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The story of the “weeping woman”, or its original name “La Llorona” is simple. This story in its most basic form is about a mother whose children have died and the mother’s desire to get them back, but what exactly makes this story so popular in Hispanic culture? Of course, the loss of one’s children would destroy the hearts of any parents, and aside from this story being used to make our children behave what makes it so special? I argue the simplicity, and the evolution of this story through different Hispanic cultures play a huge part in its success as a horror story. It attacks the very fear of any parent--losing their children and it strikes fear into children by possibly being taken away from their parents. I seek to explore how cultural contexts shape its retellings, the impact of modern media on its interpretation, and the ways in which it challenges or reinforces gender roles in Hispanic and Latin American societies. This story is made stronger by the fact that "La Llorona" is a female and sometimes gender can play a huge part in the story; it could also be one of the biggest aspects of whether or not the story is good (Thomas). I truly believe that "La Llorona" being a female is what makes this story and if the gender were switched it wouldn't be such a timeless story. “La Llorona” is a reflection of collective fears, cultural identity, and maternal expectations that continue to resonate throughout different Hispanic cultures such as Mexico and Salvador. While I work with the various alterations of "La Llorona" I hope to view all of them as individual and not let the other versions of it get in the way of my analysis. Of course, I hope to point out similarities, but I think it is important to read/listen to these stories as they are told; I also hope to look at the context in the stories of "La Llorona" and answer the questions I have. (Maracle)

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The story of La Llorona, or "the weeping woman," has a long history in Hispanic culture and traces back to pre-Columbian times (Simerka 49). It also has traces in early Mexico City (1550) and some people believe that her story is related to Aztec mythological creation stories (Wikipedia). The story's central tragedy is the tale of a mother who, frequently due to her carelessness or acts, loses her children and is left to wander the earth in endless grief over their passing. Themes of sorrow, remorse, and the repercussions of a mother's failure are prevalent in the story, even though the specifics of the story may differ across different cultures. Instilling fear and obedience in kids by threatening to take them away, La Llorona acts as a representation of warning. In addition to serving as a moral lesson, though, the legend also appeals to parents' common anxieties, especially the heartbreaking loss of a child. The plot and meaning of the story have evolved as a result of its adaptation to many Hispanic cultures and its ability to connect with a wide range of people. From personal experiences to modern media representations, La Llorona continues to grow into a representation of the suffering of women and cultural expectations surrounding maternity. The story of “La Llorona” at the same time supports and contradicts conventional ideas of femininity in Latin American countries, and often reflects current worries about gender roles, identity, and cultural legacy

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I want to explore this deeper and ask how exactly culture affects the way this story is told. Even though we are all in a sense Hispanic could this story change that much? Aside from Hispanic culture how has the popularity and modern times shaped how this story is told and interpreted? And how does this challenge or support gender roles in Hispanic/ Latin-American culture? The complexity of gender roles in Hispanic cultures, maternal sadness, and community concerns are all reflected in the legend of La Llorona, which shows cultural haunting. Using rhetorical analysis of literary works, movie adaptations, songs, and personal stories, this research explores how the story changes in Salvadorian, and Mexican contexts as a result of modern media and regional identity. The legend of "La Llorona,"  presents themes of maternal loss, cultural identity, and societal expectations, and reflects the fears and values of Mexican and Salvadorian communities. By analyzing its multiple variations through folklore, modern media adaptations, and personal stories, this research highlights how the story serves as both a cultural haunting and an outlook on gender roles, providing insight into the resilience and complexity of Latin American identities.

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My research on "La Llorona" will focus on understanding how the story's retellings reflect cultural fears, maternal expectations, and gender roles. I will collect data through a combination of literary analysis, personal stories, and media representations, analyzing both traditional narratives and modern adaptations. The research will engage with various sources, including academic articles, folklore collections, and media portrayals, to examine the diverse nature of "La Llorona" and its effect on modern society. Indigenous Research Methodologies (IRM), as outlined by Shawn Wilson, center on relational accountability, respect, reciprocity, and relevance. These methods focus on understanding knowledge as part of a network of relationships, including cultural beliefs, identities, and the environment. Using IRM in my research methodology aids in understanding the legend of "La Llorona" and its cultural context and respecting its role in communities. This will help acknowledge the significance of "La Llorona" within Mexican and Salvadorian cultural identities and lived experiences.

Research Questions

How has the story of La Llorona evolved across Mexican, Salvadorian, and Guatemalan culture?

This question will provide background on the cultural variations and historical contexts that influence the narrative.

How has media and popular culture transformed the story of La Llorona in modern times, and what are the impacts of these adaptations on the perception of the original legend?

This question will look at how modern media depicted the story of "La Llorona."

What role does gender play in the La Llorona legend, and how does the story reinforce or challenge traditional views of motherhood and femininity in Latin American cultures?

This question will investigate how "La Llorona" deals with cultural gender roles and expectations, offering insights into modern societal issues.

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My research will involve rhetorical analyses of various versions of “La Llorona,” focusing on literary texts, film adaptations, and folklore collections. I will gather data from academic databases such as JSTOR for scholarly articles, as well as YouTube for modern interpretations, documentaries, and cultural commentaries. Another resource I will include is interviews that capture personal experiences related to the legend of "La Llorona"

The parameters for data collection will focus on narratives that directly relate to the themes of motherhood, loss, and cultural identity in the context of “La Llorona.” I will look for stories that provide insights into the emotional and cultural significance of the legend, including variations that highlight regional differences. Inclusion criteria will involve narratives that explicitly address the core themes of the research questions while excluding those that diverge significantly from the central focus on the cultural and gender implications of the story.

For analysis, I will conduct a rhetorical analysis to understand how the narrative shapes cultural perceptions and shows collective fears. This analysis will consider how different retellings engage with themes of grief, maternal responsibility, and gender expectations. The justification for selecting specific narratives will be grounded in their relevance to the research questions and their capacity to display the connection between cultural identity and gender roles within the story of “La Llorona.” This approach will allow for a deep exploration of how this horrific legend continues to evolve and impact Mexican and Salvadorian cultures.

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However, some stories say "La Llorona was an indigenous woman who had her children taken by a Spaniard in a common tale of Imperialism. (Sarah De Los Santos Upton, Leandra Hinojosa Hernández, 21). Another slight alteration of "La Llorona" is that she killed her children because her European husband was going to take them away and have them raised by a new wife. "La Llorona" being of a lower economic class and sometimes Indigenous is a common trait along with the fact that her ultimate goal is to get her children back( Simerka 49). These are all characteristics that are found in the Salvadorian, Guatemalan, and Mexican versions. The story of "La Llorona" Aside from its variations the story is also used to scare and discipline children. I interviewed my Mexican, Guatemalan, and Salvadorean friends about their experience with the story of "La Llorona" and they all mentioned that their parents used it to scare them into behaving. They all said that their mom would tell them "Si no te comportas te va llevar La Llorona" (If you don't behave La Llorona is going to take you).

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"La Llorona" to me is mainly a way to get me to obey and listen to my parents when I was younger. I never saw any films, or remember looking at any images that could give me a visual representation of "La Llorona" until the movie " The Curse of La Llorona" came out. All I remember is the story my mom would tell me when I was young and the saying " If you don't behave La Llorona will get you." talking to a lot of my friends who grew up with this story we all have that same phase our parents would say to us. However, our stories had little discrepancies. For example, I remember my mom telling me that " La Llorona" had a cart that she would push, and if you heard that along with the phrase " Ayy mis niños," it meant that she was coming for you. My Guatemalan friend was told something similar about a cart, but my Mexican friends had never heard about a cart. This is one of the things I am interested about: the evolution of the story in different cultures.

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Now that I am older and honestly don't believe in the story anymore, I want to dissect it and learn more about it. In 2019, a modern adaptation of the movie was released called " The Curse of La Llorona," which introduced a religious element and a method of exorcising "La Llorona" that I had never heard of. It was interesting but the original stories didn't have this huge religious aspect. Moving forward, he story of “La Llorona” is significant for the local community as it shows themes of love, loss, and moral consequences, that reinforce shared values and identity. It exists to express societal fears and the repercussions of emotional betrayal, highlighting the tragic dimensions of human experience (Kirtley, 1960). Just as King notes that stories help preserve heritage and foster a sense of belonging "La Llorona" gives Latin American communities a way to process historical trauma and social expectations, especially around family and femininity (King, 2003).

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Alanna Ubach, Antonio Sol - La Llorona (From "Coco"/Sing-Along)

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The Curse of La Llorona (2019) - La Llorona's Origin Scene (3/10) | Movieclips

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This version of "La Llorona" is from the movie released in 2019 called "The Curse of La Llorona" and is one of the story's most modern adaptations. This specific scene talks about the origin of "La Llorona" and it's an important scene because this is where the main character learns about the story of "La Llorona" The story of "La Llorona" that the priest tells in this movie has a lot of similarities to the other versions I found, but still has it's unique features. For example, in this story "La Llorona is Mexican, but in different variations she is indigenous. These small variations offer a connection to the culture of the person saying the story. As this movie is more Mexican-American centered this version has a lot of Mexican symbols and culture--such as la virgen de Guadalupe(virgin mary). This movie offers a more modern look with a Hollywood/white-washed narrative, but it's important to analyze as this is the more modern and known version.

The main themes of The Curse of La Llorona—maternal guilt, the terrible results of reckless emotions, and the penalty of eternal haunting—are simply yet powerfully portrayed in the following scene. The usage of words like "priceless" highlights the Hispanic value of children, which cannot be replaced, and presents La Llorona's acts as a serious sin and violation of this value. "La Llorona" being "cursed to roam the earth" in pursuit of substitute children—reflects both her endless regret and unresolved guilt. "La Llorona" is used as a symbol of fear that families use to enforce respect and obedience. As someone who is Hispanic and who was told to behave and listen to my elders growing up "La Llorona" is used to teach kids a lesson and the consequences of misbehaving. The story of "La Llorona" shows personal worries and cultural anxieties, expressing the cultural haunting that defines the story.

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"La Llorona" song from the movie Coco Annotations

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"La Llorona" song from the movie Coco Annotations

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Analysis of the song "La Llorona" in coco

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Analysis of the song "La Llorona" in coco

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In Coco, La Llorona is presented as a passionate and emotionally driven song, reflecting the suffering and desire of the characters. Imelda--the one singing, captures both her strength and her rooted family pain, reflecting her own story of betrayal and loss. The song bridges the gap between its folkloric roots and its new interpretation in a modern, family-centered story.

The opening line, "Ay de mí, Llorona, Llorona," establishes a tone of sorrow and grief, reflecting the anguish tied to "La Llorona's" legend. This also reflects Imelda's ongoing grief about her husband's betrayal in Coco. Similar to some of the other variations the story of "La Llorona" has the aspect of betrayal which is present in Imelda's life. Imelda is trying to make peace with her past, and the repeat of Llorona highlights her unsettling presence and emotional stress. The last line and I think the most powerful line "No dejaré de quererte" shows her enduring love and possibly represents “La Llorona’s” undying love for her children or perhaps for the man who betrayed her. It ties into the cultural emphasis on love and devotion, which, when unfulfilled or betrayed, becomes a source of haunting grief. I think this also relates to the powerful value of love and family in Hispanic culture. “I will never stop loving you” is a strong message and even through her curse and inhuman actions, what keeps driving her forward is that love.

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El Origen de La Leyenda de la Llorona by Ánima Estudios annotations

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El Origen de La Leyenda de la Llorona by Ánima Estudios annotations

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Analysis El Origen de la Leyenda de La Llorona

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Analysis El Origen de la Leyenda de La Llorona

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This version of "La Llorona" focuses on a mother named Sol and her grief and regret over losing her children. In this adaptation, the turning point of the story is that Sol's home accidentally catches fire after a long day of work. In a panic, and desperate attempt to save her children she puts them on a boat and tells them to wait for her. However, before she realizes the ship begins to drift. Despite her desperate attempts to save them, it is too late, and the children disappear. This is a much different version from the other versions being told and I think it's a great thing to see something different. This version is located in Xochimilco Mexico, but is told differently from other versions found in Mexico. A completely different version from the original and it's interesting to see how even in the same country the story can differ so much.

This version is much more filtered than the traditional story of "La Llorona" Usually it has much darker elements such as "La Llorona" being directly responsible for her children's deaths. However, this version is much more filtered, and I think this is the case because it's catered to a younger audience. Nonetheless, the story still portrays the main emotions of pain, loss, and regret that are relevant in every adaptation of "La Llorona". Another thing this version shows is the community's involvement, as the townspeople help in the search, highlighting themes of familial and cultural unity. One section that I liked from this story was the usage of the word “nego” which means denial. I think this perfectly shows the reason why she roams the earth looking for children to take the place of the ones she lost. She refuses to believe that they are gone and has hope that they are still alive somewhere and all she has to do is find them. I think this has a connection to gender and maternal love. Accepting the loss of your children is honestly something no mom can do and “La Llorona” being in so much denial that she turns into a cursed spirit I think implies how strong the value of love is. Ultimately, the mother’s denial of her children’s deaths and her gradual descent into despair encapsulate the emotional essence of "La Llorona" sorrow, loss, and regret.

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My findings and analysis of "La Llorona's" significance as a means of cultural connection show how stories can bring communities of different cultures together. "La Llorona's" haunting also invites a reflection on gender roles, societal norms, and the impact of generational/ cross-cultural trauma. It also serves as a means of education, and a reflection of collective fears. Yet, the story remains unfinished, as its interpretations continue to evolve, shaped by modern retellings and personal connections. "La Llorona's" retellings preserve traditions across cultures while evolving with societal and modern ideas thus allowing different cross-cultural communities to find new ways to share their own experiences with this story. Overall, the story of "La Llorona" is so prevalent in Hispanic culture that I expect it only to continue to grow and adapt. However, the common themes of regret, guilt, pain, and suffering are what make this story a cultural haunting and I doubt these themes will ever change. What comes next is up to the new generation of kids told to not misbehave or "La Llorona" will come for them.

Ultimately I found out a lot of things that I would have never realized about "La Llorona" if I hadn't do this research. I found that modern adaptations can have a huge impact on almost anything and the story of "La Llorona" is proof of that. It can make things mainstream, but in a way also rip the culture of the origins and I felt that was prevalent in some of the variations I analyzed. I also realized the importance of gender in this story and came to an early conclusion that a big point of "La Llorona" is that she is a female. Adding on to that the fact that it's about a mother and the loss of children adds to how endearing this story truly is. Tying it to gender roles in Hispanic culture I think "La Llorona" has a lot of characteristics and fits in line with how women are supposed to be. Lastly, I love how adaptable this story is and I think that is seen through the variety of variations that it has. Depending on the culture, the story of "La Llorona" changes and I think that's an amazing thing.
The stories and interpretations of "La Llorona" show how stories can connect people from different cultures. Despite the varied versions, themes like motherhood, loss, and cultural identity remain central to all versions of the story across multiple cultures. The different variations of "La Llorona" while differing in details, share a haunting sense of unresolved trauma, showing the power of stories and folklore to address grief and social expectations. The differences in tone and interpretations: mournful, filtered, or empowering highlight how the legend adapts to new cultural contexts while preserving its core message of loss and consequence. By exploring different variations of "La Llorona, I looked to highlight the haunting aspect as well as highlight the adaptability of the story across different cultures. Although this project had its limitations I hoped to address my story and a few alterations of "La Llorona" to further have an understanding of cultural hauntings.

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Final Draft_ Research Proposal_Unfinished Stories Project_ Digital Narratives - Google Docs 123