MARIANNA ALCOFORADO IN ANXIETY, BY ADÍLIA LOPES

Abstract

This paper proposes an analysis in dialogue with psychoanalysis of the books O Marquês de Chamilly (1987) and O Regresso de Chamilly (2000) of the contemporary Portuguese poet Adilia Lopes – both written as a dare to Letters of a Portuguese Nun, published in the 17th century by Marianna Alcoforado. This paper’s objective is to analyze the anguish contained in these letters, where the nun’s wait for the Marquess of Chamilly and the concept of courtly love incorporates modern irony. These characteristics are often noted by the critics of Adília’s works, such as Rosa Maria Martelo (2010). To compose such an analysis, we focus on the affect of anxiety and its implications on her writings, applying Freud’s psychoanalytical theory [(1917), (1926) 2014], which describes it as a reaction to danger. We also make use of Lacan’s entries [(1962-3) 2005)], that highlights the components of the objects that produce reactions of defense, attack, or escape, considering what the French psychanalyst reconveyed about the culture of courtly love to modern society.