La Malinche and the Spanish Conquest

Paper Summary:

The paper outlines the history and events surrounding the figure of La Malinche, with a focus on her influence on and relationship with Cortez and her effect on the conquest of the Aztecs. The central contention of this paper is that without her help, the Spanish would not have been able to conquer the Aztec people. The paper portrays the historical figure of La Malinche and details her valuable knowledge and skills that assisted the Spanish. The paper concludes that although her role in the conquest of the Aztecs is without a doubt, the figure of La Malinche, however, remains ambiguous. She is seen as both a heroic figure as well as a traitor to her own country.

From the Paper:

"Known as the mother to the ethnic Mestizo people of Mexico, La Malinche was also known as Dona Marina, Malintzin, Malinal and Malinulli. While much of the writing about here is mythical and partially unsubstantiated, various reports and studies claim that she was undoubtedly a figure who played an important, if not vital role in the Spanish invasion and conquest of Mesoamerica. Researchers, for example, claim that she successfully "...guided Hernan Cortez into, and out of, many a battle with great success.""

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bernal Diazz del Castillo, Historia verdadera de la conquista de la Nueva Espana (The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico), trans. A. P. Maudsley, ed. Genaro Garcia (New York: Farrar, Straus, and Cudahy, 1956), 66-67
• Candelaria, Cordelia. "La Malinche, Feminist Prototype." Chicana Leadership: The Frontiers Reader. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2002. 1-14. Questia. 6 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=108465679>.
• Karttunen, Frances. Between Worlds: Interpreters, Guides, and Survivors. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1994. Questia. 6 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=943945>.
• La Malinche. Feb 4, 2006. http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Malinche
• La Malinche: Wikipedia. Feb 3, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Malinche

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