La Malinche was born in Mexico 1496, though some historians believe 1505. Her native Aztec name was Malintzin. She is a figure in Mexican history that has been ignored some what and has been embraced and hated. To the Spanish she was known as Dona Marina. She was the translator between Hernan Cortez and Aztec King Montezuma II. Malinche was the first child of an Aztec noble. She was sold in to slavery by her mother to the region of Chontal Maya of Potonchan after her father died. It is a kind of Joseph and the colored dream coat tail. Some believe that her name is derived from Mãlin-tzin, which means Noble Prisoner/Captive in native dialect. In April 1519 Malinche and 20 other women were given to the custody of the newly arrived Spanish sailors. Malinche became Hernan Cortez’s translator. La Malinche was said to have an ability with different dialects, she was said to know a few native dialects. Because she translated between the 2 leaders, she had a diplomatic position of authority some what.
While Malinche stayed with Cortez, she helped mediate between the Spanish and the Aztecs when things got rough. Because she was with Cortez when the Spanish look over and invaded the Aztecs, she is considered a traitor by some. To this day, to call some one a malinchista means to call some one a traitor. Though there is also a lot of controversy as to her chose or to the slavery factor. La Malinche is known for being the mother of the Mestezo race (a term for part Mexican Native and part Spanish blooded person), which makes up one of the majority populations on the American continent today.
La Malinche is a contiveral figure in many ways. She has gotten a lot of attention from many artist and philosophers and historians in Mexico and around the world. According to a New York Times article, the house that she and Cortez lived is still standing in Mexico City. It is 57 Higuera St. Aparently La Malinche is still such a controversial figure that the residents don’t want it to be a museum. Apparently most people shun the building. Currently the resident is home to Rina Lazo, a muralist.
Well this raps up our series for the month. Till Next Year, Happy Women’s History Month
Sources:
-New York Times Publication
http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/la.htm
-La Malinche Creator or Traitor
http://www.tihof.org/honors/malinche.htm
-Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Malinche
Image:
http://frankejbypoulsen.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/todorov-la-conquete-de-lamerique-la-question-de-lautre/
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