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

Abstract

 This article explores the connections between history and love in António Lobo Antunes’ Os cus de Judas. 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.