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“La Adelita”, one of the most popular ballads of the Mexican Revolution, was first composed in honor of the heroic women who dedicated their lives to the Revolution by joining the war efforts on the battlefield. Some sources suspect the song’s origins to be inspired by “a Durangan woman who had joined the Maderistas movement at an early age." (7) However, the actual identity of Adelita is virtually unknown, and as a result, “La Adelita” came to represent any female soldier that contributed to the Mexican Revolution; her name became synonymous with “soldadera.” The following lyrics are just one of the popular versions of "La Adelita":
As described in the lyrics, Adelita was characterized as a softer version of the female soldier, the sweetheart of the troupe who was neither vulgar nor ruthless. (9) Those who sang of her legend “did not focus on her valor, bur rather on her beauty, desirability, and loyalty." (10) Though there are different interpretations and versions of Adelita, she is for the most part represented as a symbol of love in war. This romanticized version of the soldaderas attributes to their roles as potential lovers or wives of the soldiers in the Mexican Revolution. Though Adelita’s story first began in ballad form, her legend was not confined to this medium, rather she also became a popular figure in literature and modern-day films. Today, women in both Mexico and the United States look to Adelita as a symbol of motivation and hope, a woman that struggles and fights for her rights. Her powerful image is one that conveys feminine strength to women who draw upon her legend as a source of inspiration amidst modern-day tribulations. |