Corruptions of the Narcissism of History in <i>Os cus de Judas</i>, by António Lobo Antunes

This article explores the connections between history and love in Antonio Lobo Antunes’ Os cus de Juda s . It analyzes how the the effects of the war endured by the narrator go beyond post-traumatic stress disorder, the trauma wreaking unexpected consequences on the narrator’s desire and ego. The narrator cannot begin a meaningful relationship with any woman, nor can he identify himself with the Portuguese historical narrative. At the heart of this impossibility lies the narrator’s shredded self-image. Without an ego, the narrator loses his ability to insert himself in any sort of national narrative or identify with the set of images that compose it. Likewise, without a clear and defined image of himself, the narrator cannot narcissistically identify with any particular woman or fall in love.