Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Review thread: /topic/show/...

"Tent of Miracles," by Jorge Amado, is a novel that explores the chaos that results when a prominent Columbia University professor, with admiration for a Bahian writer and social scientist named Pedro Archanjo, arrives in Brazil. The story revolves around Archanjo's life, his work, and the impact his discoveries have on the society around him.

1. How is Archanjo's portrayal a reflection of the author's views on intellectuals and their role in Brazilian society?

2. What motivates the Columbia University professor to come to Brazil and champion Archanjo's work?

3. How do the other characters in the novel interact with Archanjo, and what does their relationship reveal about the complexities of Brazilian culture?

4. What is the significance of the "Tent of Miracles" as a symbol in the novel?

5. How does the novel explore the intersection of race, class, and identity in Brazilian society?

6. What is the author's perspective on the importance of self-discovery and the role of education?

7. What specific events or social issues from Brazilian history are reflected in the novel?

8. How does the novel represent the unique cultural landscape of Bahia, Brazil?

9. How does the author use language and storytelling to create a sense of authenticity and realism?

10. What are the key literary devices used by the author (e.g., symbolism, irony, foreshadowing) and how do they enhance the narrative?

11. How does the novel's structure and pacing contribute to the overall impact of the story?

12. What is the author's tone and how does it influence the reader's interpretation of the novel?

Questions compliments of AI. If there are any errors please let me know and I will fix. As always, you can answer one, none or some where inbetween. Happy reading.

1. How is Archanjo's portrayal a reflection of the author's views on intellectuals and their role in Brazilian society?


The author was a modern intellectual but clearly he had an extremely adverse reaction to most academic intellectuals and their counterparts in the publishing industry. One presumes that the author himself was ignored or worse by the Brazilian academic institutions and their professors during his lifetime as only a few of the professors in the book are open minded and empathetic. Professor Frago Neto and Professor Silva Viraja are the exceptions.

2. What motivates the Columbia University professor to come to Brazil and champion Archanjo's work?

He was genuinely impressed by the book and its insights but he stayed for Ana Mercedes.

3. How do the other characters in the novel interact with Archanjo, and what does their relationship reveal about the complexities of Brazilian culture?

Archanjo has two sides to him, although as he himself explains, he is only one mulatto. He is well dressed, well spoken and very charismatic and therefore people in many walks of life look up to him. However, he does not "climb" the ladder, partially because at the time it was hardly possible but also because he preferred to be with "the people", the workers, the other mestizos and mulattos. He also was active in his faith and all the camdomble activities and in this arena he was "the eyes of god/king" or Ojuoba. Brazil is presented as very diverse and very flavored by a wide range of people and their mixed offspring. Brazil is also presented as economically extremely divided between the haves and the have nots.

4. What is the significance of the "Tent of Miracles" as a symbol in the novel?

It is the intellectual home of Archanjo and his best friend. Here they talk, they have activities for the people that only cost a few pennies, here miracles are painted, books are printed and loves are kept alive. It is, in short, a symbol of the heart of Bahia.

5. How does the novel explore the intersection of race, class, and identity in Brazilian society?

All the exploration is done through our seeing the various citizens of Bahia and their interactions. The races mingle quite a bit but the rich do not mingle with the poor as often. People rise up and get out, others lose everything and tumble down. It is a rich world that Archanjo appreciates in all its complexities and ultimately believes that the culture itself will rise up with the continued diversification of the country.

6. What is the author's perspective on the importance of self-discovery and the role of education?

All the characters that the reader has insights into have gotten the largest part of their education in the streets. The author clearly is not a fan of the academic institutions but he is a huge believer in education. In essence, you can not understand the people without understanding more of the world and those who have had theories before you, and you can not have theories about people without actually getting to know them. Archanjo was self educated and he did a huge amount of research both of the book variety and the street variety.

7. What specific events or social issues from Brazilian history are reflected in the novel?

There is the war with Paraguay which was a very horrible bloody war fought for territory. In the novel this happened far in the past but impacted Archanjo as his father passed away in the war. There was the "round ups" of the mulattos which evidently happened repeatedly through out Brazilian history, starting with the reactions to the slave rebellions and later as part of what we would now call ultra right wing policies against anyone not "pure white" or at least not rich. There were the union strikes and the government coup of the 30's but this was presented as largely as a populist uprising against fascism and was not discussed in any detail. There was the first and second world war. The on-going struggle to have the government of Brazil and the upper class of Brazil recognize and work to improve the lives of the poor, "not pure white" citizens, reflected much of what was happening in the US at the time.

8. How does the novel represent the unique cultural landscape of Bahia, Brazil?

The novel is full of the rhythms and sounds of the Brazilian streets. It is also full of the optimistic, persevering and celebratory culture of the diverse people of Brazil. It was very illuminating in regards the syncretization of the African deities with the saints of the Catholic church.

9. How does the author use language and storytelling to create a sense of authenticity and realism?

We hear many tales from romances, to rag to riches stories, that capture all walks of life and all manner of interactions which gives the book its impact.

11. How does the novel's structure and pacing contribute to the overall impact of the story?

The chronology is not straight forward, rather it weaves back and forth from the more modern day celebration to the actual life of Archanjo. It has an erratic pacing and a way of presenting stories so that one is not sure if we will actually hear an ending or not of that particular part of the tale. Ultimately the book does tie up much of the threads but not all of them, giving the reader a sense that the book reflects real life.