O Uraguai

"O Uraguai" (1769) is an epic poem by the Portuguese writer Basílio da Gama. This poem is a noted example of the Arcadianism and Indianism in Brazilian Literature.

"O Uraguai" is the story of the Guaranitic Wars, more exactly its end and has a focus on the slavery of the Guarani people imposed by the Society of Jesus represented in the poem by the priest Balda, which contradicted the Catholic Church's own order. These wars started because of the Madrid Treaty.

Structural Characteristics

This epic poem is considered, by most, unique because of the treatment given to the characters. In most of the epic poems there is a hero that is, usually, courageous and always victorious at the end. In this epic we don't see such a thing. The Indians are exalted but almost all of them are dead at the end of the poem. Gomes Freire de Andrada is shown as a sad person because of the war he sees and tha is criticized by the author in the following part:

"Vinha logo de guardas rodeado - Fonte de crimes- militar tesouro Por quem deixa no rego o curvo arado O lavrador,que não conhece a glória; E vendendo a vil preço o sangue e a vida Move,e nem sabe por que move, a guerra"