Abstract
This article seeks to understand Machado de Assis’ position in face of slavery, based on the discussion about his supposed political absenteeism in front of that system. The analysis of the short stories “O caso da vara” (1891) and “Pai contra mãe” (1906) occupies a central position in the argumentative process, in particular by emphasizing the more relevant elements for the organization of this debate and, above all, by highlighting ways in which the literary representation of the ignominy of slavery establishes fictional perspectives, counterpoints and other structural complexities that ratify critical positions of the writer (already discernible in other elements examined in the text) in relation to the institution of captivity.
Keywords:
Slavery; Literature; Machado’s short stories