Conflicting perspectives in A Relíquia by Eça de Queirós

Abstract

Since the publication of A Relíquia (1887), many controversies have been created by critics, showing some inconsistency in the perspective setting of the narrator-protagonist Teodorico Raposo. This paper analyzes the formation of the narrator’s perspective, correlated with the perspectives of other characters, as well as the projection of an implicit dialogue between reader and textual author. This dialogue problematizes and relativizes the worldviews sustained in the narrative. It is interesting to perceive that, precisely, the perspective – and its importance for the illusion of reality and of truth – emerges itself as one of the novel’s main structural and semantic axis. For this, we approach some theoretical texts about the notion of narrative perspective.