Machado de Assis and music: an analysis of the story

Abstract

In the short story “Trio em lá menor”, Machado de Assis uses musical terminology as the designated titles for each part of the story: I Adagio cantabile, II Allegro ma non troppo, III Allegro appassionato, and IV Minueto, relating them to the short story plot. It is the author’s intention to interpret what happens within the story through musical analogy. Maria Regina, the stories main character, loves two men at the same time: Maciel, 27 years old and Miranda, 50. From this scenario develops a love triangle. In the sequence of the story, there is a correspondence of musical significance to the events that take place, in each part of the story. There is the constant presence of sonata as background music during all the text. Maria Regina cannot choose between the two men because neither satisfies her, completely. She loves a fictional person, who has the positive characteristic from both men. Maria Regina indecision bores the two men until they both lose hope and give up the idea of love. Alone, looking at the sky to find a double star, Maria Regina, is unable to see the splendid star; and so when looking into herself she sees two big lights. Dreaming, she listens that her punishment will be to swing between two incomplete stars for eternity. Her life, an eternal search for perfection, would always have the absolute sonata sound. As the story continues, a better understanding emerges from the events and from the entire short story of Machado de Assis text, which was enhanced by his musical knowledge.