Leitura e indeterminação: uma análise do conto “A Cidade”, de Murilo Rubião

Abstract

This article proposes an analysis of the short story “A Cidade”, by the writer Murilo Rubião (1974-2010), moving away from a reading that seeks to systematize the narrative into labels, as is the case with the complex definition of what the “fantastic” is, and aiming at the reader’s own reading experience when coming into contact with such an indeterminate text. This work aims to highlight characteristics of the short story that evidence the text’s indeterminacy, enabling greater creative involvement of the reader in the construction of meanings, escaping transparency, obviousness and totalizing answers; in addition, it aims to propose the hypothesis that the wanderings of the main character, Cariba, may represent the journey of the reader of literature. With bibliographical excerpts based on some works about the “mineiro” author (Mello, 2016; Schwartz, 1976), in addition to a solid theoretical basis (Barthes, 2004; Calvino, 1990; Candido; 2023; Jouve, 2013; Petit, 2013; Piglia, 2004), the indeterminacy of the story is analyzed in three parts: the lack of information as we enter the narrative, the constant questions and the anguish of waiting. Finally, this article provided new reading paths for an author so stigmatized within the fantasy case, as well as a new perspective on a lesser-known short story, highlighting the importance of returning to these works with a firm commitment to reading, accepting the rules of the language game.