Malintzin, An Ordinary Native

     The image of Malintzin has changed over the years.  In the early nineteenth century when Mexico won its independence from Spain, the Mexicans were filled with hatred for the Spanish and viewed with disdain anyone, living or dead, who had assisted or associated with their enemy.  They claimed that Malintzin manipulated the circumstances of the Spanish conquest for her own personal gain and in so doing she betrayed her people.  Starting in the 1970’s the feminist movement portrayed her as a victim rather than a manipulator because Malintzin had been given by her own people to the Mayas as a slave.  Later in the 1980’s and 1990’s, historians began to view her as a survivor.  This is the view Camilla Townsend promotes in her book. 

            Townsend claims that Malintzin was a typical person just trying to survive in the circumstances life had given her.  The author claims that Malintzin was “a typical product of the Mesoamerican world as it then was” (page 6).  Her ability to speak several native languages can be attributed to the fact she was born into a noble Nahua household whose members were descendants of conquerors who had to learn the language of those they conquered.  This was a normal fact of life in Mesoamerica.  If Malintzin had not existed, then Cortés or other Spaniard would have found another interpreter to assist.  Before Cortés met Malintzin, he had another translator named Jerónimo de Aguilar.  He was only replaced because he did not speak Aztec.  Rather than remain an insignificant concubine, Malintzin chose to tell told them that she could speak Aztec. Thus she became a valuable interpreter. 

            I agree with Townsend’s arguments that Malintzin was a normal person trying to make the best of the difficulties in her life.  As we have seen in the pictures viewed in class, Malintzin is always associated with Cortés, who is viewed as The Conqueror of Mexico.  Therefore, by her association, people tend to view her as extraordinary also.  If she had been an interpreter for a lesser known Spanish conquistador, would she still be considered extraordinary?