Abordagens metodológicas para a história das emoções

Abstract

This article explores methodological approaches to the history of emotions, focusing on expressions of love within the diary of the Marchioness of Fronteira (1801-1860). It highlights the complexity of studying emotions historically, noting that the term "love" itself is rarely used in the Marchioness' writings. Instead, the author analyzes a range of other vocabulary, such as "amável" (amiable), "desejo" (desire), "gostar" (to like), "saudade" (longing), and expressions of "dó" or "pena" (pity/sorrow), to uncover the nuanced emotional landscape of the period. By comparing these terms to their definitions in a contemporary Portuguese dictionary (Bluteau's Diccionario da lingua portugueza), the article reveals how emotional dynamics were conveyed through a broader lexicon related to social interactions and personal feelings during the early 19th century in Portugal.