Of the virtues or female misfortunes: the behaviour ideal in the Nineteenth Century in Brazil

In this paper we analyse the requirements for the virtue female behaviour in the Brazilian Nineteenth Century. Through the newspapers, civility guides and literary works we checked what were the principal virtues required for the composition of the female honour. However, analysing the criminal sue about Luiza Maria da Conceicdo, a residet of the village of Formiga, in the province of Minas Gerais, woman who wished to be free, we check the differences and resemblances between the ideal model to the female behaviour and the daily. This case helps us realize that the women, especially the women from the poor classes, they had more autonomy that we could imagine if we judge by the dominant discourse. The other way, this sue, it shows the limit conferred for the women that had more freedom of action.