Background
Graciela Limón is a writer from Latin America and Chicago and a former university professor. She has written critical works on Mexican, Latin American, and Caribbean literature. Song of the Hummingbird is one of Limón’s masterpieces, disclosing Mexico and its residents’ lives during Spanish colonization. The main character, Huitzitzilín, was forced to convert to Catholicism, which she did not want. Even though the Aztec princess was made to change her religious beliefs, her confession to the priest showed she was not ready to accept it.
Analysis
Song of the Hummingbird is a genuine tribute to a pre-Columbian woman praising the resilience of the human spirit in the face of Spanish colonization. Spanish colonization began with Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America in 1492 (Limón 6). The conquest of Mexico was started by conquistador Hernán Cortés, who arrived in modern Veracruz in 1519. Including his efforts, the Aztec empire fell, which marked the beginning of the 300-year rule of the Spaniards. Mexico (Limón 8).
This historic remark emphasizes how much people were affected and how forcefully they tried to struggle against the regime. Specifically, it concerned women who could do nothing but concede. In addition, the spread of Catholicism impacted residents who were made to convert and accept the new faith. Huitzitzilín was one of those who reluctantly underwent this process.
The main character can be called a genuinely strong woman who has witnessed numerous events, from the gods’ descent to the harsh devastation of her land and people. The Aztec princess was forced to give up her faith, discard her traditional apparel, speak another language, and, most adversely, lose her identity (Limón 20). In an attempt to reconcile and find the freedom that many females longed to obtain, Huitzitzilín decided to confess to the priest Father Benito.
She narrated how she was married to the wrong man and how her life has changed since the Spaniards came to Mexico (Limón 15). It seemed as if the woman was seeking forgiveness from her while the priest attempted to convert her into a Catholic. She says: “I was alive, and never again would this happen to me. When I opened my eyes, I realized that I would be free because the pain had liberated me” (Limón 64). Nonetheless, she solely wanted to liberate her soul without wanting to acquire a new religion.
Therefore, Father Benito did not convert her to a Catholic because she made him view her life story from a different angle. Huitzitzilín showed him what it is like to be conquered and feel the pain. She narrated: “Then slowly my spirit took hold of itself, raising itself out of that pain and misery and humiliation” (Limón 64). Upon seeing her suffering, the priest realized how painful it was for her to give up on her past life. As a result, he gave her understanding and forgiveness so she could return to her roots.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Spanish conquest of Mexico took a toll on its population in many ways, especially in changing religious beliefs. People were converted to Catholicism; however, they did not express a real necessity and desire. The same happened to Huitzitzilín, a former Aztec princess who was turned into a slave after the conquest and who desired liberation for all women. She was never converted to a Catholic due to her strong desire to preserve her personality.
Work Cited
Limón, Graciela. Song of the Humming Bird. Arte Public Press, 1996.