Doña Bárbara: la mujer que desafió los moldes del patriarcado

Abstract

Abstract: This essay analyzes the opposition between barbarism and civilization in the novel *Doña Bárbara* by Rómulo Gallegos, focusing on the symbolic construction of the characters Doña Bárbara and Santos Luzardo. The study explores how this central conflict sheds light on the social, cultural, and ethical tensions inherent in the Latin American context, while also examining its pedagogical potential specifically through the lens of *Doña Bárbara* as a woman who defied the constraints of the patriarchy. By critically analyzing the mechanisms of power, violence, and domination embodied by Doña Bárbara, alongside the rational, orderly project represented by Santos Luzardo, the work reveals a process of both individual and collective transformation. The essay posits that this symbolic confrontation serves as a significant resource for developing critical thinking, as it encourages a reflective and critical interpretation of texts and fosters an understanding of the ethical values ​​essential for social coexistence. In this sense, *Doña Bárbara* emerges as a work that promotes critical reading within educational processes.