BARBOSA, D. M.; BARBOSA, Dayane Monteiro.
Abstract:
The present study has an interest in revealing how the imaginary of a child and reality can be
closely related. The object of the study is My sweet orange tree, by José Mauro de Vasconcelos.
Specifically concerned with Zeze's childhood, the study investigates the period marked by
significant pain and loss, but also by a fantastic world created by Zeze’s own imagination, and
from this viewpoint, it was based on the contributions of Held (1980) regarding the fantastic in
childhood, the conceptions of Damazio (1994), which enabled this work to make considerations
about childhood, as well as Brait’s (1985) studies, which contributed to a reflection on the
character. In this context, the aim of this study is to analyse and demonstrate how Zeze’s reality
affects the creation of a fantastic world, in order to understand the purpose of fantasy in the life
of the boy. The social context affected Zeze’s family, more specifically the adults, who
discharged their frustrations and anxieties in the boy through beatings and heavy words, which
made him bitter and mature early. Zeze has consequently become a child able to understand
and feel the pain of adults. In addition, the study found that the adults were not able to
understand childhood as the stage of discoveries, for that reason they considered Zezé’s
attitudes and action as disruption or mischievousness, and that such behaviour must be corrected
by means of physical violence.
