Chapter 9: La Llorona (2019)

The legend of La Llorona has been central to Latin American folklore for generations. Though the details of the myth vary across regions, all tell a similar story of a woman who lost her children, either killed by her or a family member, and then, ridden with guilt, takes her own life. The woman is unable to enter the afterlife and is forced into purgatory. Hence, legend has it that she roams the earth, wailing, looking for her deceased children (Carbonell, 1999). Most versions of the myth also carry common symbols, such as crying, water, and white dresses (de Aragon, 2006; Werner, 1997). Though evidence indicates the story dates back to pre-European colonization with versions closely tied to Amerindian culture, most modern tellings position the tale within the colonial era (Padilla, 2014; Werner, 1997). La Llorona herself is often described as indigenous, while the father of her children is presented as a Spanish conquistador, thus complicating the story further with additional layers of gender and racial power dynamics.