Wandering and Ecological Ethos in 'A hora e vez de Augusto Matraga'

Joao Guimaraes Rosa locates nearly all his fiction in the Brazilian sertao, the vast, semi-arid backlands of Brazil's interior, yet surprisingly few studies exist regarding Guimaraes Rosa’s environmental attitudes or the ecological ethos present in his work. Pressing environmental concerns in Brazil have nevertheless inspired new readings of Guimaraes Rosa's work that consider the ecological consciousness latent in his fiction. Guimaraes Rosa's well-known novella, "A hora e vez de Augusto Matraga," reveals a powerful ecological ethos by modeling the concept of wandering—a way of relating to nature and to others. The story demonstrates that acquiring aesthetic sensitivity and developing ecological understanding occur simultaneously, and they work together to establish social and communal harmony.