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Natalie Johnson
His 344
Dr. Cotelo
March 31, 2013
Struggle for Power
In New Spain there was a fluid pyramid of races or a pyramid of social relations; the top
being the superior and the bottom of the pyramid being those who are inferior. In Laura Lewis
book, Hall of Mirrors, she explains the differences of the caste system, a makeup of
interconnected races, or raza that work together and against one another to obtain the same
goal, power and social status. The powers of these races were constantly shifting, each race using
the other to gain whatever they needed. Witchcraft and caste played a key role in colonial
Mexico, as well as ethnic relations. The Spanish wanted to control the Indians and protect them,
as well as using mestizos, mulattoes, and blacks as a way to implement this control. By using
documents to take a further look into these relations, Lewis describes the relations of the caste
system, the changes of that system, and the complex influence of witchcraft.
In colonial Mexico, blacks had a power over the Indians yet, they were considered to be
at the bottom of the pyramid. These blacks were more closely tied with the Spanish world than
the Indians were. Although, the Spaniards relied heavily on Indians for labor and tribute they
were considered (the Indians) to be barbaric, irresponsible, pagan, and people without reason
(50). The crown and the Spaniards were constantly taking from the Indians and misusing them.
When the church had begun sending Priests out to these Indian villages, many problems would
arise amongst them. For instance, Zarate y Molina treated the Indians awful and even used his
black slaves to punish the Indians. This proves the caste system was more centered around the
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Spaniards being irritated that they had to rely on Indians to do their work for them than it was
about the ranking of races. There were many grievances between Indians and blacks. The blacks
were often caught mistreating Indians and they wanted these situations solved because Indians
were supposed to be protected by the Spanish. On the flip side of the coin, the Spanish elite were
using blacks to duel out their dirty work with the Indians. Mulatto women were also used against
Indians. Skin color was clearly linked to caste (76). Caste and raza were closely related, or
coexisted in the caste system.
The blacks, mulattoes, and mestizos, and the Spanish controlled power over the Indians.
The Spaniards were more closely tied with these groups because they worked close with them,
and were able to use them to do their dirty work. At the same time, Spaniards protected them.
According to Lewis, we might speak of the judicial system as offering something of a cure for
the ills routinely inflicted on the Indians (91). Although blacks were used to control Indians,
they also had a connection between them. They were both dealing with being under the thumbs
of the Spanish elite. Their connection truly jeopardized the Spanish control.
Indians were protecting and hiding black slaves, and the Spaniards were doing what they
could to make sure that the Indians were not coercing with blacks, mulattoes, and mestizos.
These groups greatly outnumbered the Spaniards and taking on that many razas would knock
them off the top of the pyramid. They were not willing to give up their position and hierarchy.
Lewis discusses in her book that witchcraft played a big role in this tug-a-war between
the fluid pyramid of races. She makes a reference to sanctioned and unsanctioned power, the
latter being witchcraft and the first being a routine of behaviors and meanings (5-6). These
powers were intertwined just like the races discussed in the book, each one using each domain to
benefit them. The Indians used the unsanctioned domain to control Spaniards. Witchcraft was
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seen as a result of Indians not wanting to conform to the sanctioned domain (64). According to
Lewis it was also seen as a way to help free those from sanctioned places in the colonial social
hierarchy while bringing others under their control (109). Women and Indians shared a sense of
control through witchcraft. Indians were able to help Spaniards in whatever they needed but
could also use witchcraft to harm them.
These connections between the races were prominent in colonial Mexico, whether it was
the use of blacks, mestizos, and mulattoes to control the Indians or the Indians growing closer to
these groups and using witchcraft to control the sanctioned side of domain. The Indians were
truly the ones who held the power, the Spanish elite may have come up with the caste system to
control those under them but it ultimately back fired. The Indians and the Spaniards needed each
other in order to maintain some sort of balance in New Spain. Their relationships mirrored one
another, making up a hall of mirrors. The story of Ana Tizil really shows the power of caste
and the ways Indians reigned power over the Spaniards. The Indian/devil affiliations contracted
by blacks, mulattos, and mestizos thus in the end did create a counter system of power (166).
The creation of new lineages, the mixing of the races and the power shift from Spaniards to
Indians made up a New Spain. Lewis really details this power struggle throughout Hall of
Mirrors with many documents and situations between the races, making it easier for the reader to
see how colonial Mexico dealt with the struggle for control within the caste system and the role
witchcraft played to switch that control over to the Indians.