"Olhos de coruja – olhos de gato bravo", de Luís Cardoso: género e relações de poder

The novel Olhos de coruja – olhos de gato bravo presents an intimate capsule of the Timorese worldview. Based on a notion that this worldview is significantly shaped by female perceptions, Cardoso chose a woman’s voice to weave the narrative. The protagonist – and narrator, akin to a spirit or sacred being, outlines in great detail the events that precede and envelop her birth. An aura of mystery surrounds the pregnancy. The stunning size of the child’s eyes resonates with the tradition that “usually, when a girl is born late [in the life of her parents], she either will be a ‘chosen’ one [i.e. mystically predestined] or insane.” Indigenous belief systems and Christian proselytism intersect within and around the protagonist / narrator, in terms of constructing what a woman might be and what her role in society is deemed to be. The present article is an explora - tion of gender and power dynamics anchored in the premise that such an exploration is most use- fully conducted with due appreciation for the cultural and political history of Timor Leste and within a framework of indigenous concepts.