'Cortiço' Summary

O Cortiço follows the lives of a diverse group of tenants who inhabit a rundown tenement building in Rio de Janeiro. The story unfolds amidst the backdrop of rapid urbanization and the influx of immigrants to the city. Among the residents are Jerônimo, a young man who falls prey to the allure of the city's pleasures, and Rita Baiana, a charismatic woman who embodies the struggles and resilience of the marginalized. As the story progresses, we witness the gradual decline of the tenants' lives as they succumb to the pressures of poverty, disease, and moral decay. The novel culminates in a tragic climax, highlighting the devastating consequences of societal neglect and the dehumanizing effects of a relentless struggle for survival.