“Eram como homens, se bem fossem crianças...”: a infância abandonada em Capitães da Areia (1920-1939)

Abstract

This work is a study about the book Captains of the Sands by Jorge Amado, focusing on the theme of abandoned childhood in the plot. The theme was prompted by the childhood characterization method employed by Jorge Amado regarding a group of minors labeled Captains of the Sand. The research considers the period of publication of the book (the 1930s) and the context of the plot (the 1920s). This study mobilizes Literature and Press as historical sources to understand the book's reception and how childhood appeared in newspapers. Coming from the work Captains of the Sands, the research explores themes that permeate the characterization of childhood in the book, which involve class, race, gender, and the history of proletarians. Therefore, this work considers issues involved in the social daily life of the 1920s and 1930s. It is possible to think about this by analyzing the construction of the characters of Captains of the Sands, understanding this and also looking at Jorge Amado's involvement with Brazilian society in the 1930s.