Rhetoric, periodistic scripture and instruction: political narratives in dispute in imperial Brazil (Minas Gerais, 1825-1832)

ABSTRACT

The article analyses the educational function of newspapers published from 1825 to 1832, problematizing their writing strategies. It dialogues with authors from the field of History of reading and History of writing culture and uses four liberal wide circulating newspapers printed in Minas Gerais and two rhetoric compendiums issued in Portugal in the 18th century as the source. It identifies rhetorical elements as a formula to construct the arguments to fight absolutism and defend the constitutional monarchy. It analyses three usual strategies used by the writers to persuade their readers and influence public opinion: the production of controversy by simplifying political polarization; the institution of fear reinforcing the imminent risk of becoming a Portuguese colony again; and ridiculing political enemies by irony and debauchery. These strategies show the influence of orality elements into newspaper writing, conditioned by the writer’s intellectual and political ambiance, intending to reach the broad non-reader population of the period.

Keywords:
Newspapers; Liberalism; Rhetoric; Written Culture; 19^th Century