Malinche's Story: Was she a Traitor or a Survivor?
The woman who translated for Hernando Cortes
Who is Malinche and how did she join the Spanish?
Malinche was a translator for Hernando Cortes; she learned to translate from the native language of Nahuatl to Spanish. She quickly became valuable for Cortes, allowing the conquistadors to communicate with the natives. The Spanish conquest in 1519-1521 was led by Cortes, who travelled through Mexico. During his travels, he met many natives, some becoming allies, and some were killed for not being welcoming. From the moment Cortes landed on the beach of Mexico, it was clear that Tenochtitlan, the Mexica's capital and the Aztec Empire's central city, would be the last and most meaningful stop. He would arrive in Tenochtitlan in 1521.
Malinche's Origin Story:
Malinche was born an Aztec, and after her father died, her mother sold her as a slave to the Mayans, another empire within the same region.
As a slave for the Mayans, she learned their native language, Mayan. This meant she now knew how to translate between Nahuatl and Mayan.
How Malinche met the Spanish:
Cortes battled with the Mayan town of Potonchán early in the expedition.
This was where Malinche and 19 other slave girls were given as a gift for peace.
How Malinche proved her worth:
She showed the Spaniards that she could translate between Nahuatl and Mayan, which would then be translated from Mayan to Spanish by a conquistador who was originally shipwrecked in Mexico years before the conquest.
Over time, Malinche learned to translate directly between Nahuatl and Spanish. At this point, she was quickly at the heart of every negotiation and communication.
Honour and respect:
Spaniards respected Malinche and became known as Dona Marina. Dona is an honorific suffix reserved for high-born ladies in Spain.
Before Tenochtitlan, she allowed the Spanish to communicate effectively with the natives, making battles less frequent.
Malinche also became an advisor for the conquistadors; one example is her warning the Spanish of an attack planned in a tight valley; in response, the Spanish took a different path.
Tenochtitlan:
Malinche was treated equally to the Spaniards. She did all the negotiations between Motzecuma and Cortes.
However, Malinche was taken to a faraway camp for protection when the battle broke out.
After the 93 day battle, the Spaniards successful destroyed the Aztec empire. The Aztec people were now used for hard unpaid labour.
The Spanish also removed most of their culture and banned most of their religious practices.
Post-Spanish conquest:
After the Spanish conquest of Mexico ended, the Spanish continued their expansion in the Americas. In 1524, Cortes brought Malinche to help colonize more northern tribes in modern-day Honduras. On this trip, she married the Spaniard Juan Jaramillo (one of Cortes' captains). This marriage gave Malimche equal rights as a free Spanish noblewoman.
Also, in 1524, Cortes made her the economist of her hometown. The job of the hacienda is to protect the Natives' culture in return for food, cloth, minerals, and labour. This was usually the job of an honoured Spaniard or conquistador. In 1526, Malinche and Juan Jaramillo had a baby girl named Maria. Nothing is documented about Maria's life.
Was Malinche a Traitor or a Survivor?
Traitor:
- She watched the bloodshed of her fellow natives yet continued to help the Spaniards.
- She immediately showed the Spanish her translating skills, maybe she was prepared to turn against her family.
- Through oral history being passed down - Mexicans today see Malinche as a traitor. The word malinchista means acting against the interests of your own people in Mexico. This shows the native view of Malinche.
- Becoming an encomienda, shows she gained the respect of Spaniards, proven as she married a Spaniard. Which would have more negatives for the Spaniard marrying a native. She successfully Merged with their daily life, ignoring her own upbringing.
Survivor:
- She was a slave; if she had no use, it was likely she would be killed with the rest of the natives she watched die
- There is no proof of love or consent for either the children or the marriage
- She was a slave to the Aztecs as well; she probably didn't care much for the Aztecs anymore than the Spanish.
Conclusion:
Overall, I believe Malinche to be a survivor. It is unfair to call her a traitor as she had no control for the most part. As a slave, her main priority was to stay alive, and by translating, she became the most valuable conquistador. Malinche left no diaries or any personal record of her experience, but it is highly unlikely she supported the murder of her fellow natives.
Malinche is a strong and intelligent woman who knows what she needs to do to survive. Thanks to Malinche's communication skills, fewer natives died at the hands of Cortes. Without her, the Spanish would have killed every native they came across. Communication became a significant part of the conquest, with Cortes even making allies to take down Moctezuma.
