Dom Casmurro

Analyze Capitú’s character arc. How is she depicted? How does she conform to, or diverge from, her society’s ideals of femininity?

Dom Casmurro exhibits metafictional elements in Bento’s narrative. How do Bento’s storytelling devices affect the narrative and/or illuminate some of the novel’s key themes and ideas? How is the nature of storytelling presented more broadly?

Analyze the bond between Bento and Escobar. How does the novel explore the dynamics of friendship?

The central question at the heart of the novel is whether Capitú really is guilty of infidelity, or if Bento has falsely accused her. Closely examine the evidence in the text. In what ways does the novel suggest she is guilty? In what ways does the novel suggest she is innocent? How, and in what ways, does your understanding of the novel change as you consider each possibility?

Examine the exploration of memory and subjectivity in the novel. How is the nature of memory depicted? What does the novel suggest about the relationship between past and present?

“The Opera” and “The Worms” introduce surreal and symbolic elements within the narrative and appear seemingly disconnected from the main plot. What is the wider significance of these digressions? How do they relate to the rest of the novel?

Research the historical and social context of Brazil at the turn of the 20th century. How does Machado’s novel reflect the Brazil of his own day? What insights does the novel offer into the culture of the time?

The novel often centers upon domesticity and different familial dynamics. What is the role of family in the novel? How do Bento’s ideas of family evolve over time?