Narcissus's nightmares: egotism and personality disorder in the urban fiction by José Rodrigues Miguéis e Branquinho da Fonseca

Abstract

The article focuses on the problem of egotism and personality disorder in the urban fiction by José Rodrigues Miguéis (Páscoa Feliz, 1932) and Branquinho da Fonseca (Zonas, 1931- 1932, Caminhos Magnéticos, 1938, Rio Turvo, 1945). The early 20th century fiction presents various images of egotism and splitting of the self as symptoms of the modern city. Besides, the internally divided character, which could be detected in the fiction by Rodrigues Miguéis and Branquinho da Fonseca, reflects modern culture, its tendency to constant (de)construction and metamorphosis. This article analyses the link between the modern city (as a concept and geographical space) and an alienated (fragmented, duplicated) character.