The character of the prostitute in the novel O Ciclo das águas by Moacyr Scliar

Abstract

The article investigates a representation of a character of a prostitute in the novel O Ciclo das águas (1975) by the Brazilian author Moacyr Scliar. Its objective is to analyse how the author portrayed the protagonist, a Jewish immigrant of Polish origin, who lived in Brazil as a prostitute, and what role was this character given. It focuses on a question if the author created a stereotype to condemn, under the traditional Christian morality, the vices of the society or, on the contrary, if the character was portrayed in an alternative perspective to condemn the prejudice, which existed in the Brazilian society and in the Jewish community, against this type of profession.