Arcadianism was a literary movement born in 18th century Europe. Also known as neoclassicism, arcadismo, in Brazil, had as its starting point the book “Obras Poéticas”, by Cláudio Manuel da Costa, in 1768, and was the main aesthetic trend produced in the country at the time, with its main authors present in the city of Vila Rica, currently Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais.
In the historical field, archadism dialogued with the Mining Inconfidence, separatist movement which had several neoclassical poets as leaders. The work of the Brazilian Arcadians can be divided into “lyrical poems”, “satirical works” and “epic literature”. The main Arcadian authors are Tomás Antônio Gonzaga, author of the classic “Marília de Dirceu” and the revolutionary “Cartas Chilenas”; Cláudio Manuel da Costa, poet of great quality; Basil da Gama, who wrote the book “O Uraguai”; and Saint Rita Durão, author of “Caramuru”.
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Features
Arcadianism in Brazil had a strong European influence, both through the appropriation of techniques and themes typical of European Arcadianism and through inspirations in the
Enlightenment French. In their lyrical face, the Arcadian poems were written according to the following Latin precepts:truncated uselessness (cut the useless): According to this precept, poetry should abandon the flowery language, typical of the previous aesthetic movement, the Baroque. Leaving behind the paradoxes, antitheses and syntactic games of baroque art, arcadism cherished a simple and clear language.
carpe diem (seize the day): For the Arcadians, for man to reach fullness, it was necessary to live the present, in harmony with nature, like a shepherd or a cowboy. The simple life of the countryside and the possibility of productive leisure, that is, respect for the need for rest to produce great works, were highly valued in neoclassicism.
flee city (Fleeing the City): The city was seen, from the perspective of the Arcadians, as a negative space, full of illusions and conflicts, in which man could not reach his fullness. Because of this, it would be necessary to escape from the urban environment.
Locus amoenus (warm place): As a kind of answer to the previous precept (flee city), O locus amoenus points to the countryside, a bucolic space, as the ideal for man to find his fullness, far from the illusions and conflicts created by the city.
mediocrity aurea (Gold balance): According to Arcadian writers, a life of luxury and ostentation, typical of urban environments, should be avoided. the precept mediocrity aurea it speaks precisely about this worldview, pointing out that poets should exalt a simple life, without misery or wealth, but with balance.
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In addition to the lyrical works, arcadism also has its satirical face, illustrated by the work "Chilean Letters”, whose author, at the time, was not identified due to the content present in the letters: they were critical of the then governor of Minas Gerais, Luís da Cunha Pacheco e Meneses, called, in the epistles, Fanfarrão Minesium. Today, it is known that the author of the letters was Tomás Antônio Gonzaga, identified in the texts with the pseudonym Critilo.
With regard to the epic productions of Brazilian Arcadianism, it is worth mentioning the works of Basílio da Gama, who wrote the book “O Uraguai”; and Santa Rita Durão, author of “Caramuru”. The epic works of neoclassicism in Brazil were the first, in our history, to build a literary portrait of fundamental moments of the formation of the Brazilian people, thus initiating a process of reflection, through literature, on issues involving our identity and features.
Historical context
Arcadianism in Brazil took place during the gold cycle in our country. It was in Vila Rica, now another Preto (MG), one of the main Brazilian commercial centers at the time, that the largest volume of Arcadian works in the country was developed. In addition, some neoclassical poets, such as Tomás Antônio Gonzaga and Cláudio Manuel da Costa, participated in the Inconfidência Mineira alongside figures such as Tiradentes. After the denunciation of Joaquim Silvério dos Reis, the aforementioned poets were arrested on charges of conspirators. Tomás Antônio Gonzaga was exiled in Mozambique, and Cláudio Manuel da Costa, according to official sources, committed suicide in prison.
Authors and works
Arcadianism was the main literary current in the country during the 18th century, surpassing the Baroque and preceding the Romantic movement. The main Arcadian authors and their main works are:
Tomás Antônio Gonzaga, who wrote the lyrical book “Marília de Dirceu” (1792) and the satirical “Cartas Chilenas” (1863);
Cláudio Manuel da Costa, author of the books “Culto Métrico” (1749), “Munúsculo Métrico” (1751), “Epicédio” (1753), “Poetic Works by Glauceste Satúrnio (sonnets, epicédios, novels, eclogues, epistles, lyres)” (1768), “O Parnassus Obsequioso and Poetic Works” (1768), “Vila Rica” (1773) and “Poetry Manuscripts” (1779);
Basil da Gama, whose works are “Epitalamius to the nuptials of Mrs. D. Maria Amália” (1769), “O Uraguai” (1769), “The tragic declamation” (1772), “Os Campos Elíseos” (1776), “Abbreviated list of the Republic and Lenitivo da saudade” (1788) and “Quitúbia” (1791).
Saint Rita Durão, who wrote the works “Pro anmia studiorum instauratione oratio” (1778) and “Caramuru” (1781).
By M. Fernando Marinho
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/literatura/arcadismo-brasil.htm