O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo, by Saramago: an anthroponomical reading

Abstract

The subject of this paper is a symbolic and etymological analysis of the characters’ names from O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by José Saramago. This study aims to verify how the names are related to their functions in the literary work and to their physical or behavioral features. Additionally, it aims to determine whether the choice of their names was intentional and corresponds to their etymological origin or if it was merely fortuitous. The study is justified due to the book's and its author's relevance to the Portuguese language, besides, it is noted that, as far as has been determined, no publication has approached this matter. The theoretical foundation is based on Onomastics studies and, more specifically, on Fictional Anthroponomastics, which focuses on the study of proper names of fictional characters. Regarding the methodological procedures, the following procedure was considered: careful reading of the work and recording all occurrences related to proper names; consulting dictionaries of first and last names; verification of the correspondence between the meaning of the name as presented on the dictionaries and the functions and characteristics within the literary work. It is concluded that the choice of names in the case of the analyzed book was not fortuitous but rather etymological and symbolically motivated.