How did Brazil’s independence in 1822 affect Brazilian literature?

Following Brazil’s independence in 1822, the newly declared Brazilian Empire faced the urgent task of forging a distinct national culture. Literature became the primary vehicle for this endeavor, with Romanticism serving as the foundational movement to define the national state.1

Because the country had been overshadowed by Portuguese control, writers were driven to reclaim their identity through themes of nationalism, primitivism, and Indianism. By glorifying the tropical landscape and the mythical figure of the "noble savage," authors sought to enhance the nationalist spirit and create a unique Brazilian image.2

This post-independence era marked a shift away from the Neoclassical and Arcadian emphasis on reason and formalism. Influential figures like José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, the "patriarch of independence," advocated for a more passionate and original voice, bridging the gap between the colonial past and the new Romantic era. While European Enlightenment ideals of science and progress remained influential among the intellectual elite, the literary focus shifted toward establishing a cohesive, patriotic national identity.1