José Saramago: evaluating History, evaluating the human

Abstract

In this article, I propose to demonstrate a thesis that is both widely believed and yet unproven, namely that José Saramago was not optimistic about human nature(s) and the future. To prove this we have both his remarks on the subject as well as his literary writings. For the author of Folhas Políticas (Political Pages) (1999), contrary to what both the Marxist-Leninists and the more orthodox liberals and neoliberals advocate, the future will not necessarily bring good, neither the good that some say will arise from the inflexible laws of history, nor that which others claim will result from Providence (from God’s will) and / or from markets without state and international regulation. I will show that Saramago never defended the existence of predetermined and immutable laws of history, nor was he seduced by the so often announced definitive victory of good.