Rosa Chacel's trans-exile Contact as a Way of Inhabiting Exile: Creating a Hellenic Space in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Beginning with the necessity to move beyond the binary approach of home country/host country in understanding the exile experience, this study adopts a transnational point of view and proposes that a third dimension should be introduced to fully comprehend exile: the impact of trans-exilic contacts. Trans-exilic contacts refer to relationships among exiles from different origins who interact and build connections that influence the exile experience. This research constructs a three-stage methodology that begins with the identification, documentation, and selection of trans-exilic contacts; proceeds with the description and examination of trans-exilic interaction development; and finally interprets the consequences of these interactions on the exile experience. The methodology is applied to a case study of Rosa Chacel's exile period in Rio de Janeiro, during which she maintained close trans-exilic contact through correspondence with Greek author Eleni Kazantzakis. The analysis focuses on these trans-exile interactions and concludes that through this contact, Chacel constructed a Hellenic cultural space of her own within the context of the Brazilian host country, thereby making it more inhabitable and welcoming to her needs.