In Mexican-American/ Chicano culture, feminine archetypes from the Mexican tradition play an important role for woman’s subjectivity. Traditionally, such archetypes epitomize Catholic-patriarchal constructions of womanhood. Idolized by the figures of the Virgin of Guadalupe, La Malinche, and La Llorona, the most prevailing representations of female sexuality and motherhood evolve around the passive virgin, the sinful seductress, and the traitorous mother.
Along the lines of Chicana feminism, the traditional definitions of these feminine archetypes can be seen as promoting an image of woman that is detrimental to female subjectivity. Although there are three figures, these archetypes evoke a binary opposition that defines woman as either “good woman” or “bad woman,” “virgin” or “whore.” As such, they limit and circumscribe the Chicana’s development of subjectivity.
But these cultural icons may also epitomize feminine power, and hence provide the Chicana with possible feminist role models to back up her emancipation. Chicana feminists have employed creative writing to counter the Catholic-patriarchal discourse on the Virgin of Guadalupe, Malinche, and La Llorona. As they explore these cultural archetypes in their novels, short stories, and poems, Chicana feminists attempt to reveal the mechanisms by which the original images of these mythic figures have been subverted, disempowered, and distorted. But most importantly, they seek to deconstruct the virgin/whore dichotomy by rewriting the mythic figures. Through a revision of existing myths, Chicana writers are able to create a feminist mythology that is rooted in cultural tradition but simultaneously serves as an act of resistance to the dominant discourse.
This Master’s thesis will explore the mythic figures of Guadalupe, Malinche, and La Llorona in all their complexity, and discuss their predominant role in contemporary Chicana literature by focusing on different examples of creative writing provided by three of the most articulate and powerful Chicana voices:
Helena Maria Viramontes: “The Broken Web” and “The Cariboo Cafe”
Sandra Cisneros: “Little Miracles, Kept Promises,” “Never Marry a Mexican” and “Woman Hollering Creek”
Ana Castillo: So Far from God
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1. A Brief Look at Chicana/o History
- 1.2. Chicana Feminism and Chicana Feminist Literature
- 2. Traditional Mythic Figures in Chicana/o Culture
- 2.1. Defining Myths and Mythological Archetypes
- 2.2. The Virgin of Guadalupe
- 2.3. La Malinche
- 2.4. La Llorona
- 3. Female Mythologies in the Fiction of Three Contemporary Chicana Writers
- 3.1. Helena María Viramontes
- 3.1.1. Biography
- 3.1.2. Guadalupe, Malinche, and La Llorona in “The Broken Web”
- 3.1.3. La Llorona in "The Cariboo Cafe"
- 3.2. Sandra Cisneros
- 3.2.1. Biography
- 3.2.2. The Virgin of Guadalupe in “Little Miracles, Kept Promises”
- 3.2.3. Malinche in "Never Marry a Mexican"
- 3.2.4. La Llorona in “Woman Hollering Creek”
- 3.3. Ana Castillo
- 3.3.1. Biography
- 3.3.2. La Llorona in So Far from God
- 3.3.2.1. Fe
- 3.3.2.2. Caridad
- 3.3.2.3. Esperanza
- 3.3.2.4. La Loca
- 3.3.2.5. Sofi
- 3.4. A Comparison of Viramontes's, Cisneros's and Castillo's Fiction
Objectives and Key Themes
This Master's thesis explores the complex roles of the mythic figures of Guadalupe, Malinche, and La Llorona in contemporary Chicana literature. The work aims to demonstrate how these figures, traditionally presented within a patriarchal framework, can also represent feminine power and serve as feminist role models for Chicana emancipation. The thesis analyzes how Chicana feminist writers creatively reinterpret these archetypes to deconstruct limiting binary oppositions and create a new, empowering mythology. * Reinterpretation of traditional female archetypes in Chicana literature. * The use of creative writing as a form of resistance against patriarchal narratives. * Deconstruction of the "virgin/whore" dichotomy. * Exploration of feminine power and empowerment within Chicana culture. * Analysis of the works of three prominent Chicana writers: Helena María Viramontes, Sandra Cisneros, and Ana Castillo.Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter sets the stage by providing a brief overview of Chicana/o history and an introduction to Chicana feminism and literature. It establishes the context for understanding the significance of traditional female archetypes (Guadalupe, Malinche, and La Llorona) within Chicana culture and how these figures are often presented in a way that limits female subjectivity. The chapter then introduces the thesis's central argument: that these archetypes can also be interpreted as symbols of female power and resistance, and that Chicana feminist writers utilize creative writing to reinterpret and reclaim these figures. 2. Traditional Mythic Figures in Chicana/o Culture: This chapter delves into the origins and patriarchal constructions of the Virgin of Guadalupe, La Malinche, and La Llorona. It examines how these figures have been traditionally portrayed within the dominant Catholic-patriarchal discourse, often as representing binary oppositions such as "good woman" versus "bad woman" or "virgin" versus "whore". The chapter analyzes how these representations have served to limit and circumscribe the development of Chicana female subjectivity, highlighting the inherent power dynamics and societal pressures embedded in these traditional portrayals. The chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent analysis of how Chicana writers challenge and subvert these established interpretations. 3. Female Mythologies in the Fiction of Three Contemporary Chicana Writers: This chapter presents an in-depth analysis of how three significant Chicana writers – Helena María Viramontes, Sandra Cisneros, and Ana Castillo – re-imagine and reclaim the traditional mythic figures in their creative works. The chapter explores specific examples from their short stories and novels, showcasing how they challenge the patriarchal narratives surrounding Guadalupe, Malinche, and La Llorona. Through detailed analyses of individual works, the chapter demonstrates how these writers deconstruct the existing binary oppositions and create new, more empowering interpretations of these female figures, offering alternative narratives that celebrate female strength, resilience, and agency within a Chicana context. The chapter concludes by comparing and contrasting the approaches of these three writers in their respective feminist reinterpretations of these culturally significant archetypes.Keywords
Chicana feminism, Chicana literature, mythology, Guadalupe, Malinche, La Llorona, female archetypes, patriarchal discourse, feminist reinterpretation, creative writing, Helena María Viramontes, Sandra Cisneros, Ana Castillo, female subjectivity, cultural identity, resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Study of Female Mythic Figures in Contemporary Chicana Literature
What is the main topic of this academic text?
This Master's thesis analyzes the complex roles of the Virgin of Guadalupe, La Malinche, and La Llorona in contemporary Chicana literature. It examines how Chicana feminist writers reinterpret these traditional mythic figures, often presented within patriarchal frameworks, to represent feminine power and serve as feminist role models for Chicana emancipation.
Which Chicana writers are analyzed in this thesis?
The thesis focuses on the works of three prominent Chicana writers: Helena María Viramontes, Sandra Cisneros, and Ana Castillo. It examines how each author creatively reinterprets the archetypes of Guadalupe, Malinche, and La Llorona in their respective short stories and novels.
What are the key themes explored in the text?
Key themes include the reinterpretation of traditional female archetypes in Chicana literature, the use of creative writing as resistance against patriarchal narratives, the deconstruction of the "virgin/whore" dichotomy, the exploration of feminine power and empowerment within Chicana culture, and an analysis of how these writers challenge and subvert established interpretations of these mythic figures.
How does the text structure its analysis?
The thesis is structured into three main chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to Chicana history, feminism, and literature, setting the context for understanding the significance of the chosen archetypes. Chapter 2 delves into the origins and patriarchal constructions of Guadalupe, Malinche, and La Llorona. Chapter 3 presents in-depth analyses of how Viramontes, Cisneros, and Castillo reimagine and reclaim these figures in their works, demonstrating how they deconstruct binary oppositions and create empowering interpretations.
What specific works by the authors are analyzed?
The thesis analyzes specific works including, but not limited to, Viramontes's "The Broken Web" and "The Cariboo Cafe," Cisneros's "Little Miracles, Kept Promises," "Never Marry a Mexican," and "Woman Hollering Creek," and Castillo's So Far from God (examining the characters Fe, Caridad, Esperanza, La Loca, and Sofi).
What is the overall argument or conclusion of the thesis?
The thesis argues that while traditionally presented in ways that limit female subjectivity, the archetypes of Guadalupe, Malinche, and La Llorona can also be interpreted as symbols of female power and resistance. Chicana feminist writers utilize creative writing to reinterpret and reclaim these figures, offering alternative narratives that celebrate female strength, resilience, and agency within a Chicana context.
What are some of the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include Chicana feminism, Chicana literature, mythology, Guadalupe, Malinche, La Llorona, female archetypes, patriarchal discourse, feminist reinterpretation, creative writing, Helena María Viramontes, Sandra Cisneros, Ana Castillo, female subjectivity, cultural identity, and resistance.
- Quote paper
- Magistra Artium Nadine Gebhardt (Author), 2005, Female mythologies in contemporary chicana literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/64943
