JOÃO GRILO, THE WEAKENED: THE HOPE IN THE IMAGINARY OF THE OPPRESSED

Abstract

The objective of this study is to discuss about the meanings that the João Grilo´s myth – largely spreaded out in the northeastern hinterland – assumes in the imaginary of the citizens/actors who, directly or indirectly, identify themselves with it, lasting throughout the times. To those that withholds the power and/or are wealthy, the myth – when denounce its vices – represents a threat, calling the attention to the subversion of the order. However, to those, because of physical features and the condition of misery and slavery, identify with the myth, João Grilo represents the hope of better days. Although a cheat, the personage´s moral does not totally lose the brightness and the dignity because, when he does not take the power and the wealth of the defeated opponents, João Grilo neither reproduce nor perpetuates the system of which he is a victim. Therefore, João Grilo, differently from the strict person and the chaotic cangaceiros, is not an extremist, placing himself in an intermediate position in the heroes roll that are present in the folklore-cultural imaginary of the Brazilians.