I think that Camilla Townsend would argue that Malintzin was an exceptional woman and I would agree. She was very intelligent, strong, and courageous. From her early years she had a gift for learning languages. Townsend describes how when she was a child she could speak Nahutal as well as the Popoluca language (17). Then when she becomes a slave she learns not only Chontal Maya but Yucatec Maya as well (26).
Malintzin was like a sponge soaking up these languages. She also learned Spanish once she was given to them as well. Another thing that made her such an exceptional person was that she not only learned the languages of the people she belonged to at the time but she learned their culture as well. When she is first given to the Spanish Townsend talks about how she learned all she could about them (37). Townsend said that "Malinche can be envisioned as a bridge, a woman who moved successfully between at least three different cultures (3). This demonstrates that she was intelligent enough to know that in order to survive and even maybe have better then she needed to learn all she could about the people that held her fate in their hands. Malintzin was a brave woman. She could have stayed silent when learning that the Spanish needed someone to speak Nahutal, and just stayed in the position she was in as a slave. I think she was smart enough to see being a translator as a step up and had enough courage to make it happen. Malintzin was also smart in the fact that she didn't just translate she translated well. She did her best to not only translate words but also their meaning. Townsend says that Malintzin was a talented speaker and the people she translated to and for could trust her to understand what they were trying to say and to convey it correctly (56). This demonstrates how seriously she took her job as a translator and knew that it could only improve her situation to be the best she could. Malintzin made many decisions that helped her improve her life and adapt to her surroundings. Her marriage to the Spanish Captain Juan Jaramillo was one of these decisions (149). Also making the trip with Cortes to Honduras was another. I think that Malintzin was very exceptional while she did what she could to survive she also prospered from her decisions as well. I think this sentence that Townsend writes says it best "We know that Malintzin was a beautiful, talented , and self confident woman who was both practical and politically astute" (153). Malintzin not only was respected but she was considered to have power as well. At least enough to live a good life considering she was a slave and this is what makes her exceptional.
I agree that Townsend is presenting Malintzin as an intelligent, strong and courageous person. I think you made great points in how she proved her intelligence. Townsend frequently mentions how influential she is seen, both Spanish and Indians. To the point that in some codices she is literally larger than Cortes (63). By the time they were at the capital she was no longer an “expendable” slave but invaluable as a mediator (91). After marrying Jaramillo, she also lost the vulnerability of being a mistress (155). At every turn Malintzin, makes the best possible scenario for her future. Townsend mentions how Cortes attributed the discovery of Cholulans planned attack (80). In this case there is question on the validity that this case happened the way Cortes writes but Townsend follows through with the most likely scenarios. Making the case that if Malintzin was actually faced with the decision to uncover a plot or not, Malintzin would have announced it (82). Because if Malintzin did not she had to possibility of losing her life with the natives end or gaining trust from the Spanish. If such an event occurred, this would be another example of how Malintzin in a difficult situation quickly used it to her advantage. That Malintzin was strong and courageous was something that was pushed on as a native girl. Women were not insignificant but had a purpose, and were just as necessary in the society as men were (17). This society that allowed a slave to become self-assured women would later help her growth and image as a Spanish slave (37). Townsend gives instances where Malintzin could have “blanched” but even in these moments Malintzin would have kept her composure (61). One instance was when a messenger of Xicotencatl was tortured another when the Spanish fled from the capital (106). I personally believe that Malintzin was typical in a way, because she was this allowed Townsend to recreate Malintzin probable life and views. Malintzin always had choices, but I believe that at the beginning they were choices that anyone would make just to survive. When Malintzin first became a slave, she had the choice to either live as a slave or die resisting, she chose to live. When the opportunity arose that she might show her interpreting skills she had a choice; to keep quiet staying dispensable with a possibility of becoming “common property” or speak out to make herself necessary and live longer, she chose to live (41). After a certain point, there was no going back, to survive she had to make sure the Spanish survived (82). I do think that Malintzin was brilliant and making decision that increased her status, like her marriage, but I think that this all stemmed from the fact that at first she was just trying to survive. The question isn’t who wouldn’t try and make the best of their situation, but the question is how many could have prospered in such a situation? This is what makes Malintzin exceptional.
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