Heroismo e silenciamento : os usos politicos de um assassinato

Abstract

The story of João Pessoa as a national hero and martyr is, in fact, evidence of significant political manipulation, as Getúlio Vargas used it to fuel the 1930 Revolution. An image of João Pessoa as a defender of democracy and justice, carefully constructed, was developed to accommodate the interests of the revolutionary movement and to mask some of the darker aspects of his administration in Paraíba. Elevating João Pessoa to the status of an almost saintly figure is not merely ignorance but a distortion of the real circumstances of his government, which was marked by authoritarian practices, repression of political opponents, censorship of the press, human rights violations, and administrative corruption. The creation of a model hero means erasing these problematic factors, which is exactly what the official narrative does, presenting a completely one-sided version of history. Furthermore, this heroic construction silences the stories of João Dantas and Anayde Beiriz, who were also victims of both physical and symbolic persecution and violence. João Dantas, whose act was a personal revenge for the public humiliation caused by the exposure of his intimate letters with Anayde, was himself demonized and reduced to a barbaric villain. Anayde, in turn, was treated cruelly and inhumanely, as she was slandered and devalued in her intellectual and artistic capacities. Newspapers of the time, such as A União, developed this narrative, exalting João Pessoa as a "prophet" and endorsing the dissemination of his image in public institutions, while João Dantas was portrayed as an enemy of the nation. This media manipulation served to consolidate João Pessoa's image and facilitate popular mobilization in favor of the revolution led by Vargas. Therefore, it is crucial to question this unfair and one-sided construction of João Pessoa as a hero. It is necessary to examine the political interests and ideologies behind this discourse and to recognize the complex human dimensions of João Dantas and Anayde Beiriz. Both were multifaceted individuals who, despite their faults, also had virtues, talents, and dreams. Their stories deserve to be rescued and remembered in a fair and balanced manner, not as criminals and traitors, but as human beings who were deeply affected by the economic and political policies of their time.