A semiotic approach to Portuguese messianity in Mensagem, by Fernando Pessoa

Abstract

In the light of contributions from French Semiotics, this paper focuses on the book Mensagem, by the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, taking as unit of meaning the set of poems that compose such a book. Our objective is to examine how the poetic elaboration of Portuguese messianism is structured in Pessoa’s retrieval of the history of Portugal. In this way, we intend to demonstrate that the poet’s discourse is based on a transcendent contract that distinguishes Portugal from other nations and is revealed mainly in the repeated use of the narrative programs of manipulation and sanction.