Book Review
Jorge Amado was born Aug. 10, 1912 in Ferradas, Brazil. One of his famous novels, Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon was written in 1958 along with several other books but Amado later abandoned his writing career to become a well-known politician. At the time Amado wrote his famous Latin American was going through a very interesting stage called the Latin American Boom of the 1960’s. This event in history actually occurred between the 60’s and 70’s and during this time many Latin American writers and poets began to explore their subjects and broach new ideas. Also during the time in which Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon was being written, Brazil was going through their second Brazilian republic in which had an array of presidency changes …show more content…
During this time period, the main export of Brazil was the cacao seeds. Because of this cacao plantation took Brazil by storm and spread to places such as Itabuna and Ilhéus, where the story takes place. It is also important to mention Ilhéus’ state of affairs at this time period. Despite achieving independence in 1822 and abolishing slavery in 1888, Brazil was still a post-colonial society in which they manufactured and exported cacao to European countries. Within Ilhéus existed a social class system in which plantation owners and political figures had the most control and plantation workers and migrants were lower class. Between the interaction of the upper class society and political members of Ilhéus, Amado approaches the subjects of modernization, social hierarchy, and assimilation as well as other …show more content…
Their relationship begins with Nacib, the bar owner, needing a new cook to replace the one that has left him. Gabriela, who is extremely free-spirited, is quickly hired and becomes a sensation. Aside from their developing romance, both of these characters play complex people and have a history. Nacib considers himself 100% Ilhéun, however, he was not born in Brazil. Nacib and his family were part of a migration of people coming from Syria to Brazil possibly to escape persecution. What I found interesting however was the story behind his Ilhéun citizenship. At the time of this mass migration there happened to be fire at the registry office, so anyone claiming to be of Ilhéun descent needed only a witness to verify them and regain or obtain a Brazilian citizenship. From then on, Nacib has only ever been seen referring to himself as a fellow Brazilian or Arab. Nacib can be seen as an example of assimilation from Syrian culture to a Brazilian one. At one point he mentions that he can no longer even remember ever being in Syria and considers Ilhéus his true home.
Another story to this book you could say is the political struggles between the elites of Ilhéus and the newcomer Mundinho Falcão who attempts to modernize the town. Under the control of a conservative colonel Ramiro Bastos Ilhéus seems to be set in their ways. Whenever Mundinho Falcão attempts to change some part of the town for the
Jorge Amado was born Aug. 10, 1912 in Ferradas, Brazil. One of his famous novels, Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon was written in 1958 along with several other books but Amado later abandoned his writing career to become a well-known politician. At the time Amado wrote his famous Latin American was going through a very interesting stage called the Latin American Boom of the 1960’s. This event in history actually occurred between the 60’s and 70’s and during this time many Latin American writers and poets began to explore their subjects and broach new ideas. Also during the time in which Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon was being written, Brazil was going through their second Brazilian republic in which had an array of presidency changes …show more content…
During this time period, the main export of Brazil was the cacao seeds. Because of this cacao plantation took Brazil by storm and spread to places such as Itabuna and Ilhéus, where the story takes place. It is also important to mention Ilhéus’ state of affairs at this time period. Despite achieving independence in 1822 and abolishing slavery in 1888, Brazil was still a post-colonial society in which they manufactured and exported cacao to European countries. Within Ilhéus existed a social class system in which plantation owners and political figures had the most control and plantation workers and migrants were lower class. Between the interaction of the upper class society and political members of Ilhéus, Amado approaches the subjects of modernization, social hierarchy, and assimilation as well as other …show more content…
Their relationship begins with Nacib, the bar owner, needing a new cook to replace the one that has left him. Gabriela, who is extremely free-spirited, is quickly hired and becomes a sensation. Aside from their developing romance, both of these characters play complex people and have a history. Nacib considers himself 100% Ilhéun, however, he was not born in Brazil. Nacib and his family were part of a migration of people coming from Syria to Brazil possibly to escape persecution. What I found interesting however was the story behind his Ilhéun citizenship. At the time of this mass migration there happened to be fire at the registry office, so anyone claiming to be of Ilhéun descent needed only a witness to verify them and regain or obtain a Brazilian citizenship. From then on, Nacib has only ever been seen referring to himself as a fellow Brazilian or Arab. Nacib can be seen as an example of assimilation from Syrian culture to a Brazilian one. At one point he mentions that he can no longer even remember ever being in Syria and considers Ilhéus his true home.
Another story to this book you could say is the political struggles between the elites of Ilhéus and the newcomer Mundinho Falcão who attempts to modernize the town. Under the control of a conservative colonel Ramiro Bastos Ilhéus seems to be set in their ways. Whenever Mundinho Falcão attempts to change some part of the town for the