V. Clarice Lispector, The Hour of the Star.
             Clarice's use of literature as a means to effect social and psychological change
             Clarice makes use of literature as a means to affect the social and psychological problems of the time, making a contribution to the women's struggle to achieve sexual and social order. She narrates the final days in the life of a poor, uneducated woman, Macabea, and the misfortunes that oppress her, revealing how men's power and his constraints over women, reflect on women's intellectual ability and social status.
             Lispector reveals political and social messages through her existentialist, abstract notions in a very subtle manner, "if the reader is financially secure and enjoys the comforts of life, he must step out of himself and see how others live...here I am acting as a safety valve for the bourgeoisie." Lispector uses language to portray how male and female roles and goals are seen in Brazilian society. The main protagonist, Macabea, and her boyfriend Olimpico both represent characters without hope or promise, confined by society. However, Olimpico, despite his impoverished background, is ambitious. He tries to use terms and words he has heard from others (without really knowing their meaning) and dominates the conversations with Macabea, who cannot even master the elementary skills needed to operate a typewriter. Olimpico, whose name itself represents strength or power, uses the power of language to make Macabea submissive to him. Macabea, as other women of the time, is in a powerless position with Olimpico, and even her boss Ramundo, who ignores and mistreats her. She reveals the social privilege males have been given throughout history, in society, the power to dictate language. Furthermore, Lispector reveals the male dominance over language by assuming the voice of a man in the narration of this story. Lispector uses the male voice of Rodriguez S. N. to separat...