FROM TEXT TO IMAGE

THE REINVENTION OF SIGNS IN 'DOM CASMURRO' AS COMICS

Abstract

This article is an excerpt from a master's thesis and proposes a reflection on the comic book adaptations of Dom Casmurro, by Machado de Assis, exploring how the transposition of the verbal text to the current verbo-visual code updates the novel and broadens its modes of reception. The research adopts a qualitative and interpretative methodology, based on a comparative intersemiotic analysis between the Machado novel and two comic adaptations, focusing on the central narrative elements—such as the narrator’s point of view and the ambiguity of the character Capitu. Grounded in Linda Hutcheon’s (2013) adaptation theories and the concepts of intertextuality by Julia Kristeva (1974) and Umberto Eco (1989), the study understands adaptation as a creative dialogue between different media and contexts. It is argued that the comics not only bring the classic closer to new readers but also offer a critical and aesthetic reading that preserves the complexity of the original work. Thus, Dom Casmurro reaffirms itself as a living classic, capable of renewing and resonating in various forms and media, maintaining its narrative power and the enigma that has intrigued readers for over a century: Did Capitu betray or not?