Botafogo (O Cortiço)

Azevedo's detailed portrayal feels so authentic — I wonder if it was based on personal observations or extensive research. How did he decide what details to include to make the setting so real?

The characters are so complex and often morally ambiguous. It made me think about how environment influences behavior — is it sympathy or judgment that I felt more?

The novel seems to critique social hierarchies but also shows how characters aspire or are trapped by their circumstances. Did anyone see a sense of hope or is it mostly bleak?