Contemporary configurations: northeastern women in the narrative A guerra de Maria Raimunda, by Maria Valéria Rezende

Abstract

The narrative The War of Maria Raimunda, by Maria Valéria Rezende and present in the book Vasto Mundo (2015), highlights the importance of the character Maria Raimunda as a symbol of strength and resistance in the Brazilian hinterland. In this way, this work intends to analyze the aspects that make the protagonist a local leader and how her behavior reinforces or subverts the stereotype of the brave and determined sertaneja woman, reflecting on the gender dynamics within the narrative in focus.  The importance of this study lies in the fact that it highlights strong female characters in the sertanejo context and how these figures challenge or reaffirm traditional stereotypes, thus contributing to the debate on gender, power and identity in the northeastern sertão. We will start with a detailed analysis of A Guerra de Maria Raimunda in order to discuss theoretical aspects relating to the contributions of contemporary regionalism in Paraíba literature, especially in female literary production. Thus, regionalism, as an aesthetic expression, proves flexible, adapting to and mirroring the continuous transformations experienced by specific communities.