This article aims at comparing two literary works which present very similar narrative structures: A hora da estrela, by Clarice Lispector, and La dentellière, by Pascal Laîné. The comparison of both novels becomes even more interesting if we keep in mind that Clarice herself translated the French text. This fact does not diminish in any way the work of the Brazilian writer. On the contrary, the character Macabéa and the construction of the narrative are as surprising as usual. Furthermore, we may notice how the feminine characters of both narratives feel about their roles in this world, each one trying in her own way to reach a certain transcendence, which is referred to in this text as a metaphysics of the instant.
Brazilian literature; French literature; feminist writing
