A figuração da personagem Baltasar Sete-Sóis em Memorial do Convento, de José Saramago

Abstract

Baltasar and Blimunda (Memorial do convento) is a novel that apply historiographic metafiction to retell and rewrite the history of Portugal. Published in the 1980s, the work speaks with the political and social context that the country was passing through in the eighteenth century criticizing, at the same time, aspects of the historical context of José Saramago. The characters in this fictional world become the key figures for understanding the social criticism brought by the author, therefore, this research aim to analyze the construction of the character Baltasar Sete-Sóis, the protagonist of the story that represents the poverty-stricken working class. From a very humble family, Baltasar returns from the war amputated and, after the tiring search for a job, he is employed to work in the construction of the Mafra convent. Supporting the thesis by other studies, the intention of this paper is to understand the figuration of Baltasar, how he connects and interact with other figures inherited, as well as his characterization developed by the narrator during the narrative.