Iracema

This article discusses the novel.

• For the Brazilian town, Iracema, Roraima.
• For the spider genus (Theraphosidae), Iracema (spider).
• For the fish of the monotypic genus Iracema, refer to Iracema caiana.

Iracema is one of the three indigenous novels by José de Alencar. It was first published in 1865.

Plot introduction

The story revolves around the relationship between the Tabajara indigenous woman, which is called Iracema; and the Portuguese colonist, which is called Martim, who was allied with the Tabajara nation's enemies, the Pitiguaras. Through the novel Alencar tries to remake the history of Ceará origins, which is a state of Brazil's Colonial, with Moacir, the son of Iracema and Martim, as the first true Brazilian in Ceará. This pure Brazilian is born from the love of the natural, innocence (Iracema) and culture and knowledge (Martim).

Explanation of the novel's title

Its name is Guarani language for honey-lips, from ira - honey, and tembe - lips. Tembe changed to ceme, as in the word ceme iba, according to the author.

Characters in Iracema

• Andira: Araquém's brother. He is old warrior and hero of his people.
• Araquém: Iracema's father. He is spiritual leader of the Tabajara's nation.
• Batuireté: Poti's granfather
• Caubi: Iracema's brother
• Iracema: Araquém's daughter. She is the beautiful Tabajara's lady who has the honey-lips and dark hair.
• Irapuã: The warrior leader of the Tabajara's nation.
• Jacaúna: Poti's brother
• Jatobá: Poti's father. He is an important veteran warrior of the Pitiguara's nation.
• Martim: Portuguese colonist. His is named in honor of Mars, who was the Roman god of war.
• Moacir: The child of Martim and Iracema.
• Poti: Martim's friend and the Pitiguara warrior who is brother of Pitiguara leader.

Iracema and the Indianist Novels

Iracema, alongside with the other novels O Guarani and Ubirajara portrays one of the stages of the formation of the Brazilian ethnical and cultural heritage. Iracema symbolizes the initial meeting between the white man (Europeans) and the natives. Iracema is an anagram which means "America", this is believed to be the author's reference to how Martim (the European) conquered Iracema (or America). "Moacir" means "Son of Pain", what is related to his birth, alone with his mother, who was abandoned by Martim for some time as he had to go and help the Potiguaras in a tribal war against the Tabajaras.

Awards and nominations

• There is a Brazilian stamp in honor of Iracema's centenarian (1865/1965) and its author.
• There is a Brazilian painting by Antônio Parreiras.
• Iracema is cited in Manifesto Antropófago (Cannibal Manifesto), which is published in 1928 by Oswald de Andrade

"Iracema", painting by Antônio Parreiras

References

• Alencar, José de. Iracema, the honey lips: a legend of Brasil (1886) by Lady Isabel Burton. London: Bickers & Son.
• Alencar, José de. Iracema (2000) by Clifford Landers. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-1951-1547-3
• Burns, E. Bradford. A Working Bibliography for the Study of Brazilian History The Americas, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Jul., 1965), pp. 54-88

External links

• (Portuguese) Academia Brasileira de Letras
• (Portuguese) Brazilian literaturebpy:ইরাসেমা

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