Writing the Self: History and Memory in Life Narratives. Anna Martins Gouveia between Madeira and Hawaii (20th Century)

Abstract

During the 19^th century Madeira Island found itself in serious economic and social straits. Emigration was for many a chance to start over and thereby flee the economic disaster. As at the same time Hawaii was demanding for labourers as well as settlers, Madeirans followed their dream for a better life in what they called the “Terra Nova” and soon became one of the largest immigrant groups in Hawaii.
Through Anna Martins Gouveia’s life narrative, we can reconstruct, in large part, details of the History of Madeiran emigration to Hawaii as well as the life of Portuguese in the plantations and later in the cities. From her memories, it is possible to observe customs and traditions that became part of Hawaii’s multi-ethnic and cultural mosaic.
This essay aims to analyse “life narrative” under the light of the reconstruction of History, opting for interdisciplinarity and thus opening a space for debate between the various areas of knowledge, not assuming too established truths, but questioning and analysing scattered fragments in order to reconstruct a human History.

Keywords

Writing the Self; History; Memory; Life Narratives; Madeira; Hawaii; Emigration.