História e memória no final do século xix: análise das obras “Se não me falha a memória” E “Minha vida de menina”

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the history and memory of two literary works of writers of Minas Gerais, who wrote the autobiographies entitled “Se não me falha a memória”, from Joaquim de Salles; and the daybook, “Minha vida de menina”, from Helena Morley. Through the union of literature with History, it was sought in these literary productions the memories that could be inferred from the late nineteenth century in the cities of Serro and Diamantina. In addition to the common geographic space and time, these works possess other similarities such as the detailed description of everyday life, culture, beliefs and customs. It allowed us to know the lives, actions and beliefs of the people who lived in these places and periods, in the view of Joaquim de Salles and Helena Morley. In our analysis, we also perceived differences between the works. These differences were both from the point of view of the genre of writing - a diary and a memoir - as the age of the authors: while Helena Morley was a teenager when she wrote his diary, Joaquim de Salles already had 60 years old when he wrote his autobiography. This render the objectives and purposes expected of their scripts very distinct, as well as the form of writing and choice of words. It was denoted a stronger regionalism in the work of Helena Morley, as opposed to a more scholar aspect in the work of Joaquim de Salles. These works are also analyzed as research sources for the History study, in order to understand the traces of a past that can be apprehended through its authors. Thus, the social representation is analyzed by the understanding that it does not capture the reality, but the perceptions left by the authors who observed, recovered and registered these facts in their works. While not forgetting to highlight the nostalgia present in the works, the aim of this work is historical. Therefore, the analysis of the customs, culture and beliefs of Serro and Diamantina region in the late nineteenth century, by the use of the autobiographies “Se não me falha a memória” from Joaquim de Salles and “Minha vida de menina” from Helena Morley.