ANALYSIS OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH IN THE SHORT STORY “MARIA” BY CONCEIÇÃO EVARISTO IN THE LIGHT OF FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR

Abstract

This article analyzes direct, indirect, and free indirect speech in the short story Maria, by Conceição Evaristo, from the perspective of functional grammar. Using the theoretical assumptions of Moura Neves, Halliday, and Travaglia, the research aims to understand how the author uses different forms of speech to express subjectivity, oppression, and resistance. The methodology adopted is qualitative, interpretive-based, with textual analysis applied to excerpts from the short story selected according to discursive and functional criteria. The results indicate that the types of discourse employed in the text fulfill distinct communicative functions: direct discourse brings the reader closer to the character's lived experience; indirect discourse highlights mediation and social judgment; and free indirect discourse reveals the internal flow of the protagonist's consciousness. It is concluded that functional grammar provides valuable tools for understanding the role of language in the literary construction of marginalized voices and that this approach can contribute significantly to the field of discourse analysis and contemporary literature.