The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas

Explore the metafictional elements of the novel, examining how Machado de Assis’s narrative choices and the very structure of the novel shape the story. What would be different if the novel had a different narrator or a different timeline? In what way can the author’s unconventional choices be considered “Realism”?

Analyze the role of memory in Brás’s interpretations of events. How does his subjective view of the past influence his understanding of himself and his life’s trajectory?

Explore the symbolic and allegorical elements of the narrative, focusing on how they advance overarching themes. What sorts of truths emerge from delirium?

As a satire, The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas critiques 19th-century Brazilian society indirectly through irony and humor. Why not make those critiques directly? What kinds of insights do irony and humor make possible that straightforward critique does not?

How does the legacy of colonialism and slavery manifest in the novel? What different aspects of these institutions do different characters illustrate?

Examine the significance of Quincas Borba’s philosophy of “humanitism” to the moral contradictions and entitlement within the elite society as portrayed in the novel. How does this philosophy elucidate the way systemic inequality functioned in 19th-century Brazil?

Explore the theme of cynicism and detachment in Brás’s character. How does his pervasive cynicism affect his relationships and interactions with others throughout the novel? Is his cynicism a sign of insight or a final refusal to face his own hypocrisies?

Examine the thematic implications of nostalgia in Brás’s reflections on his past. How does it contrast with his disillusionment with the present, and what does it reveal about his character and outlook on life?