Malintzin's Choices

History 109

2/9/2011

Section 005/Instructor Peyton

“Malintzin’s Choices”

Malintzin played a dominant role in the Conquest of Mexico. She was an intelligent indigenous woman that assisted Cortes during numerous conquests. Manlintzin did not fight with physical weapons; however, she used her bilingual and social skills to defeat the Indians. Malintzin’s influential persona suggested to the indigenous people that she was trustworthy, and also that Cortes was very dangerous. As a result of Malintzin’s acts, most Indians listened to Malintzin and became Cortes’s allies, but some remained stubborn and the Spaniards retaliated on them severely. Forceful and violent negotiations showed the Spaniards strength, and Malintzin was definitely viewed as the mediator in between them all. Malintzin’s persuasive acts helped the Spaniards become one of the strongest armies in history.

Although Malintzin was viewed as an asset to the Spainard victories, historians faced many challenges when studying her life. The only proofs historians had for putting Malintzin’s life together were drawings, some of Cortés’s documents, and vague stories told by others. In 1826 critics viewed her as being a devious traitor to her own people. She was considered to be an indigenous native whom later became a major opponent to the indigenous population. Mexican and Mexican American feminists in 1970 viewed her differently. They have argued that Malintzin was indeed the victim in her situations, for the reason that she was allegedly given into slavery by her people to Cortes. Other critics in 1980s and 1990s have argued that Malintzin was not entirely victimized. They viewed Malintzin as being resourceful and smart. She used her intelligence for the sole purpose of surviving. (page 3) Modern theorists pictured Malintzin as being a woman who moved successfully between many cultures. In reality, these beliefs will probably continue to change because no one will ever know the true story behind Malintzin’s life.

Malintzin was definitely an important woman whom made consensus decisions, but at the same she was indeed a product of Hernando Cortes. Maltintzin made her decisions based on the fact that she had nothing to lose, she needed to survive, and Cortes was capable of having her killed. She originally served as Cortés’s slave and later became Cortes’s translator and mistress. Although Malintzin was Cortés’s chief translator, she somewhat sold her soul to him. Cortes was a very conniving