The erosion of love: reflections on the zeitgeist in Copo vazio

Abstract

This article proposes a study of Natalia Timerman's work Copo vazio (2021), with the objective of exploring the interweaving of literature and society. Through an analysis of the characters that permeate the narrative, the aim is to uncover the nuances of the contemporary zeitgeist, the diffuse spirit that influences human relationships and identity construction in the present day. Considering that the work contains biographical and social elements, the intention is to examine how the narrative provides insights into this emblematic spirit, characterized by disappearances (ghostings) and shifts in affective dynamics. The relationship between the protagonists, Mirela and Pedro, is marked by the corrosion of romantic feelings, reflecting the ephemerality of relationships, of which ghosting appears to be a constant and enduring symptom. This demonstrates not only the evanescence of external realities but also the relationships within the narrative and the dynamics of interaction between the characters. In this sense, a kind of affective capitalism can be discerned in the unions of couples, through the intertwining of zeitgeist and ghosting, enabling an understanding and problematization of aspects that encompass contemporary society, while establishing a connection between literature and society.