#2 Entre santos (Várias histórias, 1896), de Machado de Assis

Summary

This script delves into the story 'Entre Santos' by Machado de Assis, where the narrator, a chaplain, experiences a metaphysical and extraordinary event. Set in a church at night, the narrator encounters two saints who descend from their niches and converse about the souls of the people who visit the church. The saints reveal the hidden truths of faith, hypocrisy, and human flaws, particularly through the story of a miserly man whose wife is dying. The narrative explores themes of devotion, sin, and the complexity of the human soul, blurring the line between reality and dream.

Takeaways

• 😀 The story 'Entre Santos' is a metaphysical and ethical tale narrated by a first-person narrator who was once a chaplain.
• 😀 The narrator, a former chaplain, describes an extraordinary event that took place at the church of São Francisco de Paula during the night.
• 😀 The narrator sees a strange light under the church doors, which leads him to investigate, suspecting some supernatural presence.
• 😀 Upon entering the church, the narrator discovers that statues of saints are coming to life, descending from their niches and sitting on the altars.
• 😀 The saints engage in a conversation about the souls of the churchgoers, discussing both sincere and false devotions, revealing their psychological insights.
• 😀 Saint John the Baptist expresses his loss of faith in humanity, while Saint Joseph tells the story of an adulterous woman seeking forgiveness but struggling with her insincerity.
• 😀 Saint Francis de Sales shares a story about a man, named Sares, who seeks divine intervention for his sick wife, but his actions reveal his greed and hypocrisy.
• 😀 Sares, a miserly man, attempts to make a promise to the saints in exchange for a miracle but struggles to make an actual commitment due to his avarice.
• 😀 The saints laugh at Sares' behavior, with Saint Francis de Sales commenting on the absurdity of the situation, highlighting human flaws in devotion and sincerity.
• 😀 The story concludes with the narrator waking up in the morning, questioning whether the events he witnessed were a supernatural experience or just a dream.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Machado de Assis' short story 'Entre Santos'?

The main theme of 'Entre Santos' revolves around the exploration of human nature, spirituality, and the relationship between devotion and hypocrisy. The story presents an extraordinary metaphysical adventure where the narrator, a chapel attendant, encounters saints coming to life and discussing the nature of faith and human flaws.

Who is the narrator of the story and what role did they have?

The narrator of the story is a former chapel attendant who is now a priest. In the story, he recalls an extraordinary experience he had while still serving as a chapel attendant at the São Francisco de Paula Church.

What is the significance of the mysterious light seen by the narrator?

The mysterious light serves as a trigger for the narrator's exploration of the church. It is unusual because it doesn't seem to be caused by any person or object, leading the narrator to investigate further. This light introduces the supernatural element of the story and foreshadows the presence of the saints in the church.

What do the saints discuss during their encounter with the narrator?

The saints engage in a conversation where they analyze the souls of the people who visit the church. They comment on various cases of human behavior, including sincere faith, indifference, hypocrisy, and spiritual struggles. The saints serve as metaphysical psychologists, reading people's hearts and revealing the truth behind their actions.

How does the character of São Francisco de Sales portray the concept of avarice?

São Francisco de Sales recounts the story of a man named Sares, who is extremely avaricious and obsessed with money. Sares' lack of true faith is evident in his desperate, yet transactional, approach to salvation. His promise to exchange prayers for the life of his wife highlights his shallow understanding of faith, as he prefers to bargain with religious acts rather than sincerely seeking divine intervention.

What role does the concept of 'perna de cera' (wax leg) play in the story?

The 'perna de cera' (wax leg) serves as a metaphor for the shallow promises people make in times of crisis. The character of Sares attempts to use a physical object, the wax leg, as a symbolic gesture to pay for a miracle, reflecting his transactional and insincere approach to faith. Ultimately, he substitutes the wax leg with more prayers, demonstrating his reluctance to truly engage with his faith.

How does the narrator feel about the saints' conversations and what is his reaction?

At first, the narrator is deeply frightened and confused by the supernatural events unfolding around him. However, as the saints discuss various human behaviors and spiritual struggles, he begins to lose his fear and is drawn into the philosophical and ethical reflections they share. His emotional reaction shifts from terror to curiosity as he listens to their insights into human nature.

What does the conversation about the adulterous woman reveal about human nature?

The story of the adulterous woman reveals the conflict between genuine repentance and superficial religious acts. Despite her attempt to seek forgiveness, her heart is not truly engaged in the prayer, as her thoughts wander back to her lover. This demonstrates how people can go through the motions of religious rituals without genuine transformation or faith.

What is the significance of the setting in the church and its relation to the supernatural events?

The church setting serves as a symbolic backdrop for the metaphysical exploration of human souls. It is a space associated with spirituality and devotion, yet it becomes a stage for the extraordinary events where saints descend from their altars, engaging in deep moral and psychological analysis of human behavior. The church acts as both a physical and metaphorical space for the intersection of the divine and the human.

What does the narrator’s eventual realization about the events suggest about the nature of the story?

The narrator's realization that he may have experienced a dream or a vision suggests that the events of the story may not be entirely grounded in reality. This raises questions about the boundary between the metaphysical and the psychological, emphasizing the possibility that the story reflects the narrator's internal struggles and doubts, rather than actual supernatural occurrences.