The Case of the Death of Machado de Assis

The Case of the Death of Machado de Assis: A Literary and Personal Enigma

On September 21, 1908, Brazil lost one of its greatest intellectuals: Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis. His death at age 69, at his family home at Rua Cosme Velho, 19, in Rio de Janeiro, was officially attributed to heart failure. However, for a country that revered the author of masterpieces such as "The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas" and "Dom Casmurro," the end of his life, amidst a society he so insightfully portrayed, was never completely devoid of mystery. This article delves into the depths of a case that, although clinically closed, remains an enigma for many, exploring the context, theories, controversies, and legacy of one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in Brazilian cultural history.

1. The Context and the Incident: A Genius's Silent Farewell

Machado de Assis was a revered figure in the Brazilian intellectual scene. Founder and first president of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, his health had been declining in the years leading up to his death. His wife, Carolina Augusta Xavier de Novais, passed away in 1904, a blow that left him deeply shaken and reclusive. The death occurred during a period of political and social effervescence in Rio de Janeiro, but the news of the writer's passing eclipsed many other events, highlighting the weight of his figure for the nation.

The incident itself was, on the surface, peaceful. He passed away in his sleep, surrounded by family. However, the simplicity of the official narrative contrasted with the complexity of Machado's life and work, fueling speculation about the real circumstances of his departure. The lack of deeper details about his final moments and the absence of a detailed medical certificate from a specialist of the time contribute to the aura of mystery.

2. Timeline of Events

The reconstruction of the events leading to the death of Machado de Assis, although lacking the minute details required for modern forensic investigations, can be outlined as follows:

• Years prior to 1908: Gradual decline in Machado de Assis's health, aggravated by the loss of his wife, Carolina, in 1904.
• September 1908: The writer spends his final days at his residence in Cosme Velho. Specific details of his routine and health status during this period are scarce.
• Night of September 20 to 21, 1908: Machado de Assis goes to bed, apparently without showing acute symptoms that would indicate an imminent event.
• Morning of September 21, 1908: Family members find Machado de Assis deceased in his bed. The official cause attributed is heart failure.
• September 21, 1908: The news spreads throughout Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian Academy of Letters declares mourning.
• September 22, 1908: Machado de Assis's body is buried at the São João Batista Cemetery in Rio de Janeiro, in a ceremony with great popular participation and authorities.

3. Main Theories

Although the official version is widely accepted, the absence of a detailed post-mortem examination and the writer's reserved nature allowed for the emergence of various speculations.

Scientific and Medical Theories (Official)

• Heart Failure: This is the declared and most likely cause, given his advanced age and history of declining health. The medicine of the time, although less advanced, already diagnosed and recorded cardiac conditions. Sudden death during sleep is consistent with serious cardiovascular events, such as an acute myocardial infarction or a fatal arrhythmia.

Alternative and Speculative Theories

• Suicide: A minority theory, but present in some speculative circles, suggests that Machado de Assis, deeply shaken by his wife's death and the deterioration of his own health, could have chosen a peaceful end. This hypothesis is weakened by the lack of any evidence or behavioral indication pointing to such a decision. Literature, in itself, does not offer direct clues in this regard, but the pessimistic view of some of his characters, such as Brás Cubas, is sometimes maliciously associated with such a possibility.
• Poisoning (Remote Conspiracy Theory): Although without any concrete foundation, in cases of important public figures, poisoning theories arise sporadically. However, for Machado de Assis, this hypothesis finds no support in historical records, testimonies, or analyses of documents from the time. There are no suspects, clear motives, or evidence to support it.
• Complications from Undiagnosed Pre-existing Diseases: It is possible that the writer suffered from underlying medical conditions that were not fully identified or treated at the time, and which culminated in organ failure. Chronic lung diseases or kidney problems may have been contributing factors to heart failure.

4. Controversies and Blind Spots

The main blind spot in the "Case of the Death of Machado de Assis" lies in the very nature of the medical and social record of the time. The absence of a detailed death certificate by a medical examiner, the lack of an autopsy (something not routine for natural deaths at home in that period), and the scarcity of more in-depth testimonies from family members about his final hours create a vacuum of objective information.

• Lack of Detailed Expertise: At the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, post-mortem examinations were reserved for cases of suspected crime or violent deaths. For deaths at home attributed to natural causes, verbal confirmation from family members and medical verification of the absence of signs of violence were sufficient.
• The Depth of Post-Carolina Grief: The death of his wife left Machado in a state of deep melancholy. Although it is natural for grief and age to affect health, the intensity of his social isolation after the loss of Carolina may have impacted his physical well-being in ways not fully understood by the records.
• Family and Social Records: The information available about Machado's final days comes mainly from accounts by family members and contemporaries, which may carry an emotional weight or be influenced by the respect and admiration they held for the writer, limiting objectivity.

5. Curiosities and Legacy

The "Case of the Death of Machado de Assis" is not a criminal case to be reopened, but rather an enigma that transcends medicine and history to enter the field of interpretation and the fascination that the writer's figure has always exerted.

• The Silence of the Genius: The life of Machado de Assis, like his work, was always marked by a certain discretion. He was not given to grand public displays or intimate confidences, which contributes to the aura of mystery that surrounds him, even in his most personal moments.
• The Metaphor of Death: For some scholars, the peaceful and relatively discreet death of Machado de Assis can be seen as a metaphor for how he wished his work to be interpreted: with depth, but without unnecessary fanfare.
• Current Status: The case is, for official and legal purposes, closed. The cause of death was recorded as natural. However, the mystery persists in the popular and academic imagination as one of the multiple fascinations surrounding the life of one of the greatest writers of the Portuguese language. His death marks the end of an era and the beginning of a legacy that continues to inspire and provoke reflections on the human condition.

The death of Machado de Assis remains a question mark in his biography, a reminder that even the most documented lives can keep their secrets, especially when dealing with minds as complex and enigmatic as that of the "Wizard of Cosme Velho."