Presence-absence, silence-voice: female dichotomies in "Before the world is born", by Mia Couto

Abstract

It can be observed in the novels of Mia Couto an effort to give voice an space to female characters. In Antes de nascer o mundo (2009), Couto’s pe­nultimate novel, female figures are in the spolight, therefore in this article we will reflect on their “leeways” (PETIT, 2009) and the effects they have within other fictional character’s universes in the stated novel. We will also deal with the discursive organization of the fictional text, since it contains epigraphs signed mainly by women.