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Malinche Character Analysis

640 Words3 Pages

As Malinche never recorded any events of her life, she is known only from the memories and recollections of the people during her time. Because readers today are only able to grasp Malinche through first and secondhand accounts, her motives and beliefs might not be able to be conveyed by others. Malinche was a Nahua woman who had a huge hand in the conquest of the Aztec Empire as an interpreter for Hernan Cortes. Being a woman fluent in both Maya and Nahuatl and of a noble family, she was of significant importance to Cortes in defeating the Aztecs. Since Malinche was at the forefront as an interpreter during the conquest, there were many recorded encounters with her by both the Spanish and the natives. Although each encounter gave a slightly …show more content…

She was often described as an independent and wise woman garnering respect from all the Spaniards, even receiving the honorific title Dona. Words from conquistadors, such as, “after Our Lord God, it was she who caused New Spain to be won” and “without her we couldn’t do anything” was said at ease about Malinche (106-107) Bernal Diaz, a Spaniard who especially held Malinche in high regards, recalled clearly “the joy he felt when he suddenly caught sight of the faces of Marina and Luisa” after the battle of Tenochtitlan despite his old age (108). As she was of big help to the Spanish, they portrayed her in a positive …show more content…

Drawings a generation later of the Tlaxcala conquest omitted the brutal battle with the Spaniards, instead shown images of a peaceful alliance with the Spanish since the beginning. In many of the illustrations, Malinche was always at the forefront wearing rich clothing and jewels, receiving tribute and speaking to the Tlaxcalans. Many historians questioned the reason for the Tlaxcalans’ amenity for the Spanish, but reasoned it on the Tlaxcalans trying to appease Spanish rule. Similar to the Tenochtitlans, the Tlaxcalans’ may have altered their portrayal of Malinche and the Spanish in order to be in the Spanish’s favor. But Malinche just might be as kindhearted as the Tlaxcalans say as a boy believed to be Tlaxcalan that was under Malinche’s care, described her with warmth and

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