The legal paradox in the work of Eça de Queiroz: thoughts on the novels “O crime do padre Amaro” and “O primo Basílio”

Abstract

This paper searches for one possible way of understanding the Law based on the novels O crime do padre Amaro and O primo Basílio, by Portuguese writer Eça de Queiroz. In both novels, the deaths of the female characters (Amélia and Luísa) are consequences of their lovers’ conducts (Amaro’s and Basílio’s), with no legal punishments for any of them. After reading these novels, there might be a feeling of injustice to the women, even if the male characters had not formally done any criminal actions. Precisely, this lack of action of the Law creates a paradox: even though the search for Justice is its main objective, by attempting to accomplish that purpose, sometimes severe injustice is brought by it, such as what happens to Amélia and Luísa. This research used the inductive scientific method, so the analysis of specific phenomena serves to generate generic conclusions. In this case, the main conclusion is the paradoxical trait of the Law, which is the main instrument for Justice, but is, at the same time, strongly capable of generating injustice because of its correct application.