Abstract
This article examines how Machado's consecration as a national literary hero, and more recently as a world literature figure, has included or excluded his dramatic works. In doing so, the piece considers the role of collections, critical evaluations, book reviews, and performances. The effort to trace the presence and reception of his plays in various publications and languages demonstrates that in Brazil, the dramatic works initially were preserved out of obligation, but now they are undergoing a limited re-evaluation. Outside of Brazil, appreciation for Machado is genre specific; his plays largely are excluded from the world literature scene. In essence, his prose overshadows his dramatic works, and his extant plays do not enter into his construction as a world literature author.
Keywords:
theater; world literature; circulation; reception