict in 19th-century Brazil. His character often serves as a lens through which the author explores themes such as hypocrisy, ambition, and the challenges faced by those navigating a rigid class structure. Bento's experiences and internal struggles highlight the contradictions of Brazilian society during this period.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Bento Santiago is the protagonist in 'Dom Casmurro,' which examines his complex feelings of jealousy and doubt regarding his wife, Capitu.
2. His character is often viewed as a representation of the middle class in Brazil during the transition from colonialism to modernity.
3. Bento's internal conflict and self-doubt reflect broader societal issues, including the clash between personal desires and societal expectations.
4. Machado de Assis uses Bento to critique the moral ambiguities present in Brazilian society, often revealing the contradictions within his character.
5. The narrative style employed by Machado de Assis allows readers to engage with Bento's unreliable perspective, emphasizing the theme of subjective truth.

Review Questions

• How does Bento Santiago's character reflect the social class dynamics of 19th-century Brazil?
  • Bento Santiago exemplifies the tensions of social class in 19th-century Brazil as he navigates his middle-class identity amidst the rigid social hierarchy. His aspirations and insecurities expose the limitations imposed by class structures, showcasing how they shape personal relationships and ambitions. Through Bento's struggles, readers can see how societal expectations create conflicts between individual desires and social conformity.
• Discuss the role of jealousy in shaping Bento Santiago's relationships, particularly with Capitu.
  • Jealousy is a central theme in Bento Santiago's relationships, especially with his wife Capitu. His obsessive suspicions about her fidelity drive him to question not only their marriage but also his own perceptions of reality. This jealousy ultimately leads to a tragic distortion of truth, affecting how he interacts with others and reflects on his past. The complexity of these emotions serves to deepen the psychological exploration within 'Dom Casmurro.'
• Evaluate how Machado de Assis uses Bento Santiago's perspective to challenge notions of truth and memory in literature.
  • Machado de Assis crafts Bento Santiago's narrative to highlight the subjective nature of truth and memory. As readers experience Bento's thoughts and reflections, they encounter a fragmented reality where his biases shape his understanding of events. This technique invites deeper questions about reliability in storytelling, illustrating how personal experiences can distort memory and influence interpretations of truth. Assis ultimately challenges readers to consider how their own perspectives impact their understanding of narratives.

Related terms

Machado de Assis: A Brazilian writer and literary critic considered one of the most important figures in Brazilian literature, known for his innovative narrative techniques and psychological depth.

Dom Casmurro: A novel by Machado de Assis that features Bento Santiago as the protagonist, exploring themes of jealousy and the unreliability of memory.

Realism: A literary movement that emerged in the 19th century focused on depicting everyday life and society with an emphasis on authenticity and detail.