Duarte Rocha is a man who has always followed the conventions imposed by society. Married to Maria Clara, he lives a stable routine, but marked by emotional distance. When Isabel, a bold woman with modern ideas, arrives in the village to be the tutor for the children of wealthy families, Duarte's life takes an unexpected turn. He feels attracted to Isabel, and this desire is not only physical but also fueled by the freedom she represents—something that has been denied to him by the rigid structure of his life.
As Duarte tries to suffocate these feelings, Maria Clara notices the change in her husband and begins to reflect on the role she plays as a wife. Having always seen herself as part of a social contract, she starts to feel the frustrations of submission. The relationship between the three characters generates tension, with the town becoming a backdrop for speculation and judgment. Duarte finds himself torn between duty and desire, while Maria Clara decides, for the first time, to take the reins of her own life, questioning her position.
The climax occurs when Duarte must choose between risking everything for Isabel or maintaining the facade of a stable and respectable life. The plot, thus, reveals the hypocrisies and limitations of society, as well as the repression of human desires in favor of public morality.
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