How did Rachel de Queiroz portray drought and women’s lives in her novels?

Rachel de Queiroz, a prominent figure in the Northeastern school of Brazilian literature, portrayed the harsh realities of her home region with both social criticism and deep empathy.1

Regarding the impact of drought, her debut novel, O quinze (1930), vividly depicts the 1915 drought in Ceará, focusing on the struggles of families forced to abandon their homes due to climatic hardship. This work is noted for its realistic portrayal of the semiarid backlands and the suffering caused by the region's periodic environmental crises.12

In her exploration of women’s lives, de Queiroz consistently highlighted the limitations imposed by a rigid, patriarchal, and semifeudal society. Her writing often features female characters navigating these constraints:12
* O quinze shows special sympathy for the role of women in the face of disaster.1
* Caminho de pedras (1937) follows a woman who rejects traditional roles to seek independence.1
* As tr\u00eas Marias (1939) exposes the inadequate educational system and the claustrophobic conditions faced by women in Brazilian society.12

Through these works, she challenged traditional gender roles and brought the marginalized experiences of women in the Northeast to the forefront of Brazilian literature.1