The doctor's wife in an Ensaio Sobre A Cegueira (1995), by José Saramago

notes on the (non) female protagonism

Abstract

The article analyzes the discourses of power and gender present in the novel Ensaio sobre a cegueira (1995), by José Saramago. The fragility of social structures in the face of crises is explored, highlighting how language is a mechanism of invisible domination. In the context of gender, the social and cultural construction of feminine and masculine identities is discussed, presenting structuralist and post-structuralist approaches. The character of the doctor's wife is examined as a multifaceted symbol of hope, morality and submission. Her role in the narrative reflects the tensions between women's autonomy and submission in society, while challenging simplistic notions of gender. At the same time, her action reveals a vision of female resistance, intelligence and compassion. The research also contextualizes the representation of female characters in contemporary Brazilian literature, highlighting the importance of the author's gender in the creation of characters and their position in the plot. In short, the article offers a critical analysis of the representations of power and gender in Saramago's novel, highlighting the complexity of social relations and identity in the work.