Under the sign of Janus: two rivers in two times

Abstract

I propose a reading of Grande sertão: veredas from the analogy between two fundamental events of the book: the crossing of the de-Janeiro river towards the São Francisco, occurred in Riobaldo’s childhood, occasion of the first meeting with Diadorim, and the final battle at Paredão, after crossing the Liso do Sussuarão. The episodes have symbolic continuity and constitute privileged starting points for understanding the character of the three characters whose fates are inseparable in the novel: Riobaldo, Hermógenes and Diadorim.