Rhetoric of Emotions: The Pathemization in the Denunciation of Violence Against Women in À Flor da Pele

Abstract

Violence against women is a persistent form of gender inequality in Brazil and has long been silenced, including in theater. In the 20th century, playwrights like Consuelo de Castro began to break this silence. This article analyzes the play À Flor da Pele (1969) through the lens of Aristotelian rhetoric, focusing on pathos as a means of denouncing gender violence. The qualitative and interpretative research is based on rhetorical discourse analysis and draws on theorists such as Aristotle, Charaudeau, and Marcos Aurélio de Lima. The aim is to show how the play engages emotions to foster critical reflection and serve as a tool of political and social resistance.