The Rod of Justice

Power is important in every relationship.  In Joaquim Maria Machdo Assis’s The Rod Of Justice all of the power is held by Sinha Rita.  She holds sway over Damiao who comes to her for help, Joao Carneiro who wishes to remain in her good graces, the group of women she entertains each day, and most importantly the group of young girl who come to her each day for instruction.  Sinha Rita enjoys her power, her position.  She is not a tyrant, and sees herself as fair.  But Damiao does not wish to cross her, and when he believes that she is abusing her power, he does nothing to stop it.  When one of her students is found lacking at the end of a lesson Rita is determined to show her power through force.  Damiao had, only hours before, promised himself that he would protect this very girl, help her as he could.  But Sinha Rita had the power.  When she asks, demands, Damiao to hand her the switch that she intends to use to punish the girl Damiao hesitates.  He is breaking his own vow, participating in the beating of a child.  But Sinha Rita holds the power.  “Damiao was pricked by an uneasy sense of guilt, but he wanted so much to get out of the seminary!  He reached under the settee, picked up the rod, and handed it to Sinha Rita” (916).  Because Sinha Rita can make his life more comfortable Damiao is willing to look away from his responsibilities.  But he began the story running away from his work, his lively hood and his responsibility.  He ran to someone he knew help power.  And that person did fix his problems.  But what Damiao really needs is a spine. 

De Assis, Joaquim Maria Machado.  The Rod of Justice.. The Norton Anthology of World Literature: New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2013.  911-916. Print.