Early in Malintzin’s Choice author
Camillia Townsend threads the needle between individual and social agency. On
page six she "the picture that comes into focus is one in which they young
Malinche is indeed of crucial importance to the conquest but it is also a
picture of a world in which there were many potential Malinches." She goes
on to assert that she was not extraordinary but rather a product of her place
and time. The book can be seen as a union between these two methodologies.
While stymied by research concerns, which Townsend admits to, she uses Townsend’s
life to illuminate the larger social and political contexts. The book is also
an interesting amalgamation of gender, political and social histories which
uses these various lens to examine how narratives are created (al la Trouillot).
Throughout the book Townsend reminds the reader of conflicting evidence, particularly
in regard the title character, Montezuma and Cortez. Rather than ironing over
the differences Townsend uses them as a teachable lesson and creates a book
which is could also be considered a metanarrative.
Perhaps it’s best not assign a
label...because labels create silences, and silences are bad.
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