The legend of the wolves and its cultural representation in Brazil
The legend of the werewolf is a myth known throughout the world and is strongly manifested in Brazilian popular culture, integrating a set of legends of folklore.
Its origin comes from Greco-Roman mythology, so much so that the werewolf is also called lycanthrope, which em grego means "wolf" and "human".
In the original story, Zeus, or the more powerful two Greek gods, turned Licao into a wolf, because he had been annoyed and challenged. Thus, this secular history became part of the imaginary of the West.
Second or myth, this is a human figure that transforms into wolves in the night of lua cheia and goes out in search of victims.
Versions of the myth of wolves in Brazil
No Brazil or chegou myth due to Portuguese influence and there are variations of it. One of them says that the seventh son of a house that only has sons is doomed to become a werewolf in the night of lua cheia. Já in another version, or being mythical would live in the body of the seventh son homem after six women.
There is still a belief that the werewolf is the result of a curse that passes from father to son.
Another version says that children who were not batizadas would also be subject to becoming werewolves.
Second or myth, or man who transforms into a werewolf or pale face, big ears and introverted personality. Also, the transformation is expected to take place at the beginning of adolescence, at the age of 13. Ao virar lobisomem, a fera sai to seek victims to feed on blood.
The wolves in Brazilian culture
Not Brazil, that mythical figure has never been portrayed in various films, theater pieces, series and romances.
An example is O Colonel and o Lobisomem, 1964 romance by José Cândido de Carvalho, adapted for the cinema in 1978 by Alcino Diniz. Later, in 2005, a remake of the story was made, directed by Maurício Farias and directed by Guel Arraes and Jorge Furtado.
More recent is the series As Boas Maneiras, idealized by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra, who traces the narrative of wolves in a current and social upheaval.
Even though he is a scary character, he also appears in productions aimed at children. Books, films and music present the myth in a milder and funnier way, as in stories in quadrinhos from Turma da Mônica and music from Turma do Folclore.
The legend of the wolves as a metaphor
Many times, the myth is used as a metaphor to deal with the most complex, existential and social quests.
Some themes that arise in stories about werewolfs are Mede do unknown, to duality between o "bem" and o "bad" and a persecutionto marginalized groups
The character is still used to address the transformation and violence that human behavior emerges, especially masculine, in addition to other perspectives that are related to the attempt to dominate and control aggression.
You may also be interested:
- Incredible Lendas of Brazilian Folklore
- Complete and interpreted horror stories
- Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley: summary and considerations about the book
- Saci Pererê: the legend and its representation in Brazilian culture
