Moctezuma’s Greetingto Hernan Cortes
Hernan Cortez, Letters from Mexico, trans. Anthony Pagden
(New Have: Yale University Press, 1986)
The article Moctezuma’s Greetingto Hernan Cortesis a brief and narrative account of Hernan Cortes’ initial meeting with Moctezuma. It is an excerpt translated from letters Cortes wrote to King Charles V of Spain. The account of this meeting is in Cortes’ point-of-view and exhibits King Moctezuma’s respect and obedience for the Spanish King. Through Cortes’s description of his initial impression of Moctezuma, he is s not described as a great and mighty leader but as a tame and submissive follower.
From Cortes’writings of his initial interaction with King Moctezuma, King Moctezuma behaves as though the Spanish explorers were expected. King Moctezuma appears to be peaceful and prepared for the meeting and arrives with his people to give a God’s welcome. He brings with him lords dressed in very rich clothes and they stop to kiss the earth before Cortes. Moctezuma interprets the writings from his ancestors to Cortes explaining that the natives of his land are not in fact native to the land in which they live. He continues to describe how the decedents of their homeland would return to conquer and reclaim their people. He wants Cortes to understand that he and his people want to obey the great lord that lives where the sun rises, as his ancestors have foretold. To convince Cortes that he respects the King in Cortes’ land, he gives him a small gift of gold and explains that he is just a man, flesh like any other man, and if asked for his possessions will give them to Cortes. He continues to reassure Cortes that he has nothing to hide and there are no riches hidden in his lands. The stories Cortes may have learned of his wealth are told by Moctezuma’s enemies who wish him harm.
From Cortes’writings of his initial interaction with King Moctezuma, King Moctezuma behaves as though the Spanish explorers were expected. King Moctezuma appears to be peaceful and prepared for the meeting and arrives with his people to give a God’s welcome. He brings with him lords dressed in very rich clothes and they stop to kiss the earth before Cortes. Moctezuma interprets the writings from his ancestors to Cortes explaining that the natives of his land are not in fact native to the land in which they live. He continues to describe how the decedents of their homeland would return to conquer and reclaim their people. He wants Cortes to understand that he and his people want to obey the great lord that lives where the sun rises, as his ancestors have foretold. To convince Cortes that he respects the King in Cortes’ land, he gives him a small gift of gold and explains that he is just a man, flesh like any other man, and if asked for his possessions will give them to Cortes. He continues to reassure Cortes that he has nothing to hide and there are no riches hidden in his lands. The stories Cortes may have learned of his wealth are told by Moctezuma’s enemies who wish him harm.
Reflection
This assignment seems now like it happened so long ago. This was the first article analysis I wrote for this class. I remember looking at the short article and wondering how I would be able to gain enough knowledge to write a paper on it. My experience on this first essay did help pave the way for better essays and deeper reading of the articles, even the short articles. I learned that it was not about how much they said but really the meaning of what was said. Also, the description of the gestures shared among the two men were also important. Interpreting all of this together is what makes a good paper. If this had been a paper written later in the course, it would be very different. I would have read the paper with better annotations and cited to it n the paper. I would also have read the paper in a deeper, not taken the superficial top layer of it. There was so much more to the details of the story as told by Hernan Cortes and I should have conveyed it through the essay.
Overall, for my first essay, it was not a poor attempt. I definitely added more details to my next papers.
Overall, for my first essay, it was not a poor attempt. I definitely added more details to my next papers.