A narrativa feminista nas traduções do ensaio A room of one’s own, de Virgínia Woolf, no Brasil

Abstract

This thesis presents a comparative analysis of eight Brazilian translations of A Room of One’s Own, by Virginia Woolf, published between 1985 and 2025. Understanding translation as a situated and politically engaged discursive practice, the study investigates how different translators mobilize linguistic, stylistic, and paratextual strategies to reinscribe, in Brazilian Portuguese, Woolf’s critique of gender inequality, female authorship, and symbolic power. The methodology combines microtextual analysis of twelve selected excerpts from the sixth chapter of the essay with the examination of paratextual elements such as titles, covers, notes, and prefaces. The theoretical framework draws on the feminist translation strategies of supplementation, subversive appropriation, and neutralization, as well as on contributions from scholars who explore the intersections of language, identity, and ideology. The results reveal significant shifts in how the essay has been received in Brazil, showing that translations not only mediate the original text but also engage critically with their sociocultural contexts. Within this panorama, the translation by Sofia Nestrovski (2025) stands out for its alignment with feminist translation principles, as do the editions published by Antofágica and Senhor Corvo, whose paratexts reinforce politically engaged readings. The thesis concludes that literary translation, especially in works with strong political content, constitutes a space of symbolic dispute and critical reinscription of discourses on gender, authorship, and language.