La Llorona Llora

The La Llorona story is similar to the Greek Medea myth, and although there are variations on the story, the oldest known versions can be traced to the 1500s. This was when the Spanish conquistadors invaded and conquered the land now called Mexico. The Spaniards married the local Indian women, and were very proud of their offspring, knowing they were starting a new breed. In this play a soldier has been recalled to Spain, and wishes to take his new wife and children with him. His upper class family won't hear of it! After heated debate, the family agrees that the children may accompany him after all, since they are half Spanish. The soldier tells his Indian wife his plans and that because his family won't recognize his marriage, they have chosen another wife who is awaiting him in Spain. Devastated, that both her husband and her babies are being stolen from her, the crazed and frantic young woman kills the children so that her husband can't ever take them away. Later when she realizes what she has done, she becomes La Llorona, running through the streets screaming and weeping. The conquistador returns to Spain hollow and empty, and it is said that the weeping woman can still be heard, haunting the streets of Mexico.