The construction of a travesti character in Eliana Alves Cruz

Abstract

The historical novel (ESTEVES, 2008) is a hybrid genre that blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction, often recounting the official history of a people or nation. In Nada digo de ti que em ti não veja (2020), set against the backdrop of the Minas Gerais Gold Cycle, Rio de Janeiro writer Eliana Alves Cruz reconstructs a slavery past through the stories of two prominent families, Gama and Muniz. This analysis focuses on the character Vitória, a black trasvesti intricately linked emotionally and financially with members of these families. We argue that Cruz not only challenges the traditional norms of historical novels but also introduces a new perspective on gender and sexuality, using these elements as a narrative device throughout the text. The innovation lies in Cruz’s choice to make Vitória, a black transvestite, a central protagonist, contributing to the complex interplay between reality and fiction within the historical novel genre. To support this argument, we delve into specific instances from the novel that highlight Cruz’s unique approach to character development and the exploration of gender and sexuality within the historical context of the Minas Gerais Gold Cycle.