With my final project I decided to focus my research around La Llorona and its relativity to both the gothic as well as the Chicano/a culture(s). Being that the folktale of La Llorona is widely known and used still to this day to instill vigilance in young children and contains many gothic elements, this story closely relates to our course in Chicano/a Gothic literature. My first post, titled La Llorona Characteristics within Bless Me, Ultima, was inspired by Rudolfo Anaya’s work, as Tony’s upbringing has many instances that closely parallel those found within the La Llorona tale. Tony’s encounters with his brothers, his dreams, and the cries he hears at night and in his dreams all mirror a similar theme within La Llorona, as her weeping and charismatic demeanor have the ability to attract children against their better judgment.

My second post, titled La Llorona in Juvenile Hall, focused on more contemporary and real-life implications and findings of La Llorona. Specifically looking within Los Angeles County, Bess Hawes’ article on La Llorona within Los Angeles-local institutions reveals many evolutions, manipulations, and adaptations of the traditional telling. Hawes’ article illuminates how La Llorona is not only still relevant in today’s world, but also reveals how the story has been adapted to different geographic locations.

My final post, titled La Llorona and Chicana Feminism, displays multiple interpretations scholars hold when examining La Llorona and its societal implications. Chicana feminists, for instance, see the folktale as an empowering episode of independence and revolt for equality and justice. On the contrary, some scholars view the folktale to be reinforcing of traditional stereotypes that women have been subjected to — irrationality, dependence upon men, inability to control emotions and outbursts, and so on.

In all, my research of La Llorona proved to be extremely relatable to the Chicano/a Gothic, as the story originated in South America and deals with many motifs that are specific to the gothic, such as death, immorality, isolation, a vindictive and merciless killer, and internal psychological conflict. Speaking specifically of the abject and the uncanny, La Llorona’s unique motive and actions of infanticide easily places her as an abject character; one that we may not understand or be able to relate (too) closely with. La Llorona is told in the most gothic of lights in order to derive docility from children; the story is used to scare children away from being out at night, and urges them to seek comfort and security within their own household.