Like every great catastrophe, Lust, the Wolf of Man – a Rio tragedy begins through well-intentioned but evil acts. Written by Ronaldo Dalbianco, musician and theater actor, the release is a raw and visceral portrait of contemporary behavior, full of prejudice, defamation, misery, betrayal and violence.
In this social and psychological thriller, in which satire and tragedy intertwine, the reader is introduced to the story of Rita Dourado: a betrayed and emotionally torn woman, going through a drug withdrawal crisis, who wants to take revenge on her unfaithful husband. To put the plan into action, Rita appeals to her daughter’s friend, Matheo, and tries to seduce him, but is humiliated by him. Desperate and seeking redress, the woman attacks the boy and accuses him of raping her daughter, triggering a tragedy.
On the other side, there is Odelon, Matheo’s father, who is experiencing a dangerous internal battle after discovering his boyfriend’s betrayal of his best friend. All Odelon wants is to kill him to defend his own honor. All these actions, together, connect the lives of the characters throughout the narrative, like a complex puzzle, in which each event ends up triggering a new disaster of epic proportions.
From different points of view, in this work each character is the villain and the hero of their own story; none of them think about the brutal consequences that their actions can cause in other people’s lives. By exploring the darker side of human nature, Lust, the Wolf of Man, is an incisive caricature of modern man, which makes the reader rethink their own behavior, the notion of freedom in a world full of social constraints and the importance of avoiding propagation of false information.
Ronaldo’s “Luxury, the Wolf of Man” is described as a Rio tragedy that addresses complex social and psychological themes. What was the inspiration behind this narrative?
Writing this book was a true catharsis, a profound need to give voice to the reflections that tormented me during the year 2022, when society was immersed in intense political debates. The corrosive behavior of the digital age, where libel and slander are often confused with freedom of expression, sparked my desire to explore these destructive dynamics: a murky virtual environment where respect is scarce, judgments are constant, and anonymity fuels a culture of merciless attacks. In this way, my text became a caricature of modern society, a protest against the spread of lies and the culture of hate that promotes, without limits, all kinds of criminal attacks.
The book’s plot involves characters with complex nuances and deep motivations. How did you develop these characters to create this multiplicity of perspectives?
Observing human behavior and exploring the minds of prejudiced characters, allowing their true natures to emerge without censorship, including semantics. This unrestricted exploration was crucial to showing the reality of prejudice, especially on the internet, where many feel free to express evil without legal repression. The narrative reveals the darkest layers of these characters, exposing the worst of their minds and the reality of online discrimination.
Furthermore, the plot addresses unhealthy behaviors, such as the incessant search for beauty and the aversion to aging, triggering envy and hatred. This relentless approach allowed the creation of dubious characters, with real dimensions, motivated by their own anguish and dissatisfaction with life. By revealing complexities and authentic motivations, the narrative becomes multifaceted, challenging the reader to rethink their opinions about each character as the story unfolds.
The book delves into the dark side of human nature, exploring themes such as betrayal, violence and prejudice. How did you balance this strong narrative with the message you wanted to convey to the reader?
When approaching the extreme moral violence in ‘Lust, the Wolf of Man’, I realized the need to find a balance that would convey the intensity of the plot in an impactful but at the same time engaging way. I chose to narrate the story through acid humor, which, in a way, works like a magnifying glass on the darker aspects of the plot.
This acidic humor provides a constant change of opinion about the characters, leading the reader to move between feelings such as compassion and disgust. Moral satire, therefore, is the tool I chose to transform this morally intense story into a narrative that, although provocative, also carries with it a satirical critique of the behaviors portrayed.
You mentioned that each character is both the villain and the hero of their own story. How does this approach reflect the contemporary reality you wanted to highlight?
The duality present in the characters of “Lust, the Wolf of Man” mirrors a reality in which individuals adopt different behaviors in real and virtual life. This contradiction is particularly visible in people who present themselves as defenders of moral principles on the internet, but whose actions in everyday life contradict this stance.
By portraying each character as the protagonist and antagonist of their own story, I highlight the richness of human complexity. Each of them exhibits imperfections that challenge conventional notions of villains and heroes. Throughout the plot, the reader will realize that even victims can inadvertently contribute to their own tragedies, whether through impulsive words or secrets misinterpreted by others.
The antagonists in “Lust”, in turn, are not simple archetypes of evil; they have deep motivations and share experiences of suffering similar to those of any “normal” person. By exploring this duality, my intention is to invite the reader to reflect on the multifaceted nature of each human being, challenging the traditional dichotomy between what is considered good and evil in contemporary society.
“Lust, the Wolf of Man” seems to point to a reflection on the consequences of human actions and the lack of consideration for the impacts they can generate. How do you see this reflection applied to contemporary society?
This book promotes an analysis of the implications of human actions in contemporary society, especially in the context of the spread of false information. The narrative highlights the potential ramifications of these practices, highlighting how they can significantly affect the lives of innocent individuals, often without those responsible facing due legal consequences.
The plot focuses on betrayal and the quest for revenge, and provides a symbolic representation of these real-life complexities. In this context, the plot highlights the limits of freedom and the damage resulting from the irresponsible dissemination of fake news in society. The story also questions the extent of the concept of freedom of expression online, suggesting that such freedom should not extend to those who commit criminal acts online, such as defamation, slander or libel.
What were the biggest challenges in writing a book that addresses such deep and controversial topics?
Getting into the minds of prejudiced people, who discriminate without pity or mercy, was my biggest challenge when writing Luxúria. Although the reader may feel uncomfortable and uncomfortable with the rawness of the narrative, it is exactly at this point that I seek to impact. The absence of semantic censorship and the extreme moral violence present in the mind of each character are not gratuitous; they are a faithful representation of the bizarre behavior that permeates our virtual lives.
Writing about what complex and malicious characters think was my real challenge. It was crucial to show the baseness that surrounds virtual life, exposing how dark behaviors can destroy lives. It wasn’t easy to approach such intense topics, but I made a point of portraying the reality I wanted to highlight.
By exploring the darker side of the human mind, I ran the risk of being seen as promoting these behaviors. However, my goal is exactly the opposite. Within the literature I propose, I believe it is essential to show society that is unaware of these behaviors that they exist. We need to fight against the normalization of these attitudes, and this work seeks to contribute to this awareness.
Did your experience as a theater actor influence your writing? How did your artistic background impact the construction of this story?
My artistic trajectory began at the age of seven, when I began my studies in music, and I chose the piano as my form of expression until I was in my early twenties. However, a medical problem with my wrist forced me to abandon that dream. At twenty-four, I won a place in a public competition, which allowed me to go to Rio de Janeiro to study performing arts, where I remained until a few years ago, dedicating myself to the dramatic arts.
After so many years involved in this collective art, I realized the need to explore my mind and creativity in another way. It was at that moment that I started writing, a response to the need to express everything I had accumulated over more than two decades dedicated to the arts. Personal catharsis gave rise to the plot of a story that, even though it was not published, marked the beginning of my foray into fiction writing.
My entire artistic journey is present in my texts. The musicality, the rhythm and the feeling of being inside the story, acquired through the experience of playing characters on stage, are elements that I seek to convey to readers. I want the reader to not just observe the story, but participate in it, experiencing the plot in an intense and, at times, excessive, but grounded way.
The influence of the rhythms of music and theater allowed me to understand the ideal rhythm of my writing, keeping the reader in constant suspense, eager for the plot to unfold. Sometimes I receive feedback from some of them as they read the book, engaged and eager to find out what will happen next. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment.
The book highlights the importance of preventing the spread of false information. How do you think literature can contribute to this awareness?
Literature can offer diverse and distinct approaches with the aim of warning about the dangers of spreading false information. In my book, the plot develops entirely around lies. The characters were built with realistic dimensions; they lie, defame and slander in search of revenge, the catastrophic consequences of which affect many innocent lives.
By exposing this network of deception and its tragedies through a fictional story, I seek to make the reader aware of the dangers of lies and the irresponsible dissemination of false information in society. Literature here acts as a mirror that reflects the damage caused by lies and encourages reflection on responsibility in manipulating the truth.
What is the fundamental message you would like readers to take away after reading “Lust, the Wolf of Man”?
In Lust, I sought to explore the nuances between truth and lies in the digital age, as well as complex themes such as mental health, prejudice, discrimination, excessive exposure on the internet, sexual objectification, aging, maturity (and lack thereof), among others. By pointing out all these issues in an intense and visceral way, my goal is to provide an impactful experience that leads readers to reflect on reality, which we often prefer to ignore. By confronting the reader with the shadows of human existence, I hope to instigate reflection on the choices we make, the consequences of our actions and the urgent need to rethink values and behaviors.
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Finally, how was the transition from stage artist to writer? What were the main lessons learned in this new literary endeavor?
I was motivated by the search for a form of expression more aligned with my shy personality, however contradictory it may seem for an actor. Even though I participated in several plays and musicals, I realized that I preferred to be behind the scenes, which pushed me to start writing. Thus, I discovered that the satisfaction I found on stage could be reproduced through readers returning to my stories.
“Luxúria, o Lobo do Homem” marks my literary debut, but before that, I tested my writing on texts published only digitally, receiving positive feedback. This experience made me realize that I didn’t need to donate my body to create art, but I could express my mind, thoughts, ideas and creation through writing. Upon understanding this, the transition from stage to writing was not difficult.
Change was also driven by the collective nature of the performing arts, which, for me, became a challenge. As someone dedicated and obsessive about art, dealing with different people and their different levels of commitment became an obstacle. Writing gives me the freedom to walk alone, without depending on a team during creation, making it a journey more aligned with my artistic approach.
However, the technical parts, such as proofreading, layout, cover, etc., which are as important as the creative process, require partnerships. The advantage of an independent literary career is that I can choose who I work with. The journey has made me meet many excellent professionals, others not so much, which helps me to gradually recognize the correct path to follow.
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