I found this image of Malintzin very interesting;
this is a image portrays the love and strength Malintzin has for
Cortes. As cortes looks down, Malintzin is the the dominant figure
looking straight forward. Malintzin played a significant role during
the Spanish conquest; the primary form of communication with the
Natives were contributed through Malintzin. By displaying her as the
dominant figure, this image demonstrates the strength and
contribution Malintzin had put forth during the conquest. This image
also demonstrates Malintzin and Cortes as a team, that together they
have succeeded in the Spanish conquest. This image may contribute to
the beliefs that Malintzin was a traitor who went against her people.
Townsend would argue differently, as a woman enslaved she was a
victim who was able to make something out of herself. Once held into
a life of captivity she had became a women with great contributions
who was actually needed. Townsend states, “She knew that women had
their own importance, that the men needed them as much as they needed
the men” (Pg.17) Malintzin may have not known what accomplishments
she were to achieve although she still knew her worth and role as a
women. This image concludes that she was no longer looked upon as a
slave or property yet as a valuable subject with much intelligence.
This image is able to display her strengths and demonstrate that in
fact it was her own people who had betrayed her where the Spaniards
gave her an honorable name.
I agree with your assessment along with many of the comments that we put forth in class. In this image, it appears as though Malintzin knew the importance of her contributions to the Spanish conquest as her facial expressions do not portray a slave but a confident woman. In addition, a slave would typically not wear jewelry of any kind thus leading the reader to believe that Malintzin was not a your typical everyday slave; my personal conclusion in analyzing the picture would be that Cortes had a high level of trust in Malinztin as he is shown with his head down thus displaying his guard being let down. Furthermore, her gaze is hypnotizing for the reader and the conquistadors alike based on what we knew about her. I like your assessment of her victim gone prosperous woman role in the Spanish conquest. Although she was generally perceived as a traitor by her own people, I cannot help to think that there was no other way to survive other than to cooperate or risk being killed; thus the choice was easy. Malintzin was certainly one of the most important and underrated figures in the Spanish conquest as she is often overlooked but Cortes could not have found success without her.
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