though the book is considered modernist, the author also makes use of symbolism and naturalism. his theories about romance are shown when he describes the angst of the main character, luís da silva: suffering, anxiety, a feeling of sickness. it's curious to say but there's an influence from the psychoanalysis, too, when the imagined disease of luís da silva begins to change his behavior and his sense of reality. thus, graciliano ramos is one of the greatest authors of brazilian modernism, transcending regional limits with his literary style, in comparison with marcel proust.