Pseudotradução em O Vilarejo de Raphael Montes

Abstract

This paper analyzes the use of pseudotranslation in Raphael Montes' O Vilarejo, highlighting how this literary device enhances layers of mystery and prompts questioning of authorship and authenticity in the narrative. Pseudotranslation, a technique that presents an original work as if it were a translation of a foreign text, is utilized by Montes as he positions himself as the “translator” of stories by a supposed author named Elfrida Pimminstoffer. Inspired by If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino, Montes incorporates fictional elements, such as the Cimmerian language and the character Uzzi-Tuzzi, to create an enigmatic atmosphere and reinforce the work’s sense of authenticity. An analysis of the short story “Leviathan: the Sisters Vália, Velma, and Vonda” reveals the character Vonda as the true author of the fictional manuscripts, bringing to light themes of rivalry and morality. In conclusion, this study asserts that the pseudotranslation in O Vilarejo not only challenges traditional notions of authorship and translation but also enriches the reader's experience, encouraging reflection on the boundaries between the real and the fictional.