O marinheiro

work by Pessoa

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July 17, 2026

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O marinheiro (The Mariner) is a play by Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, written in 1913. It is considered an example of Symbolist drama that pushed into experimental theater. The play is set in a medieval castle and features four women, one of whom is deceased, waiting for an absent sailor.12

Fernando Pessoa is renowned for his Modernist poetry and his innovative use of "heteronyms"—distinct literary personae with their own styles, philosophies, and personalities. While he published some works under his own name, his heteronyms, such as Alberto Caeiro, Álvaro de Campos, and Ricardo Reis, contributed significantly to his posthumous fame.1

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Portuguese literature
From monarchy to republic
…Maurice Maeterlinck—in his only play, O marinheiro (written 1913; “The Mariner”), which takes place in a medieval castle, where four women, one a corpse, await the return of an absent sailor. Pessoa’s play carried Symbolist drama into the experimental arena of modern theatre.
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…Maurice Maeterlinck—in his only play, O marinheiro (written 1913; “The Mariner”), which takes place in a medieval castle, where four women, one a corpse, await the return of an absent sailor. Pessoa’s play carried Symbolist drama into the experimental arena of modern theatre.
Read More