Imperatriz Teresa Cristina, a "mãe dos brasileiros": uma vida silenciosa?

Abstract

We analyze a variety of possibilities between biography and the writing of history, taking as a reference Teresa Cristina Maria, the last empress of Brazil. Using the biographical writing, we perceive that the individuals are vulnerable, complex and contribute to a specific construction of memory. In the case of Dom Pedro II’s spouse, we have as a background the imagery about the Brazilian women of the XIX century and the various narratives about the Brazilian empress, what creates an image of a Monument Woman. In the same way, we notice that her path was related to the political consolidation of the imperial state itself. We observe that Teresa Cristina Maria’s figure, reflected in the Brazilian historiography, is still seen as “the good mother of the Brazilians”. However, there are also other imageries that intend to ignore the idea of a “silenced or submissive woman”, what demonstrates a multitude of points of views about the history of Brazil.