Sinhá Moça 1986 Capitulo 1

Monarchists and Republicans confront themselves in Araruna, a small fictional city in the inner of São Paulo, in 1886. The novel depicts the love story of the beautiful and rich Sinhá Moça - The daughter of the slaveholder, Baron Ferreira de Araruna, and the submissive Mother Candida - with the young abolitionist lawyer Dr. Rodolfo Fontes - Son of Dr. Fontes and Inêz. Together, they face the difficulties in the campaign for the abolition of slaves. The novel begins with Sinhá Moça at the age of ten. She is with Rafael, a half-breed slave with green eyes and her great childhood friend. They witness the death of an elderly slave called Dad Joseph, the Rafael's great-grandfather, and his mother's great-grandfather, Maria das Dores. Dad Jose is whipped on the trunk by the coward Bruno, commanded by the Baron of Araruna. Even as a child, Sinhá Moça already confronts her father and, with Rafael's help, at the age of twelve, they untied Dad José, who dies in their arms. Before, the Dad José reveals to Rafael that he is the son of Barão Ferreira de Araruna. This revelation leaves the boy shaken, for he already likes Sinhá Moça as a man. Luckily, the girl does not listen to this conversation, she does not even suspect that he is her half-brother. Rafael is going to talk to his mother, the slave Maria das Dores, who asks her son to keep a secret; nor is the Baron aware of his paternity. Barão Ferreira de Araruna believes that Rafael is the son of his cousin Aristides, mistress of Maria das Dores. The maid had lain with the Baron once and by force. Even though she was pregnant, she continued to lie down with Aristides, but she soon revealed to him what had happened. Aristides, aware of everything, wanted to buy Maria das Dores, but his cousin, Mr. Ferreira, did not let the woman be sold. For some years Mrs. Dores and Rafael continue to pick up and suffer at the hands of Mr. Ferreira. Rafael, then, swear revenge against the Baron. Years later, however, Maria das Dores and her son are sold to a good man, who takes them to the capital of São Paulo. Some time later, with the death of Aristides, Maria das Dores will inherit a house and good money, enough to buy her freedom and that of her son Rafael. Sinhá Moça cries a lot with Rafael's farewell and will console herself with Bá, a slave who nursed her since she was baby, and who had her son stolen by Mr. Ferreira as soon as the child was born, out of sheer evil. Bá has transferred her love for the stolen son to Sinhá, and treats her very well, and forgives him for stolen, and hopes one day to find her son again. Nine years pass and the year 1886 arrives. Sinhá Moça is now a beautiful and educated lady,