Dom Casmurro vs. Amber Heard: Truth, gender, and media courts

Abstract

This paper aims, through a reinterpretation of Machado de Assis' iconic novel Dom Casmurro and a study of the documentary on the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard case (Depp v. Heard, Netflix, 2023), to investigate the narrative constructions presented and identify possible connections between them. By analysing how Johnny Depp is portrayed and the “rhetoric of verisimilitude” in the narration of the character Bentinho, it is possible to observe how narratives, both personal and public, significantly influence the interpretation of events and characters. The context between Romanticism and literary Realism in the 19th century reverberates in the blockbuster industry and contemporary shopping forums. In both scenarios, truth is presented as an elusive concept, seen through the lens of subjectivity, regardless of whether it is a fictional or real context. The study of these narratives highlights the influence and intricate nature of the stories told, whether based on facts or the fruit of imagination, in shaping people's perception and discernment of the law.