O encontro através do espelho

Abstract

Machado de Assis and Lygia Fagundes Telles, two renowned Brazilian authors, have explored a wide range of themes in their works, one of which is the double. This paper analyzes two short stories, “O Espelho” by Assis and “O Encontro” by Telles, with a particular focus on the motif of the double. The analysis begins with a summary of both narratives and a brief overview of how the theme of the double has been treated in history, based on the works of Ana Maria Lisboa de Mello (2000) and João Emeri Damasceno (2010). From this basis, the study explores the distinctive characteristics of each story and author. In the case of Machado de Assis, the emphasis is on his social critique, as discussed by Antonio Candido (1995), Alfredo Bosi (2014), and Stuart Hall (2006). For Lygia Fagundes Telles, the symbolic elements and the psychological depth of her characters are highlighted, following the analyses of Berenice Sica Lamas (2002) and Francisco Edson Gonçalves Leite (2013). Finally, the paper compares the two stories, emphasizing similarities, such as the duplication of the main characters, and differences, particularly in narrative voice, with Assis offering a critique of society and Telles focusing on the inner emotional states of her protagonists.