“Este lixo do engenho humano”: A Current Meaning of the Queirosian Tale “Civilização
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-106X/2025e69398Abstract
The article reflects on the short story “Civilization”, in which there appears an identification of the concept of civilization associated with technological development, which was already asserting itself in the second part of 19th Century in the rich classes of the urban bourgeoisie. Taking into account the prevailing themes of Eça de Queirós’s work, it is interesting to see how in this often-forgotten tale — being a synthesis and anticipation of the novel A cidade e as serras —the very current issue of the totalizing role of technology in the life of both man and earth is already unveiled in the middle of the Anthropocene. This implies an acceleration of the phenomena of transformation at a global level of its relationship with nature as well as the irreversibility of the transformation of the planet. This tale calls for reflection on how to find a balance between development and conservation of life on earth, and clearly shows the transhistorical and sometimes universal nature of Queirosian writing.
Keywords: Tale; Civilization; Technology; Humanity; Nature.
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