HISTORICAL

APPROACH
MALINCHE
[EXCERPT] BY
LAURA ESQUIVEL
(MEXICO)
 What is the difference
between Malinalli’s and
Cortes’s view of the
world?
-Malinalli views the world as a world
that needed to be changed and be
ridden of human sacrifices, while
Cortes' Catholic worldview sees the
conquest of the Aztec Empire as a way
to find gold and other riches.
 Why do you think they have
different ways of looking at
the world? Is your view closer
to Malinalli’s or Cortes’s?
Explain.
-In the way that Malinalli and Cortes both look upon
the universe, there are several variation. Malinalli, a
mexican native who helped spaniards conquer the new
world formerly. At the other is the spanish conquistador
Cortes, whom the defeated mexican potonchan has
offered to malinalli as “present”. The world is seen by
Malinalli as world to be change and rid of human
sacrifices, while the catholic view of Cortes world is a
way of finding gold and the other riches through the
conquest of the Aztec empire.
 From the characterization of
Cortes and Malinalli, what
kind of relationship do you
think will they have? Explain
your answer.
-Malinalli became a mistress to
Cortés and gave birth to his first
son, Martín, who is considered one
of the first Mestizos (people of
mixed European and indigenous
American ancestry).
 Do you think that the
text was sympathetic
toward Malinalli? Why
do you say so?
-Yes, Malinali became a
sympathetic character torn
between two people who makes
bad choices; but she is also trying
to save herself in the process,
hoping to free herself and her
people forever.
 How would you describe the
misunderstanding that happened
between Malinalli and Cortes?
What kind of relationship do you
think they have?
-Malinalli may rightfully be considered
the Mother of the Mexican Nation. Cortes
wrote in a letter to the king of Spain,
“After God we owe this conquest of New
Spain to Dona Marina.” Always, Malinalli
served as the voice of Cortes. This
symbiotic relationship led to the Indians
calling her La Malinche.
 How are the history figures
mentioned in the excerpt?
You can do you own research
to present their brief
biography.
-The written history of Mexico spans more
than three millennia. First populated more
than 13,000 years ago, central and southern
Mexico (termed Mesoamerica) saw the rise
and fall of complex indigenous civilizations.
Mexico would later develop into a unique
multicultural society.
How do the characters
in the excerpt relate to
history of Mexico?
Elaborate.
-Virgin of Guadalupe and castas,
1750. Colonialism had a profound
influence in shaping what would
become Mexico: religion, race,
language, art.
 How true or untrue that
woman named “The Tongue”
has been considered as a
traitor to Mexico? Prove your
answer.
-In any case, ‘Malintzin Tenepal’
appears to have been intended as a
calque of Spanish doña Marina la
lengua, with la lengua (“the
interpreter”, literally “the tongue”)
being her Spanish sobriquet.
 What types of religion are
present in the excerpt? Explain
how they differ from each other
and affect the relationship of the
characters.
-This mythology mixes with the Catholic believes, while
Malinalli learns of this new religion that is being imposed in
her land.When Malinalli, a member of the tribe conquered by
the Aztec warriors, first meets the conquistador Hernán Cortés
and becomes his interpreter, she like many believes him to be
the reincarnated forefather god of her tribe. Naturally, she
assumes she must welcome him, and help him destroy the
Aztec empire and free her people. The two fall passionately in
love, but Malinalli soon realizes that Cortés’s thirst for
conquest is all too human, and that he is willing to destroy
anyone, even his own men and even their own love.