Feminine representations in different versions of the play “Amphitryon” in Colonial Brazil and their relationship with Ronaldo Vainfas’s historiography

Abstract

This article conducts a comparative analysis of the portrayal of women in various versions of the play “Amphitryon,” written by Plautus, focusing on the interpretations by Camões and Antônio José da Silva during the era of Colonial Brazil. The play revolves around the myth of Hercules’ birth and delves into themes such as power dynamics, violence, rape, and adultery. The study delves into the intricacies of female characters, their interactions with the social and historical elements of the periods in which the plays were written, and how these depictions engage with Ronaldo Vainfas’s research on the role of women in colonial Brazilian society. The variations among the play versions are examined in relation to the societal view of women, betrayal, punishment, and forms of female resistance. Ultimately, this work aims to contribute to a broader understanding of cultural and social changes over the centuries, through the lens of literature and its interactions with historical reality.