SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
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THE COLONIZED TONGUE:
Malinche by Laura Esquivel
Erickson Pantalunan
Karl Wagayen
Bianca Mercado
Realiza Joi Faraon
Arianna Amindalan
12 Humility
November 6, 2019
La Malinche (The Captain’s Lady) by Laura Esquivel
Author’s Background
Born: September 30, 1950
From: Mexico City, Mexico
Religion: Roman Catholic
Popular work: Like Water for Chocolates (1991); The Law of Love (1996); Swift as Desire
(2000)
Awards: Ariel award nomination, Best screenplay, Mexican Academy of Motion Pictures
(Chido One in 1985)
Profession: Kindergarten Teacher
Synopsis
The story centers on Malinalli who is a member of an Indian tribe that was conquered by the
Aztec warriors. She met a conquistador named Hernán Cortés and became his interpreter for the
Spanish and Native Americans. Like the other people, she believed that he was a reincarnated
forefather god of their tribe. She accepted to welcome him and help him fight the Aztecs to free
her people. Malinalli and Cortés then fell in love with each other but she later realized that he
was too focused on conquering regardless of his relationships.
Significant Events
Soon after Malinalli was born, her father passed away and her mother remarried another man.
Her mother did not want Malinalli to take what was her son’s fortune that is why she silently
gave away Malinalli to the Xicalango people, who then gave her away to the Tabascans.
Hernán then knew that one of the women that were offered to him, Malinalli, was highly skilled
in speaking the dialects and languages of almost the entire Mexican region.
Malinalli was baptized with the name Doña Marina and converted to Christianity.
She was always with Hernán during his meetings and other important events being his
interpreter for military purposes and spread of Christianity.
Indians dubbed her as La Malinche meaning “The Captain's woman” being Cortes' alter ego.
La Malinche and Cortes loved each other, although were never married. They guarded one
another's safety.
Malinche gave birth to his son, Martin Cortés earning her the name “Mother of the Mexican
Nation”.
Malinche had a fixed marriage towards another man named Don Juan Jamarillo because
Hernán’s first wife knew about their relationship and he returned to her after his conquest.
Malinche forgave her mother and her half-brother.
Characters
A. La Malinche, known also as Malinalli, Malintzin or Doña Marina - She has been known as
the mother of Mexico, yet her name is also associated with betrayal.
B. Hernan Cortes - Famous Spanish conquistador
C. Don Martin Cortes - Son of Malinche and Cortes
D. Don Juan Jamarillo - Castillian knight and a Lieutenant; Malinche’s husband
E. Doña Maria - Daughter of Malinche and Jamarillo
F. Alonso Hernández Portocarrero - Cortes's close friend and favorite captain
G. Jerónimo de Aguilar - Assisted Hernán Cortés in translating the indigenous language to
Spanish
Objects/Places
Village of Viluta - Malinche birthplace
Town of Xicalongo - where Malinalli found herself after being taken
Tetipac - where Malinal was taken as a slave
Tabasco - where she was given to Cortes
Cemplona - where some Indian warriors live
Ostatipec - where the wedding of Malinche and Jamarillo took place
Themes
Discrimination - the story includes slavery, religion sensitivity, among others
Forgiveness and Acceptance - Malinche learned to forgive her mother even after abandoning her
and she learned to accept to let go of Cortes even though they were in love.
Dissimilarity - Malinche and Cortes had different perspectives especially on how they view the
world
Colonialism - Cortes being a conquistador was hungry for power and invading other colonies
Style - Point of View
Point of View - The view used is 3rd person in the novella and is also in the perspective of
Malinche
Mood - The mood is gloomy because Malinche have suffered a lot since she was young until she
grew up because she was known to be a traitor if her own kind.
Quotes:
“Once again she would arrive at a foreign place. Once again be the newcomer, an outsider, the
one who did not belong. She knew from experience that she would quickly have to ingratiate
herself with her new masters to avoid being rejected or, in more dire cases, punished. Then there
would be the phase where she would have to sharpen her senses in order to see and hear as
acutely as possible so that she could assimilate quickly all the new customs and the words most
frequently used by the group she was to become a part of--so that finally, she would be judged
on her own merits.”
― Laura Esquivel, Malinche
“...a woman, silent, voiceless, a mere woman who didn't bear on her shoulders the enormous
responsibility of building the conquest with her words. A woman, who, contrary to what would
be expected, felt relief in reclaiming her condition of submission, for it was a much more
familiar sensation to be an object at the service of men than to be a creator of destiny”
― Laura Esquivel, Malinche
“Whoever controls information, whoever controls meaning, acquires power”
― Laura Esquivel, Malinche
“At a certain point in his life he stopped searching for himself in everything that exists and gave
in to temptations. Or, as you say, he sinned and later fled.”
― Laura Esquivel, Malinche
Literary Approaches:
Historical criticism relies heavily on the author and his world. In the historical view, it is
important to understand the author and his world in order to understand his intent and to make
sense of his work. In this view, the work is informed by the author’s beliefs, prejudices, time,
and history, and to fully understand the work, we must understand the author and his age.
Explanation: The excerpt, Malinche by Laura Esquivel, focuses on the belief of Cortes and
Malinalli. They both share their ideas and beliefs to each other and ask questions to each other.
Its literary approach is historical criticism because the story revolves around the belief and world
views that the character portrayed.
Feminist criticism concerns with the woman’s role in society as portrayed through texts. It
typically analyzes the plight of woman as depicted in the story. Generally, it criticizes the notion
of woman as a construct through literature.
Explanation: In the story, Malinalli learns many languages and that depicts that she can also
learn like men. She was entitled “The Tongue” because of her ability to interpret and translate
languages. She then replaced Aguilar (Geronimo de Aguilar: an interpreter). The excerpt’s
literary approach is also a feminist criticism because Cortes simply shows that Malinalli is
valuable and is more useful than Aguilar.
Guide Questions
1. What is the difference between Malinalli's and Cortes's view of the world?
The difference between them is that Malinalli’s worldview is that there is no need to give a
sacrifice in order to offer the the god’s blood which is based on their religion, while Cortes’s
view of the world is getting the riches and treasures for the Aztec empire, and also to make
themselves powerful giving higher authority.
2. Why do you think they have different ways of looking at the world? Is your view closer to
Malinalli's or Cortes's? Explain.
They have different ways of how they look at the world because of they have their own
beliefs, traditions, and culture. Our view is closer to Malinalli’s because there are people that
have different perspectives which we can not control. Sometimes, we also need to go out of their
shell to see what makes it different from theirs.
3. From the characterization of Cortes and Malinalli, what kind of relationship do you think will
they have? Explain your answer.
Malinalli became an interpreter and mistress to Cortés and gave birth to his first son, Martín,
who is considered one of the first Mestizos (people of mixed European and indigenous
American ancestry).
4. Do you think that the text was sympathetic toward Malinalli? Why do you say so?
Yes, Malinali became a sympathetic character torn between two people who makes bad
choices; but she is also trying to save herself in the process, hoping to free herself and her people
forever.
5. How does it change the way people view Malinalli?
Because of malinali's own perspective, they thought of just sympathizing Malinalli because
of what she is going through. On the other hand, it made Cortes and his people an ally for them
while others felt betrayed.
6. How would you describe the misunderstanding that happened between Malinalli and Cortes?
What kind of relationship they will have?
Their misunderstanding is problematic in a way that they need to overcome one’s
perspective because it is the right way to follow which also makes their relationship conflicting
because of their different religion that makes them go against each other.
7. Is this something that happens a lot? What are your personal experiences regarding
cross-cultural exchanges?
My personal experiences with cross-cultural exchanges is the religion that I have. My
religion is Christian and there are also other religions such as Roman Catholic, Jehovah’s
Witnesses, Methodist, among others, and the difference between them is the culture within the
religion and how they apply it to the world although they do not have to agree on the same
things.
8. Do you agree that words are "the finest weapons"? Do you think this is applicable today? give
examples to prove your answer.
Yes, because words can also strike through your heart. It may be better or for the worse
depending on how you use it. For example, “If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch you.” It means
that if you help me, I will also help you too or “Strike while the iron is hot” meaning that if an
opportunity is presenting itself, you should get it and take the opportunity.
9. What is the power of the word or the power of languange according to the text? Do you
agree?
The power of the word helps in constructing the language in one culture like Malinche’s.
With the power it made, it gave ideas and creativity on how she talks about realism to Cortes
and how she defends herself in order to protect one’s culture.
10. Compare and contrast the two colonial experiences of Mexico and the Philippines.
Mexico can be compared to the Philippines in experience in being a colonial. The
similarities between them is how they treat lower people. For example, making them slaves and
making them do forced labor. Also, changing the culture which they have in something that they
want. The differences is how they treated people in their colonial experience like being more
proper in Mexico than ours. We also had struggled more because of the wars brought in the
Philippines like the Spanish-American causing a lot of changes in our country.
Activity:
1.) What is the name of the author?
a.) Laura Lockwood
b.) Laura Esquivel
c.) Laura Malinche
d.) Laura Hernandes
2.) What is the meaning of la lengua?
a.) The tongue
b.) The mouth
c.) The voice
d.) The sound
3.) What is the role of Malinalli?
a.) Maid
b.) Interpreter
c.) Teacher
d.) Nun
4.) Where is the author from?
a.) Canada
b.) Spain
c.) Cuba
d.) Mexico
5.) Choose the best answer in the phrase: “Whoever controls information, whoever controls
meaning, acquires _____”.
a.) Power
b.) Weapons
c.) Books
d.) Salvation
For items 6 to 10, explain the importance or significance of learning new languages. (explain in
less than 5 sentences)
True or False: Write T if the statement is true, write F if otherwise.
Malinalli is a nun of the church. (False)
Cortes is a conquistador. (True)
Malinalli was not abandoned by her mother. (False)
Malinalli had a son with Cortes. (True)
Cortes and Malinalli spent the rest of their lives together. (False)
