general field is a novel by João Guimarães Rosa. It tells the story of the boy Miguilim, who lives with his family in Mutúm, in the state of Minas Gerais. There, he lives his childhood in the midst of nature. Despite having other siblings, Miguilim has a special affection for Dito.
The narrator reports the facts from Miguilim's perspective, in order to show that the protagonist is a complex individual and that, despite being a child, he carries existential questions within himself. Thus, the boy, as a good observer, is able to perceive the tension existing between his father and mother.
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work summary general field
general field is a novel by João Guimarães Rosa.
The narrative tells the story of the boy Miguilim.
The story takes place at some point in the Old Republic.
The narrator reports the facts from the perspective of the protagonist.
Main features: lyricism and regionalism.
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Video lesson about general field
Analysis of the work general field
→ Characters of the work general field
Miguilim's brothers:
- Chica or Maria Francisca Cessim Caz
- Said or Expedito José Cessim Caz
- Drelina or Maria Adrelina Cessim Caz
- Liovaldo
- Tomezinho or Tome de Jesus Cessim Caz
José Lourenço
Luisaltino
Mother or Nhanina: mother of Miguilim
Maitina
Majéla or Patori: son of Seo Deográcias
Mary Pretinha
Miguilim: protagonist
Osmundo Cessim: Nhanina's brother
Father, Bero, Berno or Bernardo Caz: father of Miguilim
pink
Seo Aristeu
Seo Deogracias
Uncle Terêz: uncle of Miguilim
Cowboy Jé
Cowboy Saluz
Grandma Welcome: mother of Nhanina
Grandma Izandra: Nhanina's aunt
→ construction time general field
Everything indicates that the time of the narrative is situated at some point during the old republic, that is, between 1889 and 1930. This is suggested when the narrator describes the character Maitina:
“It was so old, I didn't even know how old it was. They said she was a black runaway, under captivity, which they found fallen in the flood, at a time when Mom wasn't even born.”
→ construction space general field
THE narrative takes place in the state of Minas Gerais. The narrator mentions some places, such as Vila-Risonha-de-São-Romão, Vereda-do-Côcho, Tabuleiro Branco and, mainly, Mutúm, where the protagonist lives.
→ plot of the work general field
The narrator starts the novel with the presentation of the protagonist: Miguilim. The boy lives “with his mother, his father and his brothers, far, far from here, far beyond the path of the Chicken-D'Água path and other paths without a name or little known, in a remote point, in Mutúm. In the middle of Campos Gerais [...]”.
Miguilim is eight years old. When he was seven, he left Mutúm for the first time. On that occasion, Uncle Terêz took the boy to “be confirmed in Sucurijú”. During that trip, Miguilim heard someone say that Mutúm was a beautiful place. Then, the narrator talks about when the family came to live there.
Miguilim's brothers are also described, like Dito, who “was a minor, but he knew the serious thing, thought things through quickly, God had given him all judgment”. It is Dito who tries to prevent Miguilim from getting involved in a fight between his father and mother. Nonetheless, Miguilim tries to protect the moh, take a beating from the forthere and stay grounded.
When Uncle Terêz returns from hunting, Grandma Izidra tells him to go away, as the fight between Miguilim's parents was over him. Tio Terêz is Miguilim's father's brother and, apparently, is interested in the boy's mother. Then, the narrator reveals that Grandma Izandra is not very fond of Nhanina, Miguilim's mother.
Grandma Izandra is the sister of Grandma Benvinda, Nhanina's mother. Grandma Benvinda is already dead and when she was young she was a prostitute. Miguilim learns about these things, immersed in his childhood universe, surrounded by the stories, beliefs and superstitions of the sertão, where religiosity is of great importance.
Seo Deográcias asks Bernardo for money and takes his son Patori with him, but Miguilim does not like this boy, he is “disgusted with those conversations with Patori, dirty, ungoverned things”. As a result, Miguilim falls ill. He thinks he has tuberculosis and that he's going to die soon, but Seo Aristeu goes to see the boy:
“— […]. It happens like me, who also died once: I did die, but I think it was a return death… Hold on and jump, Miguilim, get up now!
Miguilim, divided from everything, got up, suddenly healthy, he wasn't going to die anymore, as long as Seo Aristeu didn't want to. Everyone laughed. I trembled with joy.”
On another occasion, when he is returning home, after taking food to his father in the fields, Miguilim meets Tio Terêz on the way. The man then asks his nephew to deliver a note to Nhanina, but Miguilim, the next day, returns the note to his uncle.
Luisaltino, a friend of Miguilim's father, goes to live in the fields with them, to help with planting, and he brings the parrot Papaco-o-Paco with him. Soon after, Miguilim learns that Patori died of hunger. In the sequence, Dito cuts his foot “in a broken pot”, gets very sick and ends up dying too.
Miguilim starts helping his father in the fields. When Liovaldo goes to visit his family, Miguilim doesn't get along with his brother. After Liovaldo leaves, the boy becomes very sick. To complicate the situation, the pthen kill Luisaltino, probably out of jealousys, and then hangs himself with a vine.
So, Tio Terêz goes back to live with them, Miguilim gets better, and when Dr. José Lourenço, from Curvêlo, shows up at his house, he discovers that the boy needs to wear glasses. So, with the family's consent, the doctor takes Miguilim to the city, where the boy goes to study and learn a trade.
→ narrator of the work general field
the narrator of general field presents a certain complexity, since the story is told from Miguilim's perspective, without, however, being told by him. This is because the narrator does not use the pronoun “I”, which would characterize him as a narrator-character. he, therefore, is omniscient towards the protagonist, as he knows the boy's history and thoughts, but is also an observer when, from Miguilim's perspective, he tells the facts that involve the character's family.
→ Characteristics of the work general field
The soap opera general field does not have chapters and presents the characteristics of the third phase of the mBrazilian modernism (or postmodernism). In this way, it is possible to point out a lyrical language, regional elements and neologisms (such as the words “desexclamava” and “dechover”).
Nonetheless, the work is founded on a universal theme, that is, childhood, even if lived in the hinterland of Minas Gerais. It is, therefore, based on Miguilim's existential conflict that the story reveals itself in its complexity. Thus, the narrator highlights the depth of the children's universe.
Adaptations of general field
curassow (2007) — film directed by Sandra Kogut
general field (2015) — play by Semente Companhia de Teatro
Mutum Mutum (2018) — theatrical play by Companhia Azul Celeste
Read too: books that became movies
Guimaraes Rosa
João Guimarães Rosa was born on June 27, 1908, in Cordisburgo, in the state of Minas Gerais. Later, in 1930, he graduated in medicine in the city of Belo Horizonte. As early as 1946, he published his first book of short stories — Sagarana — and, in 1956, his novel Grande sertão: paths, his best known work.
The writer was also consul in Germany, from 1938 to 1942, secretary of the embassy in Bogotá until 1944, and chief of staff to minister João Neves da Fontoura (1887-1963), between 1946 and 1951. Years later, in 1963, he was elected to the Academia Brasileira de Letras. He died on November 19, 1967, in Rio de Janeiro. To learn more about the life and work of this important Brazilian author, read the text: Guimaraes Rosa.
Video lesson about Guimarães Rosa
Historical context of general field
The historical period known as Old Republic or First Republic started, in 1889, with the Proclamation of the Republic, and ended in 1930 with the beginning of It was Vargas. During this period, an oligarchic government prevailed, that is, commanded by large landowners, the colonels.
The most influential states were Minas Gerais and São Paulo, which alternated in power. hence the name Republic of Coffee with Milk. Furthermore, it was a period marked by authoritarianism and violence, in order to allow privileges for the few and inhibit rights for the majority of the population.
Image credit
[1] Global Editorial Group (reproduction)
by Warley Souza
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