Historical aspects in the narrative O ciclo das águas, by Moacyr Scliar

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the presence of historical elements in the constitution of the novel O ciclo das águas, by Moacyr Scliar. This fictional work from 1975 presents the “white slave trade,” a historical fact that occurred between the late 19th century and World War II, in which Jewish women were enticed and prostituted by an international criminal organization, Zwi Migdal. Scliar's text demonstrates how Literature and History have similar supports, especially in the use of narrative as a writing instrument. In addition, Moacyr Scliar takes an approach to his text combining both real and imaginary aspects: he reports, through the novel, the entire trajectory lived by hundreds of Jewish immigrants heading to America, where they eventually found prostitution. Thus, Literature and History are combined in the narrative process.