Reflective Journal: Malinche

We are Powerful!

As humans, we are the best creation of God for we are gifted with intellect, free will and most of all,
the ability of speaking to express ourselves. We can say what we think, we can tell what we prefer and
we can utter words if we are happy or sad. But do we really know how powerful we are just by the mere
fact that we can speak?

One of the famous woman in the world's history, Malinche or Doña Marina proved how words can change
our lives and how our ability to speak can make us survived the obstacles of life.

A Traitor (Doña Marina) or A Victim (Mallinali)?

Who is Malinche?
 Mallinali was once a slave of a Maya Lord, Postecarro,
before she was offered to the Spanish Conquistador together with 19 other slaves. Mallinali was
named Malinche which means "The Tounge" by her new master, Hernan Cortes, for being an
interpreter of Spanish language to Nahuatl and vice versa. She was soon baptized as Doña Marina,
her christian name. Mallinali became the translator, negotiation, and cultural mediator between the
Spaniards and the Aztecs. She also became Cortes' lover and she gave birth to the first latin
american, Martin Cortes.

The life of Mallinali is not chronologically documented but it was believed that she received
formal education when she was a child and experienced abandonment and slavery. She endured
difficult days in her life; the massacre of indigenous people in Cholula, conquest of Spaniards and
witnessed the deaths of hundreds.
Amidst the power of being "The Tounge",Mallinali died young--- probably not more than 25
years old.
And now, she was being considered either a traitor, fir helping the Spaniards in conquering
Mexico and being the lover pf Cortes, or a victim of culture and tradition, for she was just forced to
be the interpreter of Cortes because she was just a slave and she was trap in a situation when she
was left with no choice.

Who is the author behind Malinche?

Malinche is a mexican literature written by Laura Esquivel who is an award

winning author and writer for her novel Like Water for Chocolate.
 Mexican writer and author. Born on September 30, 1950, in Mexico City,
Mexico. Esquivel began writing while working as a kindergarten teacher. She
wrote plays for her students and then went on to write children's television
programs during the 1970s and 1980s.

Esquivel often explores the relationship between men and women in

Mexico in her work. She is best known for Like Water for Chocolate (1990), an
imaginative and compelling combination of novel and cookbook. It had been
released in Mexico a year earlier. After the release of the film version in
1992,Like Water for Chocolate became internationally known and loved. The
book has sold more than 4.5 million copies.

Esquivel has continued to show her creative flair and lyrical style in her
later work. Accompanied by a collection of music, her second novel The Law
of Love (1996) combined romance and science fiction. Between the
Fires (2000) featured essays on life, love, and food. Her
novel, Malinche (2006), explores the life of a near mythic figure in Mexican
history-the woman who served as Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés's
interpreter and mistress.
MALINCHE by Laura Esquivel
SUMMARY:

It was believed by the Aztecs that someday their God, Quetzalcoatl,

could come back to their land in the form of white man and they thought it was
Hernan Cortes. So, when the group of Cortes found the land of Mexico, they
easily conquered the land. During the conquest, Hernan Cortes only
understand Spanish and not the native language of the Aztecs, Nahuatl. So,
Cortes trusted the translation and counsel of a woman named Mallinali.
Amidst the big difference between their societal stand and culture, Cortes and
Mallinali learned to love each other. Due to that, majority of Mexicans
considered Mallinali or Malinche to be both a traitor and temptress.

What did I learn after reading Malinche?

Reflective Journal # 1
Words: Finest Weapon of Survival
Malinche is a mexican piece of literature written by Laura Esquivel that
proves how powerful our words can be. This written work conveys that words
could be the finest of weapon of an individual to survive in this world. Malinche
also known as Mallinali leave a legacy in world's history that whoever controls
the information will acquire the greatest power.

After reading the story, "Malinche", I realized how words can give such
an individual the dominancy over a certain situation. Just like how Mallinali,
being considered as "The Tounge" or interpreter of a rich Spanish merchant,
Hernan Cortez, being able to surpass and rise above te issue of slavery of
their culture during their time. Malinche's character also proved that being in
charged or being powerful will not always come from the high class society,
because if an individual got the capacity and abilities to lead, he/she can
always take the prestige of being dominant and powerful. Malinche also
serves as an eye opener for its readers on how religion of a certain group of
people differs from the religion of another group of people. As a catholic,
Hernan Cortes' belief about God differs on the religious belief of Mallinali as
an Aztec. Therefore, there's a big boundary on their culture but Mallinali and
Cortes still became lovers amidst that boundary. This turn of events between
Mallinali and Cortes proved that at the end of the day, we will still want what
we want, we will still believe what we want to believe and we can't change
other's perspective towards religion, so mind as well, just respect with others's
faith and opinion. Lastly, I can not see why Mallinali was considered by some
Mexicans as a traitor when in fact she was just bounded by the situation and
culture of slavery during her time, that was why she became the translator of
Cortes. So, my question, why did all the blame regarding the Spaniard's
colonization in Mexico was pointed to Mallinali?

As a human, we got the finest weapon of survival among all God's

creation, and that is the ability to speak and utter words to express ourselves.
Therefore, we should learn how to use this capability in the best way we can.
We should learn to use the right words, the ones that were necessary.
Because our words can either make a positive outcome or an unexpected
disaster.

http://lovelycorilla.blogspot.com/2016/09/reflective-journal-malinche.html

Laura Esquivel is the author of Like Water for Chocolate, an imaginative and
compelling combination of novel and cookbook, as well as other books.

Synopsis Born on September 30, 1950, in Mexico City, Mexico, Laura Esquivel began
writing while working as a kindergarten teacher. She wrote plays for her students and
wrote children's television programs during the 1970s and 1980s. Her first novel, Like
Water for Chocolate, became internationally beloved and was made into an award-
winning film. Her other titles includeThe Law of Love and Between the
Fires.Profile Mexican writer and author. Born on September 30, 1950, in Mexico City,
Mexico. Esquivel began writing while working as a kindergarten teacher. She wrote
plays for her students and then went on to write children's television programs during
the 1970s and 1980s.Esquivel often explores the relationship between men and women
in Mexico in her work. She is best known for Like Water for Chocolate (1990), an
imaginative and compelling combination of novel and cookbook. It had been released in
Mexico a year earlier. After the release of the film version in 1992,Like Water for
Chocolate became internationally known and loved. The book has sold more than 4.5
million copies.Esquivel has continued to show her creative flair and lyrical style in her
later work. Accompanied by a collection of music, her second novel The Law of
Love (1996) combined romance and science fiction. Between the Fires (2000) featured
essays on life, love, and food. Her novel, Malinche (2006), explores the life of a near
mythic figure in Mexican history-the woman who served as Spanish conquistador
Hernán Cortés's interpreter and mistress.Once married to director Alfonso Arau,
Esquivel is divorced and lives in Mexico City, Mexico.

HOW OUR WORDS

 AFFECT THE
LIVES OF OTHERS?

SUMMARY:
When Malinalli, a member of the tribe conquered by the Aztec warriors,first
meets the conquistador Hernán Cortés and becomes his interpreter, she like
many believes him to be the reincarnated forefather god of her tribe. Naturally,
she assumes she must welcome him, and help him destroy the Aztec empire and
free her people. The two fall passionately in love, but Malinalli soon realizes that
Cortés's thirst for conquest is all too human, and that he is willing to destroy
anyone, even his own men even their own love.

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL #1
When I read the Laura Esquivel's story "Malinche"
I realize are words are very powerful, proven by
Mallinali. She is a powerful person because of her
abiliy to translate the words. She is also known as
"The Tongue" because she is Interpreter and being
Interpreter is big responsible because all the outcome
of what you will say it will be depends on you.

And I aIso realize that as a person we don't

need to trust anybody. We must learn to know the
people around us first before we trust them. Like in
the story Malinalli was considered traitor of Mexico
because she was the reason why Spaniards have
conquered Mexico.

In the story I had a favorite part it is

when. Mallinali fall in love with Cortes, though they
have a tempestuous “relationship” (I say
“relationship” because it is clear throughout the book
that she is still his slave, and he is still the one with all
the power). After bearing witness to his thirst for
power and the brutal slaughter of thousands of
people, Malinalli is left trying to reconcile her love for
this man and her horror at his actions, as well as the
role she has played in helping him. There is no
believable love story here; it’s all about rape, abuse,
control, and victimization.

Then, I'll conclude because I'm so confuse

cause I don't really know why Mallinali was
considered by some Mexicans as a traitor when in fact
she was just bounded by the situation and culture of
slavery during her time.

http://anshleycorpuz.blogspot.com/2016/09/malinche.html