Dom Casmurro 21.7 · 21.7

The narrator heads off a wrong impression. 'De biocos' — given to prim affectations, false modesties — is exactly what Justina is not. Her frankness about lying, then, is of a piece with her whole manner; she is blunt, not devout or delicate.

Machado loves this kind of precision about character, distinguishing candour from mere shamelessness. The rare word 'biocos' does real work: it names a whole social type — the demure, veil-drawing woman — so as to set Justina firmly against it. What follows will illustrate the point with two brothers and the plain, unflattering things she told each about the other.

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