The urinal's philosophy. Considerations on Nelson Rodrigue's novel "O casamento" (1967)

Abstract

This essay tries to distinguish, by means of the analysis on the novel O Casamento (1967), by Nelson Rodrigues, some main traces in order to think the existence of different projects concerning the problem of Brazilian literature’s modernity, by the first half of the 20th century. The analysis focus mainly on Rodrigues’ novel, and claims that the authors work can be read as representative of a project which is distinct, and even opposite, to that of the tradition first launched by the modernist movement in São Paulo. To do so, we read the novel and the questions it rises in comparison to the Manifesto Antropófago (1928) by Oswald de Andrade, going through, when we feel it can widen the discussion, some concepts from Lacanian psychoanalysis, to think not only both authors, but the stream of influence that their works have had throughout the past century in Brazilian literature and culture.