Authoritarianism in Incident in Antares

historical and historiographical reflections on the relationship between literature and the Civil-Military Dictatorship in Brazil.

Abstract

This article analyzes Érico Veríssimo's novel Incidente em Antares as a strong critique of Brazilian authoritarianism, particularly within the context of the Civil-Military Dictatorship (1964–1985). Using a historical-literary approach, the study contextualizes the novel’s publication during the politically repressive Médici government and explores the surprising fact that the book was released without censorship. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from Sérgio Buarque de Holanda and Lilia Schwarcz, the article examines the structural roots of Brazilian authoritarianism, focusing on patriarchy, coronelismo, and systemic violence. It highlights key characters such as Quitéria Campolargo and Erotildes, representing the oppressive elite and marginalized social groups, respectively. Finally, the article presents an alternative hypothesis for the book’s uncensored release: the possibility that the novel’s ending—where social order is restored and the dead's denunciations are silenced—was perceived by the military authorities as a symbolic validation of their own triumph over subversion. The article argues that Incidente em Antares remains a valuable literary source for understanding historical forms of authoritarianism in Brazil.