The Sad End of Policarpo Lent is a work by pre-modernist writer Lima Barreto (1881-1922). It is one of the greatest classics of Brazilian literature of the period.
Divided into three parts, it was published in 1911 in the serials of the Jornal do Commercio. The entire work was published in a book in 1915.
Characters from the Sad end of Policarpo Quaresma
- Lent Polycarp: civil servant and protagonist of the work. He is an outstanding patriot, scholar and book lover.
- Ricardo Coração dos Outros: guitar teacher from Quaresma.
- Olga: goddaughter of Polycarp.
- Vincent Coleoni: father of Olga.
- Loving Borges: husband of Olga.
- adelaide: Quaresma's sister who lived with him.
- Anastasius: homemade for Lent.
- Mane Lamp: employee of the Quaresma farm.
- lucky: employee of the Quaresma farm.
- Sinha Chica: wife of Felizardo.
- Lieutenant Antonino Dutra: clerk and employee of the city hall of Curuzu.
- Doctor Campos: mayor of Curuzu.
- General Albernaz: neighbor of Quaresma.
- Maricota Mistress: wife of General Albernaz.
- Lulu: student at Colégio Militar and son of the general.
- ismenia: eldest daughter of General Albernaz and Dona Maricota. She is also engaged to Cavalcanti.
- Cavalcanti: dentistry student and fiance from Ismenia.
- Quinota: daughter of General Albernaz and Dona Maricota. She is Genelicio's wife.
- Genelicium: clerk at the Ministry of Finance and Quinota's fiance.
- Zizi: daughter of General Albernaz and Dona Maricota
- lallah: fiancee of Lieutenant Fontes, daughter of General Albernaz and Dona Maricota.
- Lieutenant Sources: top scorer and fiance of Lalá.
- I lived: daughter of General Albernaz and Dona Maricota.
- Rear Admiral Caldas: friend of General Albernaz.
- doctor florence: engineer and friend of General Albernaz.
- Mr Bastos: accountant and friend of General Albernaz.
- Fire Captain Segismundo: friend of General Albernaz.
- Marshal Floriano: ruler of the country. He was president of Brazil from 1891 to 1894.
Summary of the work Sad end of Policarpo Quaresma
The novel talks about Policarpo Quaresma, a civil servant who wants to value the country's culture.
The story begins at the end of the 19th century, and takes place in the city of Rio de Janeiro, where Quaresma is the undersecretary of the minister of war.
One of his actions is to propose to the minister the recognition of the Tupi language as the national language. Policarpo has a strong nationalist stance and, according to him, the Indians are the real Brazilians.
After this event, Quaresma is considered crazy and spends some time in the hospital. During this period, Olga, Quaresma's friend and guitar teacher Ricardo Coração dos Outros, who believe in his ideas, are the only ones to visit him.
After leaving the psychiatric hospital, he decides to withdraw from society and starts to live in a farm. The place, located in the interior city of Curuzu, became known as “Sítio do Sossego”.
Although his initial proposal was associated with cultivation and dedication to agriculture, with time Quaresma began to get closer to some people.
From then on, he became involved with several local politicians. During the Revolta da Armada, he goes to Rio de Janeiro with the intention of supporting the government of Marshal Floriano, who was being confronted by the country's navy. However, he ends up being arrested.
Disillusioned with the people's lack of patriotism, Quaresma finds in the figure of the president a totalitarian and cruel dictator.
Accused of treason by Marshal Floriano, in addition to imprisonment, he is sentenced to execution.
Check the entire work by downloading the PDF here: Sad end of Policarpo Lent.
Analysis of the work Sad end of Policarpo Quaresma
Inserted in the early years of the republic in the country, the work analyzes Brazilian society at the time. The biggest criticism falls on the world of politics.
In a prophetic tone, Barreto addresses issues such as social injustice, clientelism, bureaucracy and personal and political interests, among others.
Through the exacerbated nationalism and the naive and idealistic posture of the protagonist, the writer brings up questions of social denunciation.
In some passages, it is possible to identify the ironic and comic tone used as a stylistic resource. Floriano Peixoto is a real character in the country's history, being a figure who offers greater veracity to the facts presented.
Furthermore, some wars, which actually took place, are also mentioned. As an example, the following can be cited: a Armada Revolt, a Paraguay War and the Federalist Revolution.
Historical context of the work Sad end by Policarpo Quaresma
The historical context of a work indicates, through circumstances or facts, the time when the story takes place.
This indication can occur through a political, social, cultural and/or economic scenario.
O Sad end of Policarpo Lent tells a story that took place during the government of Marshal Floriano Peixoto (known as Marechal de Ferro because of his rigor), which took place between 1891 and 1894.
The author makes references, for example, to the Revolta da Armada, a rebellion organized by the Brazilian Navy to oppose the first two republican governments of the Brazil, which increasingly presented characteristics of the dictatorship: first the government of Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca and then the government of Marshal Floriano Peixoto.
In addition to the historical context of Sad end of Policarpo Lent based on the dictatorial government of Floriano Peixoto, the author also made social criticisms of some issues society at that time, such as the exchange of political favors, social injustices and bureaucracy.
Literary style of the work Sad end by Policarpo Quaresma
O Sad end of Policarpo Lent it is a pre-modernist novel.
Among the pre-modernist characteristics present in the work, the following stand out:
- Nationalism and regionalism.
- Social complaint.
- Historical and everyday themes.
- Colloquial language.
It is important to mention that, for many scholars, Pre-modernism is not considered a literary school because it has several different artistic and literary productions.
Excerpts from the work Sad end of Policarpo Quaresma
To better understand Lima Barreto's language, check out some excerpts from the three parts of the work's plot below.
First part - The guitar lesson
“As usual, Policarpo Quaresma, better known as Major Quaresma, knocked at home at four-fifteen in the afternoon. This had been going on for over twenty years. Leaving the Arsenal de Guerra, where he was undersecretary, he would go around the pastry shops for some fruit, buy some cheese sometimes, and always bread from the French bakery.
He didn't spend even an hour on these steps, so at three-forty or so, he would take the tram, without a single minute's error, and step on the threshold of his house, in a street away from São Januário, at exactly four-fifteen, as if it were the apparition of a star, an eclipse, in short a mathematically determined phenomenon, predicted and predicted.
The neighborhood already knew his habits and so much that, at Captain Claudio's house, where it was customary dinner around four-thirty, as soon as they saw him pass by, the owner shouted to the maid: “Alice, look, they are hours; Major Quaresma has passed."
And it was like that every day for nearly thirty years. Living in his own house and having other incomes besides his salary, Major Quaresma could take a train of life superior to its bureaucratic resources, enjoying, on the part of the neighborhood, the consideration and respect of a man wealthy.”
Second part - In “Sossego”
“The place wasn't ugly, but it wasn't beautiful. He had, however, the calm and satisfied look of someone who thinks well with his luck.
The house stood on a terrace, a kind of step, forming the rise to the greatest height of a small hill that ran at the back. Ahead, through the bamboos of the fence, he looked at a plain dying in the mountains that could be seen in the distance; a stream of still and dirty water ran parallel to the front of the house; farther on, the train creased the plain with the clear ribbon of its weed line; a path, with houses on either side, left to go to the station, crossing the stream and winding along the plain. Quaresma's house thus had a wide horizon, looking out towards the uprising, the “Norway”, and it was also smiling and graceful in its whitewash. Built with the desolate architectural poverty of our country houses, it had, however, vast rooms, large bedrooms, all with windows, and a balcony with an unorthodox colonnade. In addition to this main one, the “Sossego” farm, as it was called, had other buildings: the old flour house, which still had the oven intact and the wheel disassembled, and a stable covered with thatch..”
Third part - Patriots
“He had been there for over an hour, in a great hall of the palace, seeing the marshal but unable to speak to him. There were hardly any difficulties in getting into his presence, but talking to him was not so easy.
The palace had an air of intimacy, almost relaxed, representative and eloquent. It was not uncommon to see on the couches, in other rooms, aides-de-camp, orderlies, ushers, dozing, half lying down and unbuttoned. Everything about him was sloppy and easy. The corners of the ceilings were cobwebbed; from the rugs, when stepped on with more force, a dust from the badly swept street rose. Quaresma had not been able to come right away, as he had announced in the telegram. It had been necessary to put his affairs in order, find someone to keep his sister company. Dona Adelaide had made a thousand objections to his departure; he had shown him the risks of fighting, of war, incompatible with his age and superior to his strength; he, however, had not let himself be discouraged, had stood firm, as he felt, indispensable, necessary that all his will, that all his intelligence, that everything he had in life and activity was made available to the government, to then... oh!”
Film based on the work Sad end by Policarpo Quaresma
The literary classic gained a cinematographic version in 1998. Entitled "Policarpo Quaresma, Hero of Brazil”, the feature film is a comedy based on the work of Barreto. The script was adapted by Alcione Araújo and had as director Paulo Thiago.
Watch below an excerpt from the film that portrays the moment when Policarpo Quaresma was hospitalized in a hospice, considered crazy for proposing that Tupi-Guarani be recognized as the official language of the Brazil.
entrance exam questions
1. (PUC) From the character that gives title to the novel Sad End of Polycarp Lent, we can say that:
a) he was an extreme nationalist, but he never really studied Brazilian things.
b) he committed his suicide because he felt disappointed with the Brazilian reality.
c) defended national values, fought for them all his life and was unjustly sentenced to death for the values he defended.
d) he was considered a traitor to the country, because he participated in the conspiracy against Floriano Peixoto.
e) he was a madman and therefore was not taken seriously by the people around him.
Correct alternative: c) he defended national values, fought for them all his life and was unjustly sentenced to death for the values he defended.
a) WRONG. Policarpo Quaresma has always been a scholar, especially with regard to Brazilian culture. Proof of this was his determination and interest in studies of the Tupi language. In addition, Policarpo dedicated himself to studying Tupinambá customs and learning to play the guitar (he attributed national values to this instrument), as well as maraca and inúbia (indigenous instruments).
b) WRONG. Policarpo Quaresma did not commit suicide; he was sentenced to death, accused of treason against the government of Floriano Peixoto.
c) CORRECT. Policarpo Quaresma was a great patriot. He was a citizen who always valued and fought for Brazilian culture, even defending that Tupi-Guarani should become the official language of the country.
After the Armada War, Polycarp was appointed jailer of the prison of insurgent sailors. One night an escort randomly selected some prisoners to be shot. Policarpo decided to report what had happened to President Floriano Peixoto. He was then accused of treason and sentenced to death.
d) WRONG. Policarpo did not participate in any conspiracy against Floriano Peixoto. He was accused of treason, for as a jailer in the prison of insurgent sailors, he witnessed the fact that some prisoners were chosen at random to be shot.
Policarpo decided to report what had happened to President Floriano Peixoto. He was then accused of treason and sentenced to death.
e) WRONG. Policarpo Quaresma was not crazy. He was considered crazy (and was even interned in a mental institution) when he suggested to President Floriano Peixoto that Tupi-Guarani should become the official language of Brazil.
2. (Fuvest) In the novel Sad End of Polycarp Lent, the main character's exalted and delusional nationalism motivates her engagement in three different projects, which aim to “reform” the country. These projects aim, successively, at the following sectors of national life:
a) school, agricultural and military;
b) linguistic, industrial and military;
c) cultural, agricultural and political;
d) linguistic, political and military;
e) culture, industrial and political.
Correct alternative: c) cultural, agricultural and political;
a) WRONG. Of the options presented in this alternative, Policarpo was only engaged in the agricultural issue, as he wanted to prove that Brazil was a country with fertile land.
b) WRONG. Of the options presented in this alternative, Polycarp's only engagement was in the linguistic aspect, taking into account the his dedication in studying the Tupi-Guarani language, even defending that it be made official as the official language of the Brazil.
c) CORRECT. Policarpo fought for the Tupi-Guarani language to be recognized as the official language of Brazil. With regard to agricultural and political aspects, he was committed to valuing Brazilian lands while fertile for cultivation, and was in favor of political reform in order to end the corruption.
d) WRONG. Of the options presented in this alternative, Polycarp's only engagement was in the linguistic aspect, taking into account the his dedication in studying the Tupi-Guarani language, even defending that it be made official as the official language of the Brazil.
e) WRONG. Of the options presented in this alternative, Polycarp's only engagement was in the cultural and political aspects. The character has always valued Brazilian culture. He was even interested in learning to play some indigenous musical instruments and defended that the Tupi-Guarani language should be made official as the official language of Brazil.
As far as politics is concerned, he was in favor of reform that would stamp out corruption.
3. (Enem-2012) For eighteen years that such patriotism absorbed him and he had done the folly of studying useless things. What did the rivers matter to him? Were they big? Because they were... How would knowing the names of Brazil's heroes contribute to happiness? In nothing... The important thing is that he had been happy. Was? Do not. He remembered the Tupi things, the folk-lore, his agricultural attempts... Was all of this left in his soul a satisfaction? None! None!
The Tupi found general disbelief, laughter, mockery, mockery; and drove him crazy. A disappointment. And agriculture? Nothing. The lands were not wild and it was not easy as the books said. Another disappointment. And when his patriotism became a combatant, what did he think? Disappointments. Where was the sweetness of our people? Has he not seen her fight like wild beasts? Didn't he see her killing prisoners, countless of them? Another disappointment. His life was a disappointment, a series, better, a chain of disappointments.
The homeland he had wanted to have was a myth; a ghost created by him in the silence of his office.
BARRETO, L. Sad end of Policarpo Lent. Available at: www.dominiopublico.gov.br. Accessed on: Nov. 8 2011.
The romance Sad end of Policarpo Lent, by Lima Barreto, was published in 1911. In the highlighted fragment, the character's reaction to the unfolding of his patriotic initiatives shows that:
a) Policarpo Quaresma's dedication to the knowledge of Brazilian nature led him to study useless things, but allowed him a broader view of the country.
b) curiosity about the heroes of the country led him to the ideal of prosperity and democracy that the character finds in the republican context.
c) the construction of a homeland from mythical elements, such as the cordiality of the people, the richness of the soil and linguistic purity, leads to ideological frustration.
d) the Brazilian's propensity for laughter, for mockery, justifies the reaction of disappointment and giving up by Policarpo Quaresma, who prefers to hide in his office.
e) the certainty of land fertility and unconditional agricultural production is part of an ideological salvationist project, as it was disseminated in the author's time.
Correct alternative: c) the construction of a homeland from mythical elements, such as the cordiality of the people, the richness of the soil and linguistic purity, leads to ideological frustration.
a) WRONG. The fragment does not show that Polycarp's studies have allowed him a broader vision of his country. In fact, the passage shows that all his patriotic initiatives were frustrated and, therefore, such studies were useless.
b) WRONG. The fragment presented does not make any statement to indicate that curiosity about the names of heroes led Polycarp to the ideal of prosperity and democracy.
c) CORRECT. Polycarp spent a good part of his life dedicated to studying his homeland, as he understood that in this way he could contribute to a prosperous and ideal country. However, the fragment shows that his ideology was built on information that had no practical proof, which resulted in a great feeling of frustration from the moment he became aware of the fact that such ideology.
d) WRONG. The fragment shows that Polycarp's frustration is due to the awareness that the homeland he would like to have was, in fact, a myth. The Brazil idealized by Policarpo was in no way similar to the real Brazil.
e) WRONG. In the fragment presented, the character's reaction to agriculture shows Polycarp's disappointment. noticing that the land was not that fertile and that agriculture was not as easy as the books.
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