The Bear's Son Tale in Northern Mexico

Abstract

IT IS NOT SURPRISING that folktales containing European motifs are often found in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. In their culture as well as their genes, this predominantly mestizo population has been greatly influenced by European-Spanish people, and their folktales must be placed in Group I of Espinosa's classification.1 However, the European culture has been similarly enriched by the native contributions. An example of this syncretism is Son tale, in which the northern Mexico versions have been changed from the European original in such things as place names and personal names. Here the protagonist is Juan del Juan or Juan el but the motifs are remarkably stable. European variants give the hero a magic sword or walking stick; Mexican versions give him a machete-but unlike the European stories, the Mexican tale makes the hero find the magical implement. Other parallel elements are the presence of extraordinary companions who eventually betray the hero, battles with a dragon or devil, and the final rescue of the abducted princess from these ogres. In general the tale has withstood the sea change, though the Mexican story teller adapts the basic story to fit his needs and environment. Some of these Mexican modifications are worth noting. Goodwyn in 1953 published a Mexican version entitled Juan de le Burra following in outline the Bear's Son tale.2 While interviewing an informant from Ciudad Juarez I was able to collect only a fragment of Goodwyn's story-the last part, which recounts Juan's entrapment by the Devil-but even this portion contains some of the motifs in Goodwyn's variant.3 Variations in the names of the tale and its hero are not limited to Mexico. The tale has many titles elsewhere, but they invariably include the name Juan, John, Jean, or Giovanni, and in most instances Oso, Bear, Ours, Oursin, and Orso.4 And there are many scholarly labels: Aarne-Thompson entitled the story Three Stolen Princesses (Type 30I), Quest for a Vanished Princess (3oiA), Man and His Companions Journey to the Land of Gold (3oIB), Magic Objects (30IC), and Dragons Ravish Princesses (3oiD).5 Hansen classifies the tale similarly, with some modification-he sees the story (30I) combined often with Strong John (650).6 Folk storytellers often do not make subtle distinctions, and the examples in this study contain elements from many different tales in the same general category.