Da tragédia à comicidade: Romeu e Julieta em quadrinhos

Abstract

This research investigates the adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet into the comic book format, specifically in the work Monica’s gang: Romeo and Juliet, created by Mauricio de Sousa. The analysis focuses on how the narrative of the star-crossed lovers from Verona is reinterpreted through Mauricio de Sousa's beloved characters, with particular attention to the comedic elements incorporated into the adaptation. The study is based on the premise that adapting classic works into new formats, such as comic books, is a recurring practice that not only revitalizes the source material but also makes it accessible and relevant to a younger audience. The ability to reframe stories that are part of the collective imagination, especially those considered literary classics, has been a fundamental characteristic of comic books. They create avenues for dialogue with contemporary culture, offering a platform to explore timeless themes from a fresh and engaging perspective. In this context, comic books emerge as a powerful aesthetic vehicle, capable of encompassing retellings, reinterpretations, adaptations, transcodifications, intertexts, and representations, thereby broadening the reach and understanding of the original works. The study aims to investigate the processes of adaptation and transposition of Shakespeare's tragedy into comic books in a humorous way that is tailored to a young audience, through the script of Mauricio de Sousa and Yara Maura Silva in the work Monica’s gang: Romeo and Juliet (2009). Additionally, the books and to understand the production context of William Shakespeare’s play and its dramatic genre, describe the production context of the translation/adaptation of Romeo and Juliet into comic books, and analyze selected excerpts at both macro and micro textual levels, with special attention to the construction of humorous and comedic elements. The theoretical foundation is based on scholars such as Barbara Heliodora (2012), Bergson (2018), and Hutcheon (2011) among others, who provide a robust theoretical framework for understanding the nuances of adaptation and humor. The analysis revealed that the interaction between the dramatic text and comic book art provides new perspectives and interpretations of the adapted narrative, showing how humor can be a crucial element in softening the tragic weight of the original work, transforming it into a playful and engaging experience for the reader. The research also discusses the cultural impact and reader interaction, demonstrating how Mauricio de Sousa establishes an intimate and continuous dialogue with his audience by utilizing characters that resonate uniquely compared to traditional theater and literature. Through the introduction of humor throughout the narrative, the adaptation not only preserves essential elements of Shakespeare’s work but also offers a new dimension of reading, allowing for a richer exploration of the dynamic between text and image. In this way, the research contributes not only to the field of adaptation studies but also sheds light on the relevance of comic books as an effective means of updating and revitalizing literary classics, making them accessible to new audiences while simultaneously preserving the essence and central themes of the works they are based on.