O Alienista

"O Alienista" is a short novel by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis that explores the themes of madness, science, and power. The story follows the scientific endeavors of a prominent Portuguese doctor named Dr. Simão Bacamarte, whose obsession with finding a universal method for treating and curing mental disorders leads the inhabitants of the small town of Itaguaí into terror, conspiracy, and attempts at revolution. Before long, the doctor's asylum begins to treat not only the mentally ill but also the sane, raising questions about the nature of sanity and who gets to define it. Overall, "O Alienista" is a thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between science, power, and the human mind.