Clarice Lispector’s book, “The Hour of the Star,” is truly fascinating. It is narrated in the first person by a male writer who tells the tragic story of Macabéa, a character he is currently writing about. However, my focus is on Macabéa. Her entire life is incredibly bleak – she lacks higher education and profound thoughts. She is gentle and humble, causing no harm to anyone and not arousing the inner cruelty that often bullies vulnerable groups. Like an inconspicuous pebble beneath our feet, Macabéa is easily overlooked in our busy lives, and unintentionally hurting her, much like kicking a stone without noticing.
In many instances, I find myself deeply moved by her circumstances. For example, in her interactions with Olímpico, despite his obvious flaws, my emotions always center around Macabéa. Instead of criticizing the man, I am more inclined to question why Macabéa subjects herself to such mistreatment, why she can’t preserve some genuine self-esteem, and why she can’t leave. Even with these questions, I can’t harbor any genuine resentment towards her; my feelings are filled with infinite pity. It’s as if she were a child or a loved one in my own home – aware of her weakness, self-deprecation, and helplessness, yet still loving and protecting her.
Furthermore, the male writer Rodrigo often displays a lack of confidence in his writing, full of uncertainty. Consequently, I don’t completely trust some of his judgments and evaluations of Macabéa. His values are not the sole criteria for interpreting the story he depicts. When he claims that Macabéa is trapped in the desperation of love, I disagree. I believe her feelings for Olímpico are not love; rather, Macabéa is desperate due to a severe lack of security. It’s not a romantic love between a man and a woman, but a manifestation of her extreme insecurity. She bows down not out of love but out of fear of losing the faint glimmer of life she has just obtained. The world has been consistently unkind to her, and she is always vulnerable to harm. Therefore, even if she holds onto something as fragile as a piece of cloth, she sees it as a lifeline, larger than the sky. As readers, we can better understand the essence of this emotional relationship, despite the story being written by Rodrigo. Our understanding as readers delves deeper.
This book not only introduces me to the character of such a girl but also opens my eyes to the plight of others. It teaches us how people crave love, even those who may seem unlikable, and emphasizes the importance of offering pure-hearted care. We need to realize that there are people in this world who are neglected to such an extent, struggling to live while repeatedly being brutally dragged into the mud.
Lastly, I’d like to discuss a quote from the book: “And even sadness was also something for rich people, for people who could afford it, for people who didn’t have anything better to do. Sadness was a luxury (61).” Do you agree or disagree? What is your perspective, and how do you interpret this statement?
3 responses to “The Hour of the Star-Clarice Lispector”
-
Hi! I really enjoyed your blog and the way you presented Macabéa. To answer your question. I totally agree with that quote (I even highlighted it in my book). Sadness is a luxury, because I feel like people who have to work all the time to afford life don’t have the time to be sad about it or to lament over their fate.
LikeLike
-
Lucy, I like that you focused on the characters for this week’s comment. Macabea definitely has child like qualities in some ways. I can see you connected with her. I like that, despite the outward appearance of arrogance or power, you were also able to pick apart the ways in which Rodrigo is actually insecure in his writing. You also wrote very good argument about Macabea and love in contrast with Rodrigo’s opinion.
Thanks for your comment!
Test
LikeLike
-
Tesi*
LikeLike
-
RMST 202 201 
Leave a comment