Dona Marina Or La Malinche

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Dona Marina or La Malinche was the only prominent female figure in the conquest, being employed as an interpreter, guide, strategic advisor and friend and lover of Hernan Cortes. The mere fact that the conquistadors had reliable translator, was undoubtedly a huge success for them; however, there is evidence that La Malinche was not limited to only the role of an interpreter, but became influenced by many things. Bernal Diaz del Castillo, a soldier in the conquest was very often and reverently speaking of Dona Marina. He argued that without the help of Dona Marina, they would not have understood the language of New Spain and Mexico.
However Indian sources were even more interesting as commenting about her role, and on the fact of her fame …show more content…

He said that La Malinche was representative of a cruel incarnation of the feminine as a raped mother and a passive figure of the conquista. Yet she was described as the mother of the nation, that sold the Mexico to white people. It was a typical feature of La Malinche – she cheated on Mexico, and if she had been true and loyal to her people, then the conquest would never have happened.
Because of these images Mexican people began to despise La Malinche as a symbol of treason of Indian values and bondage of the Spanish culture. Since then, they do not forgive her. But it seems to me that people did not realize that she was a victim of patriarchal attitudes of the time - women were things for men. Her story really is replete with violence and ill-treatment of her, first by the Indians, and later – Spanish. That is why she used her ability as an interpreter to keep being significant and to remain brave for a woman in a man's world.
Nationalists described La Malinche as she sold and betrayed the entire Mexico. They accused her of rejection of ethnicity, especially during the events occurred in Tenochtitlan. However her quick actions saved the Spaniards, but contributed to the ruthless and cruel retribution of Cortez, during which hundreds of people were slaughtered. Nationalists saw this as a clear and distinct example of

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