Why did Brazilian Romantic writers use Indianism to express national identity?

Brazilian Romantic writers utilized Indianism as a literary strategy to forge a distinct national identity, particularly as the country sought to define itself apart from its history of Portuguese colonial control. By adopting the aesthetics of European Romanticism, these writers sought to invent a national past by glorifying the tropical landscape and the mythical figure of the "noble savage".1

This movement, known as the Indianista novel, idealized indigenous life as a foundational element of the Brazilian state. Writers like José de Alencar used this framework to create romanticized narratives—such as O Guarani and Iracema—that depicted indigenous characters as heroic figures within a mythical "medieval" colonial past. By integrating indigenous customs, flora, and fauna into their work, these authors helped converge culture and politics to formulate a patriotic ideology that enhanced the national spirit. Ultimately, Indianism provided a symbolic vocabulary that allowed Brazilian intellectuals to elevate their own heritage and establish a unique cultural expression during the 19th century.213