The power of example: female adultery in two 19th century Portuguese female authors

Resumo

Female adultery is one of the most common topics of 19th century novels. In Portugal, this was to be one of the most discussed problems of that time, addressed in novels but also in critical or philosophical observations by famous intellectuals. Female authors were no exception to this rule and, contrary to popular belief, were not always the most tolerant judges. Maria Peregrina de Sousa (1809-1894) and Ana Plácido (1831-1895) both wrote about adulterous women and the consequences of their life choices. While both authors advise women against adultery, their points of view are markedly different. In this article, I aim to understand the message they chose to convey to their 19th century female readers.