LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 26:7 July 2026
ISSN 1930-2940

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Assemblage of Heteronyms: Narrative of Inclusion and Affective Coexistence in Fernando Pessoa

Mr. Sangeeth S.G.
Dr. Yashashwini M.

Abstract

Through heteronyms, Pessoa creates an environment, or a theatre of self, which includes the contradictory effects of each heteronym without nullifying them, providing them a space of coexistence. It is argued here that Fernando Pessoa creates a space of inclusivity through his heteronyms, thereby enabling the coexistence of 'book people' to demonstrate the possibility of ontological existence of multiple selves and a possibility of assemblage and affective coexistence. Furthermore, it is also observed that Pessoa creates multiple selves through heteronyms and orthonyms. When these selves are juxtaposed, in Deleuze and Guattari's term we can see a strange assemblage of selves. In addition to this, it is postulated that the assemblage as a phenomenon paves the way to study affectations at two levels-orthonym and heteronyms. Incidentally, leading to the affective coexistence of multiple selves. In other words, Pessoa becomes a conductor of various affects, practising inclusivity, providing a space for affectations and providing a safe space for diverse affects. In order to demonstrate the same, this paper studies the three heteronyms Alberto Caéiro, Ricardo Reis and Álvaro de Campos to understand the affect on Pessoa as a non-orthonym within the conceptual framework of 'assemblage' and affect theory.

Keywords:Heteronyms, Affects, Assemblage, Drama em gente, Inclusivity, Rhizome.

Introduction

Fernando Pessoa was a 20th-century Portuguese writer who made a significant contribution to Portugal's Modernism. He showed his versatility by writing in multiple languages, in Portuguese, English, and French, writing poetry, prose, essays, and plays. He shared his observations from Shakespeare to Milton, from Whitman to Gandhi. Through his works, Pessoa intended to make Portugal a literary destination for the modern world, asserting its literary identity through his project of heteronyms. Pessoa introduced various movements inspired by the Modernist movements across the globe, writing poetry which exemplified the art of Sensationism, writing what is felt. Sensationism for Pessoa is “writing straight on the crooked lines of matter”. (Pessoa, 70) Apart from his literary contributions, Pessoa's oeuvre was the way in which he crafted his writings. The uniqueness of Fernando Pessoa lies in the art of crafting literary subjects.

Fernando Pessoa employed the use of various identities, which he termed heteronyms, under whom he crafted his literary world. Contrary to a pseudonym, a heteronym is a unique identity crafted by the author, who has a different personality altogether from the author. The statement, “Fernando Pessoa, who doesn't exist, strictly speaking” (Pessoa, 52), sums up the condition of Fernando Pessoa, the individual. Pessoa is Portuguese for person, and the author started the practice of accommodating various identities from as early as six years of age and continued to do so till his death. Through heteronymity, Pessoa built a world within himself, an imaginary Lisbon with people of his creation, interacting within his “drama em gente” the theatre of his self. Pessoa accommodated these selves within him to interact and engage in the artistic practice, and Pessoa served as a space of inclusion for identities like Álvaro de Campos, Ricardo Reis, Alberto Caeiro, Bernando Soares, Alexander Search, Jean Seul, Charles Robert Anon and many more.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Mr. Sangeeth S.G.
Research Scholar/Assistant Professor
JAIN (Deemed-to-be University)
Bangalore
&
Dr. Yashashwini M.
Associate Professor
Department of Languages
JAIN (Deemed-to-be University)
Bangalore
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