Relatos e confissões em Minha vida de menina, de Helena Morley

Abstract

The research discusses the work Minha Vida de Menina by Helena Morley, a memoir narrative in the form of a diary, published in Brazil in 1942. To do so, it reflects on the genre, linking the confessional narrative to the everyday experiences of a teenage girl and her family, as well as the spaces they frequented. These spaces include: the home, the church, the streets, and some places in the small town of Diamantina, in Minas Gerais, in the 19th century; cultural aspects such as religiosity and popular beliefs, the social condition of women at the time, the spaces occupied by them in society, and the presence of prevailing patriarchy. Among other reflections, comments on the lives of black people after slavery will be identified. The research highlights the importance of the diary as one of the early achievements of women, being a space for voice and freedom. It is observed how the narrator, still a teenager, presents a sensitive and critical view of society. This perspective is observed through her comments on family, customs, and issues related to Diamantina. Thus, the discussion will focus on reflections on Memory, History, and Literature, emphasizing the importance of female-authored works based on the cited work.