The cultural figure La Llorona in the short story "Woman Hollering Creek" by Sandra Cisneros

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Seminar paper from the year 2018 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,3, Saarland Univer...

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Seminar paper from the year 2018 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,3, Saarland University (Anglistik, Amerikanistik und Anglophone Kulturen), course: HS North American Borderlands: Histories and Cultural Practices, language: English, abstract: In this paper, the author will analyze the figure of La Llorona, traces of her within the short story "Woman Hollering Creek" by Sandra Cisneros and the way in which Sandra Cisneros rejects common understandings of the myth by replacing them with a positive empowering image that encourages the protagonist Cleofilas to escape the cycle of abuse. The short story "Woman Hollering Creek" accounts for the themes of gender roles, sexual harassment and abusive marriage within Chicana cultural identity at the Mexican-U.S border. The cultural figure of La Llorona, which is prevalent in both Mexican and American culture, plays an important role in Cisneros's short story. The motive of La Llorona is addressed several times throughout the story setting and becomes of growing importance to Cleofilas' personal development. La Llorona becomes an ally to Cleofilas because of their shared experience through a common enemy, the male oppressor. Instead of fear and weakness, La Llorona becomes a symbol for strength and therefore empowers Cleofilas to finally find her own voice and stand up for her children and herself.