Hunger as penance or religious purgation in Os Sertões by Euclides da Cunha: a historical-literary analysis

Abstract

The objective was to conduct a historical-literary analysis of Os Sertões by Euclides da Cunha, seeking to understand the meanings of the concept of hunger and how the author reported aspects of the food environment, eating habits and practices. The analysis was based on a theoretical-conceptual framework from the field of Nutrition, complemented by a bibliographic review. Four perceptions of hunger were observed: hunger as religious penance, biological hunger, hunger as an instrument of struggle or resistance, and epidemic (conjunctural) hunger. The biological perception of hunger as a problem suffered by the military troops that decimated the population of Canudos proved to be hegemonic. The narratives of hunger related to Blessed Antônio Conselheiro and his followers were reported with religious, racial, ideological, regional or cultural prejudice. Hunger as an act of penance practiced by the faithful was narrated with satire. Hunger was not perceived as a social and historical phenomenon produced by the war of the Brazilian Army against the people of Canudos.