O DISCURSO DA VIOLÊNCIA NO APOCALIPSE DE JOÃO

Abstract

The Revelation of John is a fascinating and intriguing literature. To think about the discourse of violence from an apocalyptic reading is, at least, an invitation to reflect upon a possible symbolization of violence from rhetoric-discursive strategies. With a language full of violence, monsters looking like dragons and beasts, announcements of terrifying judgments, there is at last a frightening and eminently unfavorable narrative environment for those who oppose the lamb who attentively watches the haunting death of his enemies. However, the book of Revelation will be read from a theoretical assumption that points to a discursive construction that denounces a violent system, which, for the visionary, is a falsification of the order. This paper, in addition to basically propose a systematization of the violence phenomenon, attempts to present the possible constitutive elements of Pax Romana discourse, whose intention is to be a violent discourse disguised into peace. Therefore, the violence aspect, used by the visionary, attempts to convince his interlocutors to understand his worldview, and to see a reality that, because of the terror provoked by the Pax Romana, is muddied in chaos and disorder. From texts and images analysis found in the Revelation of John, and based on text networking, the johannine couterdiscursivity presents itself as a rhetorically violent response to the violent Roman system.