The 4 factors taken into consideration in the creation of my protagonist Fabiana in “Like Jaguar Eyes” and its Portuguese Version “Saga Sob o Sol do Pantanal”
- The Past and the New Reality: A Contrast Between Worlds
I started with an intentional setting contrast— the vibrant life in the big city versus the quiet life in the Pantanal. Fabiana, a teenage girl from Rio, lives in a modern and practical way. She inherits a farm in the Pantanal, an environment that is completely foreign to her. The process of adjusting to rural life symbolically represents her internal struggle to find her place in the world. Fabiana is not someone who quickly adapts to new situations; she faces doubts, frustrations, and even the desire to give up. This makes her relatable and human to the reader.
- Motivation for Transformation: From Heiress to Protector
Fabiana inherits the property in the Pantanal, and her connection to the ranch is purely practical. She has no emotional attachment to the place. This disconnection with the land and nature begins to change when Fabiana encounters the gaze of a jaguar.
The jaguar is not just an animal in the story but a symbol of Fabiana’s own transformation. Just as the jaguar is a wild and majestic creature, yet also vulnerable and threatened, Fabiana finds in her connection with the animal a metaphor for her own strength and vulnerability. This bond drives her to transform the ranch into a sanctuary for jaguars, demonstrating her shift from a passive heiress to an active protector.
- Relationships and Power Dynamics
Fabiana’s interactions with other characters were also crucial in shaping her character. Her relationship with Paolo, the foreigner she meets, is significant as it shows how Fabiana is capable of helping others even when she is dealing with her own uncertainties. Fabiana is also challenged by Glorieta, the antagonist who wants to take possession of the ranch, and through this rivalry, Fabiana is forced to discover her inner strength and fight for what is hers.
- Internal Conflicts and Personal Growth
Finally, I created Fabiana as a character who deals with intense internal conflicts. At the beginning, she doesn’t believe she can maintain the farm or handle the jaguar, let alone transform her life into something greater. However, throughout the narrative, she goes from a misplaced girl in the countryside to a protector of a jaguar sanctuary. And this is the essence of her evolution. She discovers that her worth is not only in her acts of caring for others but in finding her own strength and place in the world.