The Secret Cause - May, part 1

Why is "The Secret Cause", by Machado de Assis, the most important short story in a long list of interesting literary works worthy of medical student's attentions all around the world?

Internationally acknowledged as an important writer from the late 19th century scene, Machado de Assis, as Harold Bloom pointed out in his book "Genius", was able to rise beyond the effects of cultural and political determination. What we get by reading Machado is access to witty, elegant and deep pictures of the workings and surprises of human behaviour, whether in relation to society or independently from it.

A question we are not often encouraged to face openly in our first days of medical education is "why do you want to be a doctor?". Of course, we've been asked that several times, and thus have learnt to give away the best rehearsed and socially acceptable answer we are able to come up with.

The Secret Cause is not necessarily the ultimate answer to the question. It is, more importantly, a brave and free incursion into the possible complexities of the answers.

[the image is from the movie "A Erva do Rato", by Julio Bressane. official website: republicapureza.com.br/aervadorato]