A Escrava Isaura 9.14 · 9.14

The narrator now applies the principle to Leôncio himself. His two ruling traits are named: 'cynismo,' cynicism, the settled contempt that lets him mock every duty, and 'obcecação,' obsession, the blind fixation on Isaura that has darkened his reason. 'A despeito de' — despite — signals that even these are not proof against her dignity; the concessive frames the surprising admission to come.

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