Diary of a Moneylender

Por: Evan do Carmo

TO THE READER

“The Moralist” contains an implicit argument: man is not good. It thus contradicts the thesis of Jean-Jacques Rousseau that states that man is, by nature, good; it is society that corrupts him. I wish to reiterate that man is driven by instinct—a pure expression of chaos who primarily seeks what is good for him though he does not ignore the good of those who are closest to him.

Because it is a work in diary form, it is possible for the reader to find some contradictions, perhaps due to varying mindsets. But I suggest for you, readers, to not give up reading because, at the end, by isolating certain images or ideas, you’ll be able to draw a conclusion, perhaps the same as mine that—only the strong survive capitalist massacre.

It is a controversial book with breathtaking scenes of realism, with an exaggerated sense of moralism that questions Christian morality, which sometimes presents faith as a solution to existential concerns. In later pages, there are ideas that support the claim that man is not obliged to bow to the idea of God just to be happy. Happiness is not tied to the idea that there is punishment for sin or reward for virtue. It is all a matter of perspective. Furthermore, it discusses the philosophical argument that money is the basis of a good life.

However, dear reader, I warn you that the characters and situations in this book are real only in the realm of fiction, created by the author-narrator in the form of monologue. For some, the ideas may sound more real, but for others, such remain tales. Still, the reader will find contemporary ideas, i.e. the snapshot of the world today with a touch of lyricism.