The Politics of Disability in O ano da morte de Ricardo Reis by José Saramago

• Kathryn Bishop-Sanchez ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Wisconsin - Madison
• Localización: Bulletin of Spanish Studies, ISSN-e 1478-3428, ISSN 1475-3820, Vol. 102, Nº 3, 2025, págs. 623-650
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1080/14753820.2025.2475653
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • This article discusses O ano da morte de Ricardo Reis (1984) by José Saramago by engaging with Disability Studies to analyse one of the main female characters, Marcenda, whose left hand is afflicted by an uncurable ailment leaving it motionless. I examine the centrality of Marcenda’s hand in the plot as a narrative device that reinforces ‘normalcy’ and marks her as stigmatized woman. I interpret Saramago’s casting of a disabled protagonist whose hand leaves her vulnerable, dependent, and unfit for an amorous future. I pay special attention to the ableist tone of the text that reiterates Marcenda’s differences.

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