O mar de Sophia: encontro entre tempo mítico e presente em “Ítaca” e “O rei de Ítaca”

Abstract

This article explores the dimensions of classical mythology, the estrangement with the modern world, and the search for the deeper essence of humanity in the verses of the Portuguese poet Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen. The analysis of the poems “Ítaca” and “O Rei de Ítaca” highlights the sea as a dominant symbol and the Greek hero as an exemplary figure. Sophia’s ultimate aim seems to be the reimagining of the classical myth: following Homeric influences, embracing the natural vastness of the sea breeze, and surrendering to a profound meditation on the origins of the world and the human condition. Imbued with an Ulissian spirit, her poetry revives the myth while immersing itself in the nostalgia of times never lived.