Felicidade clandestina, conto de Clarice Lispector

Summary

The story, 'Felicidade Clandestina' by Clarice Lispector, captures a young girl's yearning for a book and the intense, almost torturous anticipation she experiences while waiting for it. The narrative delves into the power dynamics of childhood, highlighting the cruelty of a peer who teases and withholds the book. The girl's obsession with reading becomes intertwined with her emotions, creating a complex relationship with both the object of her desire and the girl who controls it. The story ultimately explores the bittersweet nature of longing, envy, and the clandestine joy found in the pursuit of something meaningful.

Takeaways

• 😀 The story revolves around a girl who experiences emotional suffering and longing due to the cruelty of a friend.
• 😀 The protagonist is deeply envious of a classmate, who is physically different and uses her social status to torment others.
• 😀 The girl with the book has a father who owns a bookstore, but instead of giving books, she gifts postcards with trivial messages.
• 😀 The protagonist is desperate to read books, but the girl refuses to lend her the one book she desires, *Reinações de Narizinho*.
• 😀 The protagonist's longing for the book becomes a metaphor for hope, as she imagines her happiness will come when she gets it.
• 😀 The girl uses a cruel form of teasing, promising the book, only to keep pushing the protagonist’s hopes to the next day.
• 😀 The protagonist experiences emotional exhaustion from being repeatedly denied the book she desires, symbolizing a form of slow torture.
• 😀 The story highlights the emotional manipulation involved in the girl's actions, as she enjoys seeing the protagonist's suffering.
• 😀 A turning point occurs when the girl's mother realizes the cruel game and forces her daughter to lend the book to the protagonist.
• 😀 When the protagonist finally receives the book, the moment of joy is complicated by feelings of guilt, pride, and self-restraint, reflecting her inner conflict.
• 😀 The protagonist’s ultimate realization is that the true source of happiness and fulfillment, symbolized by the book, remains elusive and clandestine in her life.

Q & A

What does the protagonist long for in the story?

The protagonist longs for a book, specifically 'Reinações de Narizinho' by Monteiro Lobato, which she is eagerly hoping to borrow from the daughter of the bookstore owner.

How does the protagonist’s desire for the book shape her actions?

The protagonist's desire for the book drives her to visit the house of the girl daily, even though she is repeatedly told the book is not available, showing her obsessive hope and determination.

What role does the concept of time play in the story?

Time is portrayed as a cyclical and torturous force, with the protagonist repeatedly visiting the girl's house, each time filled with the false hope that she might receive the book. The 'next day' becomes a symbol of perpetual disappointment and longing.

How does the girl's behavior towards the protagonist reflect cruelty?

The girl exhibits cruelty by manipulating the protagonist's hope, deliberately withholding the book and making her wait endlessly, which the protagonist only realizes much later in life as a form of sadistic torment.

What significance does the mother’s intervention have in the story?

The mother’s intervention reveals the truth about the situation, exposing the girl’s deceptive behavior. It also marks a turning point where the protagonist finally receives the book, but by then, the sense of victory has been overshadowed by the emotional toll the waiting has taken.

What is the meaning behind the protagonist's act of pretending to not know where the book is after receiving it?

The protagonist’s pretense of not knowing where the book is serves as a symbolic gesture of her complex relationship with happiness and desire. It reflects a sense of guilt or shame associated with her clandestine joy, suggesting that happiness is something forbidden or hard to claim.

How does Clarice Lispector portray childhood innocence and suffering?

Lispector portrays childhood innocence through the protagonist’s pure, undying hope and passion for the book. However, this innocence is juxtaposed with the cruelty she faces, showing the emotional and psychological suffering that can come with desire and unmet expectations.

What does the protagonist's description of the book as a 'clandestine happiness' signify?

The term 'clandestine happiness' symbolizes a secret or forbidden pleasure, suggesting that true joy, in the context of the protagonist’s life, is something hidden, elusive, and tinged with a sense of guilt or restriction.

What does the protagonist’s final reaction to receiving the book indicate about her character?

The protagonist’s reaction, in which she walks slowly with the book pressed to her chest, suggests a deep sense of fulfillment, yet it is accompanied by a sense of internalized complexity, as if the joy of possessing the book cannot be fully embraced without a sense of reluctance or hesitation.

How does the setting of Recife contribute to the atmosphere of the story?

The setting of Recife plays an important role in establishing a vivid atmosphere, with the protagonist's daily walks through the streets embodying her emotional journey. The city serves as a backdrop for her inner turmoil and longing, making her experience more tangible and grounded in the real world.