Sangue e fígado: a persistência das imagens simbólicas sobre a lepra a partir do mito do Papa-Figo

Abstract

Este artigo volta-se para os processos simbólicos que, frente à iminência do adoecimento e da morte, fazem emergir no imaginário poderosas narrativas que se dinamizam em mitos. Elege, para isso, as imagens simbólicas sobre a lepra que circundam o mito do Papa-Figo – criatura fantástica, ele é representado por ricos e poderosos que, contaminados, fariam de tudo para recuperar sua saúde; inclusive consumir vísceras de crianças sequestradas. Em um percurso sincrônico e diacrônico, relacionamos relatos históricos e folclóricos com narrativas contemporâneas: vídeos de exploração à casa da 'viúva Papa-Figo'. Nesta leitura simbólica, exploramos a recorrência dos símbolos de sangue, fígado, poço, poder, dinheiro e de um Outro misterioso, mostrando que o medo da doença e suas consequências físicas e sociais nos movimentam arquetipicamente, despertando relações ancestrais que nos conectam com o plano da experiência humana.

Sociodiscursive representations about leprosy in educational campaigns: implications on stigma reduction

“…To produce this discourse, the naturalistic modality was used, which gives the image greater proximity to reality, seeking to increase the credibility of the discourse produced (18) . Moreover, the opposition between "healthy bodies" and body parts with the marks of the disease reaffirms that which social practices place as "normal/standard" and thus activates stigmatizing beliefs associated with leprosy, which have become ingrained in the social imaginary, generating negative psychosocial repercussions in people affected by the disease, arising from the idea of mutilation, segregation, punishment and dishonor (6)(7)(8)25) .…”

“…In this sense, health education campaigns need to rethink the socio-discursive representations about leprosy and people affected by it. It is necessary to approach the confrontation of the disease beyond drug therapy, because this movement includes not only the physical aspect, but all its unfolding, including stigma (6,8,23) . A discourse must be produced that goes beyond the cure and goes beyond the individual, to society and its values, the symbology of the disease, concepts and stigmas (7)(8)(23)(24) .…”

“…One cannot deny that building a new image for such an old disease is not easy, especially when it is related to the webs of social imagery, permeated with stigmas (7) . It is observed that the discourses built around leprosy are related, even if indirectly, to the memories that refer to stigma and, consequently, to the losses linked to the construction of social identity and the exercise of full citizenship (6,8,23) .…”

“…The fact is that leprosy draws attention not only for the magnitude of its public health problem in Brazil, but also for its stigmatizing aspect, coming from a dark past in which it was known as "leprosy". It was a disease marked by segregation, mutilations, and considered a sin or punishment from God, in which the affected person was doomed to "social condemnation" (5)(6)(7)(8) .…”