The traditional Portuguese tale and the Imaginary of Evil

Abstract

The (Portuguese) fairy tale, a genre that born out of an immemorial time, ontologically marginal to the canon, constitutes itself as a reservoir of a significant set of meanings where the Imaginary of Evil echoes particulary. The witch assumes both a historical trace and an Imaginary of Evil. Multifaceted character, in the Portuguese fairy tale she partly partake of the primordial Evil of Western worldview, but not only … Character and persona of the margin, the witch can reveal oneself central in the story, as in History. In the system of construction of meanings that the Imaginary allows, the witch bring together evils, anguish, guilt and human fears. This paper aims to reflect on the Imaginary of Evil conveyed by the Portuguese fairy tale and the witch.