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3.5 

El Alienista (Ilustrado)

By Machado de Assis & Rodolfo Medeiros
El Alienista (Ilustrado) by Machado de Assis & Rodolfo Medeiros digital book - Fable

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Publisher Description

La historia de El Alienista gira en torno al Dr. Simón Bacamarte, un psiquiatra que llega al pequeño pueblo de Itaguaí y establece una institución mental llamada Casa Verde, donde realiza varios experimentos con la gente del pueblo para determinar quién está cuerdo y quién está loco. Esta obra explora temas de locura, poder y la ambigüedad de la verdad, ofreciendo un comentario satírico sobre la naturaleza humana y la sociedad. El Alienista, publicado originalmente en 1882, es considerado una de las obras maestras de Machado de Assis.

Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, escritor negro y nieto de esclavos libertos, nació en 1839, en una época en la que la esclavitud todavía era legal en Brasil (no fue abolida por completo hasta 1888). Machado de Assis, como es más conocido, se convirtió en un destacado autor y uno de los más grandes escritores brasileños de la historia, si no el más grande, teniendo también el honor de ser el primer presidente de la influyente Academia Brasileña de Letras.

Esta edición trae la traducción al inglés de 2024 de Rodolfo Medeiros y nuevas ilustraciones producidas por Sofia Publisher.

23 Reviews

3.5
“3,8”
“2a leitura : 3.75⭐️ MLI 2024”
“Machado de Assis is one of the greatest satirists I've ever read and I'm annoyed that he is not translated in my language, because people don't really know about him. While "Memorias postumas de Bras Cubas" is an imaginative and extremely humorous criticism of Brazilian society, seen through the eyes of a dead person, "O alienista", with its exploration of the concept of mental sanity, is a brilliant satire that delves into the complexities of human behavior. The plot. Simão Bacamarte is a European-educated psychiatrist seeking to establish a mental institution in his hometown of Itaguaí. The exploration of his efforts to institutionalize individuals with perceived mental illnesses, especially those deemed dangerous, sets the stage for a satirical examination of societal norms and the concept of sanity. Soon, most of the town becomes a patient in his Green House, as everyone is found to have some sort of mental illness - even those that "suffer" from excessive positive traits such as modesty. Even his wife, who indulges in what he considers immoderate shopping, is found to be crazy and locked in. The escalation of rebellions and further imprisonments within the madhouse amplifies the social chaos and highlights the consequences of unchecked authority in the name of mental health. The themes. Machado de Assis' exploration of the fluid and subjective nature of mental illness reflects a deep philosophical inquiry into the concepts of sanity and normality. The questions he raises about whether anyone can be considered entirely sane and what defines a deviation from normality are timeless and resonate with ongoing debates in the field of psychology and psychiatry. The book was written at a time where asylums were becoming more prevalent and psychiatry was still evolving as a discipline. Bacamarte starts with the idea that "madness is a lost island in the ocean of reason", only to realize that reason is not an ocean, but rather madness is one. The writer's exploration of the political dimensions of society, where the concept of mental illness is wielded as a tool for power and control, adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. The intertwining of political machinations with the use of Bacamarte's asylum as a means to suppress political opponents reflects a keen awareness of the potential abuses of authority. The involvement of the pharmacist, Bacamarte's best friend, in the identification and treatment of the mentally ill could be seen as anticipating the power of pharmaceutical companies and their influence on societal perceptions of mental health. The construction. It's remarkable how "O Alienista" manages to distill a multitude of themes and analyses into a compact narrative of fewer than 100 pages. The brevity of the work, coupled with its alert pacing and the infusion of humor, showcases the author's mastery in crafting a narrative that is both rich and engaging. The modern and relatable nature of the discussions attests to the author's insights into human nature, society, and the intersections of power, politics, and mental health. It's definitely a book that invites to introspection and analyzes the subjective component of what we consider mental illness. Machado de Assis' ability to blend humor with social critique is a hallmark of his writing and I'll definitely read more of his works.”

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