Date_of_performance: 04/05/2025

Informant Name: MD

Language: English/Spanish

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student/RA

Primary Language: English

Residence: USC

Interview:

MD: The only thing i can think of, for legends, La llorona. Which is a hispanic folklore my mom scared me with when I was growing up. You can look it up but my mom would tell me that if I didn’t go to bed on time she would come get me in my sleep.

MD: And i was terrified of her. The pictures online are so triggering to me. *laughs*

ME: Do you remember what she told you about La llorona?

MD: Basically, she told me that she was like an evil mom that would kidnap me if i didn’t listen to her, which is terrifying to hear as a child, so I’m sure you can believe that I started to listening to her more. The whole point was like if you don’t obey your good mom, La llorona will come steal you away from your family. i think she told me that her kids died or something so that’s why she takes other people’s kids.

ME: Oh yeah. I learned a bit about her in my class. It is so interesting and terrifying even now.

MD: Yeah. I don’t think she copied the exact myth, just told me enough to make sure I did listen to her and to scare me away from wanting to misbehavior against her.

Interpretation

I find it so interesting to hear about different legends people have heard of when they were younger and ones that continue to stick with them or influence the way they behave today. It is especially interesting for me when it is a legend that turns into a lesson for children. I had a little bit of knowledge of La llorona before they told me the story of what her mom said to her to frighten her into good behavior. I’m glad I heard it from someone who is Latina or has been haunted by this legend from a young age, there will be a genuine portrayal of who she is and her character wouldn’t be full of harmful Latina stereotypes to make her seem more cruel or dramatic for entertainment effect. The legend focuses on maternal care and I think that is why people tend to force her into such a dark and evil box, because there no talk of the father or consequences for the children is they don’t listen to their dad and a lot of folktales don’t usually focus on a feminine character not being the victim who ends a masculine character to save them, while she is seen as a threatening force because she drowned her children, it is more about wanting children to behave and to stay away from waterways (which is a meaning that tends to be overlooked) and less on how she is a cruel person, which may be painted differently if there is a masculine character starring beside her in the legend. Legends surrounding motherhood are the ones I like to read about the most, because it shows what they would do for their children and how far they would go, even if it means turning against themselves and being represented as someone who is vicious.