THE EPISODE OF VELHO DE RESTELO: “VATICÍNIO” AND LITERARY ECHO

Abstract

This article embraces an analisys of the “velho do Restelo” speech, in Os Lusíadas, which retakes the Greek chorus within its wisdom, voice of reason and consciousness. This speech is lately retaken by Fernando Pessoa in Mensagem and by José Saramago with Fala do velho do Restelo in Poemas Possíveis and in Memorial do Convento. In Os Lusíadas there is criticism on the sea expansion, greedness and, consequently, the expansion of Catholic faith. In Mensagem, Fernando Pessoa shows two different and opposing points of view: criticism of expansion because of Lusitanian loss and suffering, which valued the conquest and the sacrifice. In Os Poemas Possíveis, Saramago mentions the spatial race and the Vietnamese War, through the “hunger” and “napalm”, this way criticising the depreciation of vital essence. In Memorial do Convento, the author criticises the construction of the monastery of Mafra, in which the men abandoned their wives and children in order to work in favour of progress. The chorus of Greek tragedy contains this voice of wisdom, precisely recaptured in literature, by the “velho do Restelo” speech.