The Saint and The Sow
Encyclopedia
The Saint and The Sow is a very popular Brazil
ian play written by Ariano Suassuna
that was first published in 1957. The play, according to Suassuna, is a "Northeastern
imitation" from the play Aulularia
(a.k.a The Pot's Comedy), from the Roman
writer
Plautus
.
One day, a man called Pinhão (who is Caroba's secret boyfriend) arrives in Eurico's house with a letter from the rich and powerful Colonel
Eudoro. It was written in the letter:
"My dear and honored Eurico: I expect you have being enjoying your peace and prosperty! Above all, I desire that your charming daughter Margarida be fine and healthy like she was in the days that she spent in my house, if you remember. I sent this letter with my loyal employee Pinhão to advise you of the visit I will make to your home soon and I fear that I will steal your most precious treasure."
Then, Eurico becomes mad thinking that Eudoro will steal his coffer (that is in the form of a pig - in this case, a sow) and tries to "stop" Eudoro's robbery. But Caroba, in a secret meeting with Margarida, Pinhão and Dodó, tells them that the "most precious treasure" in the letter referred to Margarida and that Eudoro was going to marry her. Then they make a plan to try to reconcile Eudoro with his old love, Benona. But they will have to take care about Eurico, who is trying to protect his "sow coffer".
, to whom Eurico prays a lot (usually asking for more money or for protection of his "sow coffer").
, only behind his classic O Auto da Compadecida.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian play written by Ariano Suassuna
Ariano Suassuna
Ariano Suassuna is a Brazilian playwright and author.He is in the "Movemento Amorial". He founded the Student Theater at Federal University of Pernambuco....
that was first published in 1957. The play, according to Suassuna, is a "Northeastern
Northeast Region, Brazil
The Northeast Region of Brazil is composed of the following states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, and it represents 18.26% of the Brazilian territory....
imitation" from the play Aulularia
Aulularia
Aulularia is a Latin play by the early Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. The title has been translated as The Pot of Gold, and the plot revolves around a literal pot of gold that the miserly protagonist, Euclio, guards zealously...
(a.k.a The Pot's Comedy), from the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Plautus
Plautus
Titus Maccius Plautus , commonly known as "Plautus", was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are the earliest surviving intact works in Latin literature. He wrote Palliata comoedia, the genre devised by the innovator of Latin literature, Livius Andronicus...
.
Plot
The story focuses in Eurico Árabe, who is called Euricão Engole-Cobra (something like Euricão Swallows-Snake) by his employees. Eurico is a "rich" and niggard man who has a beautiful and courteous daughter called Margarida and two employees: a smart housemaid called Caroba and his "Official Servant" Dódó, who is Margarida's secret boyfriend.One day, a man called Pinhão (who is Caroba's secret boyfriend) arrives in Eurico's house with a letter from the rich and powerful Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Eudoro. It was written in the letter:
"My dear and honored Eurico: I expect you have being enjoying your peace and prosperty! Above all, I desire that your charming daughter Margarida be fine and healthy like she was in the days that she spent in my house, if you remember. I sent this letter with my loyal employee Pinhão to advise you of the visit I will make to your home soon and I fear that I will steal your most precious treasure."
Then, Eurico becomes mad thinking that Eudoro will steal his coffer (that is in the form of a pig - in this case, a sow) and tries to "stop" Eudoro's robbery. But Caroba, in a secret meeting with Margarida, Pinhão and Dodó, tells them that the "most precious treasure" in the letter referred to Margarida and that Eudoro was going to marry her. Then they make a plan to try to reconcile Eudoro with his old love, Benona. But they will have to take care about Eurico, who is trying to protect his "sow coffer".
The Saint
A despite of being part of the title, the saint is not important to the play. In fact, the saint is a statue of Saint AntonioAnthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon, O.F.M., was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Though he died in Padua, Italy, he was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, which is where he was raised...
, to whom Eurico prays a lot (usually asking for more money or for protection of his "sow coffer").
The Play
The play is divided in three acts:- First Act: the arrival of the letter and the elaboration of Caroba's plan to reconcile Colonel Eudoro and his old love, Benona;
- Second Act: Caroba's plan is in progress, but lots of unexpected events happen (usually caused by Eurico, who is trying to protect his coffer) and Caroba has to improvise her plan;
- Third Act: a huge mass is made at the end but everything ends well for everyone (except for Eurico, who discovers that he lost his "fortune" in his "sow coffer").
Reputation in Brazil
The play is considered, by the Brazilian critics, as being Suassuna's second best play, only behind his classic O Auto da Compadecida.