She was only 33 when she died of uterine cancer. During her last days, her husband Juan helped her to the balcony to speak to her descamisados, the poor and disenfranchised who became her nation of supporters and fierce political power.
She died on July 26, 1952 and Juan had her body embalmed and perfectly preserved. Her body lay in state in various parts of the city, as hundreds of thousands paid their last respects.In death, there was no peace for her. Evita's corpse was stolen by the military after they deposed Juan Peron, out of fear of her symbolic power with the people. The body was carried to Germany and then to Italy where it was interred for 16 years under another name.
(One account has the body in Paris at one point when a fight broke out and a gunshot took off her little finger).
Juan Peron negotiated and was finally able to bring her body to him in Spain where he lived at the time. Her odyssey ended when Juan died in 1974.
"Her coffin was brought from Spain and lay in state next to that of the one she had said she would die for."
Evita is now buried in the Duarte family tomb in the famous Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, the burial place for the most rich and famous of Argentina. Even here there remains a trace of her contoversial life. The guidebook and maps for Recoleta Cemetary include Evita's name, but the officials who manage the cemetery deny that she is there. Evidently, for them, she was not of the social standing and status required to be buried there.
The people, however, have raised her to near saint status. Graffiti throughout Argentina proclaims "Evita Vive!," (Evita Lives!). The Duarte famile crypt (pictured) is always crowded with visitors who leave flowers and written tributes.
One of the most popular songs from Evita, the rock opera, is "Don't Cry for Me Argentina." The words from the song are actually a variation of her last words to her people;
"Don't cry for me Argentina, I remain quite near to you."
Evita Vive!
No comments:
Post a Comment