Controversial Cultural Patterns: The Case of Amar, verbo intransitivo by Mario de Andrade

This article aims to stress the contribution of Amar, verbo intransitivo to Mario de Andrades's comprehension of Brazilian culture. Beyond the specific intention of the novel, the suggestion is to use Nietzsche's Unfashionable Observations as a hermeneutic tool to highlight the satire against the Brazilian bourgeoisie. The mediocre feature of the German protagonist revealed by the approximation of the two texts suggests a paradox with the other characters' reverential attitude towards her, thus unveiling a controversial universe of values and paradigms. Under this focus, the idyll approaches the themes most explored by the author through the presentation of an imaginary shared by the bourgeoisie, where uncritical devotion to foreign cultural forms dominates to the detriment of Brazilian ones. This uncritical devotion towards foreign cultural patterns gives a tragicomic image of a ridiculous but powerful middle class.