43 pages • 1 hour read
Clarice LispectorThe Hour of the Star
Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1977A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In The Hour of the Star, Rodrigo S.M. narrates the life of Macabéa, a destitute and marginalized young woman from Alagoas living in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. Her days are marked by insignificance and poverty; she endures abusive relationships, dreams modestly, and ultimately seeks hope from a fortuneteller who foresees a brighter future. Macabéa's struggle embodies deeper philosophical inquiries about identity and existence. Themes of abuse and graphic depictions of suffering occur throughout.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Clarice Lispector's The Hour of the Star is widely acclaimed for its innovative narrative style and profound existential themes. Critics praise its lyrical prose and nuanced portrayal of poverty and identity. Some, however, find its fragmented structure challenging. Overall, Lispector's exploration of the human condition stands as a striking, unique contribution to literature.
Who Should Read The Hour of the Star?
Readers who relish introspective and lyrical narratives will enjoy Clarice Lispector's The Hour of the Star. Fans of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway and Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis will appreciate Lispector's meditation on existential anguish and identity within a fragmented and poetic framework.