Irony and universal aspects of a Machado de Assis´ short story

Abstract

This article presents a reflection on the story “Na arca ” from Machado de Assis. The story tells events between Noah´s children, Biblical characters, while they wait for the deluge water to get low. Through the study of the characters, their behavior, their relations in this context, it is possible to verify that the author brings to view the vanity and the human being fight for power. Following the author´s investigative process of the narrative, it is perceived that the analyzed story represents typical aspects of the “Machadiana” workship: the satire and universal aspects related to the human nature.