Fatherless, motherless

Abstract

This article analyzes a chapter of the novel written by Jorge Ama-doCapitães da Areiathrough the theories of kinship. The situation created inthe work between the characters Sem-Pernas and Dona Ester raises a discussionabout the role of children in family relations and, more specifically, in the rela-tionship of sonship. Thinking family from the perspective of the child character,parentage can be understood by the Bourdieusian key of strategy or the Maussiankey of reciprocity in the affection. Either by affection or strategy, the agency ofthe child in creating relations brings interesting reflections on what it means tobe father or mother. The brilliant writing of Jorge Amado invites us to think thecategories of mother and father like a becoming