How Did Eva Peron Impact Society

Imagine walking in to the Orpheum Theatre, ticket and program in hand. You find your seat and gaze up at the intricate interior design of the theater as you wait for the show to begin. The curtains open and you are pulled into the world of “Evita”, the story of Eva Peron: her humble beginnings, meteoric rise to fame and sudden death. And all of it is true. Eva was an amazing woman who helped the culture of Argentina through her political impact and love for her people and she continues to inspire people with her story through the Broadway musical, Evita.
Eva Peron is arguably the most influential woman in all of Argentinian history. She was the First Lady of Argentina from 1946-1952 and was incredibly influential in the growing of her country’s culture. She grew up in the poor area of Los Toldos and endured on dreams of living in the big city. At fifteen, she moved to Buenos Aires to pursue her manifested aspirations of being an actress. There, she met her husband, Juan Peron, and was vital to his survival during his time on the campaign trail and during his presidency. Towards the end of his term, Eva fell victim to uterine cancer and on July 26, 1952, passed away. The county
mourned her loss and shut down for three days in respect for all she had done for them (“The Eva Peron”). Eva lived a short but impactful life that continues to inspire people today. Eva Peron, an influential woman, had an incredible political impact due to the support of her people.
She was, “the driving force behind her husband’s popularity and rise to power (“Eva Peron”).” The people of Argentina loved Eva; her close ties to the working class gave Juan Peron access to an entire army of voters. During his presidency, she toiled tirelessly in charity, working among the lower class to distribute provisions to her people. She gave medicines and clothing to Argentina’s poorest, earning the approval of the voting masses. She also used her performance platform to advocate for her husband’s campaign (“Eva Peron”). Without this help, Juan Peron’s quick rise to fame would not have been possible. She promoted his political policies that identified with the working
class. Not only did Eva possess an incredible political power, she was a bold young woman whose courage inspired people in her time and today. During her time in Buenos Aires, Eva began living with Juan Peron before they were married, a dangerous move in the 1940s. Conservative Argentina was very against the thought of unwedded couples living together. This could have caused a huge scandal, ruining Juan’s campaign, had it not been for the people’s love of Eva. Evita had truly won the hearts of her people. Additionally, Eva moved to the city of Buenos Aires at the age of fifteen, groundbreaking for anyone, but especially a poor girl in the 1930s (“Eva Peron”). In the end, it was Eva’s unending belief in herself that kept her alive in the vicious metropolis. She fought tooth and nail to make a living for herself and even started her own business, the Company of the Theatre of the Air (“Eva Peron”). “’Shall I remain a small town girl and marry here as many girls do? Shall I be a teacher like Blanca? Or an employee like Erisa?’ By 1935, Evita had made up her mind: ‘I’ll be an actress’” (Peron qtd. in “To Be Evita”). Because of this, Eva broke countless molds set for young girls when she decided to venture into the big city, which is why she is such an inspiration. Eva was a rule breaker in all the best ways, and paved the roads for many people to follow. Eva’s political impact and incredible courage let to her memorialization in the Broadway Musical, Evita. Evita is a rock musical with undertones of Latin influence, written in 1978 by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The amazing show truly captures Eva’s spirit and has won seven Tony Awards, including Best Score and Best Musical. It had 1,567 performances in the Orpheum Theatre during its Broadway debut. The 2012 Broadway revival ran for 337 performances and was nominated for 3 Tony Awards. The role of “Evita” has been played by many powerful women including Patti LuPone who has won two Grammy Awards and two Tony Awards (“Andrew Webber”). Madonna has also played Eva onstage. Many find it fitting that Eva’s legacy has been memorialized into a musical, representative of her ambitions of performing. Through “Evita”, the cast continues to tell the world of the great woman who shaped Argentina. Eva’s life couldn’t have found a better vessel to tell her story. Despite all of her amazing accomplishments, some still argue that, because of her shady past, she was not to be trusted. Many opposers of her husband’s campaign said that “Eva Peron, with her questionable past, is ruthless and ambitious, willing to do anything to advance her husband’s career (“Evita”).” It is true that Eva used a lot of resources to shed more light on her husband’s campaign. She used her newly created radio station to broadcast praises about Juan’s policies. She even went so far as to act in skits that supported his claims. Many government officials argued that it was unfair and that Eva was taking advantage of the people that loved her so dearly. Because of her less-than-glamorous upbringing, lots of people spread rumors that Eva was corrupt and would be the downfall of Argentina. They argued that someone from such a sorrowful past could not possibly healthily lead a republic. This, however, was not true, and Eva went on to prove them wrong as she continually helped the nation throughtimes of trouble and strife. Eva Peron was an incredible political influence, bold rule-breaker, and inspiration for the musical, Evita. Eva grew up in a poor are and, through unwavering determination, fought her way to the top of Argentina’s biggest city. She was crucial to her husband’s campaign and rise to power. Evita inspired people in her time and today: an incredible feat then and now. So please, sit back and enjoy the show!