Father Against Mother – How far does our sense of justice go when we are faced with a condition of survival?
The answer seems easy, but marginalization can lead you to take a step further to destroy what you say you love.
In “Father Against Mother” the remnant of a fair and egalitarian society confronts the equality of survival alone, giving the “well-born” only the advantage of having less melanin than black people.
There is no class struggle, no order, no law. What makes one being superior to another is just the color of their skin and this can be a requirement to decide who lives another day and who will be eliminated.
“Father Against Mother” will simply lead the reader to make the wrong bet, or better yet, be left with no way out in the face of a trial.
One major advantage of reading “Father Against Mother“ by Machado de Assis is that the story offers a raw, intelligent, and deeply critical portrait of 19th-century Brazilian society, especially in regard to slavery, racism, and social inequality — all within a short but incredibly powerful narrative.
Powerful social reflection: The story exposes how oppression and violence can become normalized within a society — and how ordinary people can become complicit in such systems, sometimes out of desperation, sometimes out of convenience.
Timely themes: Even though it was written over a century ago, the text speaks to issues that are still very relevant today, such as structural racism and the struggle to survive in an unequal world.
Sharp and ironic narrative: Machado is famous for his ironic, subtle style. He doesn’t offer easy answers — instead, he challenges the reader to think critically and draw their own conclusions.
Short read, lasting impact: It’s a relatively brief story, but one that leaves a deep impression. Perfect for readers looking for a quick read that’s rich in meaning.
