Malinche

MALINCHE HE TRANSLATOR, GUIDE, AND ADVISOR TO CONQUISTADORS

Malinche (1500-1529) was an enslaved Nahua woman who served an integral role in the fall of the Aztec Empire. She was most notably known for the complex spaces she occupied, as a Nahua woman intimately linked to the Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that defeated the Aztec Empire. Also commonly referred to as Marina, Malintzin or Dona Marina, Malinche became both legend and myth. Enslaved to Hernan Cortes, Malinche served as his interpreter, guide, and advisor. She later became his mistress and gave birth to a son, one of the first Spanish-Nahua children in the Atlantic world. She facilitated the Spanish expedition and conquest of Tenochtitlan, present-day Mexico City. She is continually referred to as a pillar of trade expeditions due to her knowledge of the landscape and her translation abilities. 2 Due to her prominence, there

are a number of narratives written about Malinche. 3 These narratives do not tell the same story, as

Spaniards and Mexicans view Malinche differently. Surviving records reflect the complex social spaces that Malinche occupied during her tenure working with Cortes and his men. As a woman, she inhabited complex spaces and mediated between Spanish and Nahua societies. This mobility allowed Malinche a level of autonomy that was inaccessible to her in Nahua communities. Malinche is a source of pride for the Spanish, but a symbol of shame and treachery for Mexican citizens, who regard her as the betrayer of her own people.

JESSICA ROBERTSON MAIH STUDENT