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A review by gianni_francis
The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz del Castillo
5.0
Bernal Diaz del Castillo was a conquistador who accompanied Cortes (and others) on the initial conquest of Tenochtitlan (Mexico). Gifted with a graphic memory and a sense of the dramatic, God allowed Mr. Diaz del Castillo to survive many near death experiences--including a spear-thrust to the throat and a near capture by Indians, dealing them a "few good thrusts," and saving himself, not without "a copious loss of blood." All by the age of 24.
Mr. Diaz del Castillo gives proper thanks to the Lord Our God and His Blessed Mother for his survival. As does Cortes and the other conquistadors. They are a reverent and faithful bunch, saying Mass and hearing confessions frequently, especially before imminent danger. When there is no chance for comfort or glory, faith is the conquistador's only companion.
"It was true that God had given us a victory in each battle great and small...and of His great mercy had supported us while he had been in this providence, but we ought not to tempt Him..."
With unintentionally comedic repetition, Mr. Diaz explains to all 500 of the native tribes they meet: "the purpose in sending us to their lands was to abolish human sacrifices and other evil rites they practiced, and that they not rob one another and that they cease to worship their accursed idols," and: "Now we have an opportunity to explain the truth of out holy faith." Yes, we get it lol
The same goes for descriptions of ritual human sacrifice Mr. Diaz sees evidence for in the cues(temples) by papas(priests) and witnesses firsthand, by all 500 of the native tribes they meet (even the friendly ones!): splitting open the chests of men and children, removing the hearts, cutting off the arms and legs to devour the flesh. Mr. Diaz admits to his tiresome repetition in his descriptions of these rites, somewhat post-ironically. The same goes for the endless and "tiresome descriptions" battles between the Mexicans and the Spanish after *spoilers* Montezuma is stoned to death by his own people.
Montezuma is a Kurtz-like enigma. The conquistadors communicate with him through messages sent by his caciquesfor the first 100 pages before meeting him almost halfway through the account. There meeting is a little tense at first, but then Montezuma and Cortes become friends, partly due to the legend of the teules (gods). (The natives considered the Spainards supernatural beings that were sent to rule over them.)
Cortes is a Catholic who wants to put a cross and a picture of Our Lady at the temple where Montezuma makes sacrifices to Huicholobos (Mexican god of death) and Tezcatlipoca (god of Hell) and for Montezuma to stop sacrificing human beings. What else?
Though Montezuma really likes and respects his new friends and "continued to show good will but never ceased his daily sacrifices of human beings [while in Spanish captivity]." Poor guy was torn between the new gods and the old gods, and *spoilers* sadly died before being baptized, though he did seem open to it. Baptism by desire anyone?
Mr. Diaz del Castillo gives proper thanks to the Lord Our God and His Blessed Mother for his survival. As does Cortes and the other conquistadors. They are a reverent and faithful bunch, saying Mass and hearing confessions frequently, especially before imminent danger. When there is no chance for comfort or glory, faith is the conquistador's only companion.
"It was true that God had given us a victory in each battle great and small...and of His great mercy had supported us while he had been in this providence, but we ought not to tempt Him..."
With unintentionally comedic repetition, Mr. Diaz explains to all 500 of the native tribes they meet: "the purpose in sending us to their lands was to abolish human sacrifices and other evil rites they practiced, and that they not rob one another and that they cease to worship their accursed idols," and: "Now we have an opportunity to explain the truth of out holy faith." Yes, we get it lol
The same goes for descriptions of ritual human sacrifice Mr. Diaz sees evidence for in the cues(temples) by papas(priests) and witnesses firsthand, by all 500 of the native tribes they meet (even the friendly ones!): splitting open the chests of men and children, removing the hearts, cutting off the arms and legs to devour the flesh. Mr. Diaz admits to his tiresome repetition in his descriptions of these rites, somewhat post-ironically. The same goes for the endless and "tiresome descriptions" battles between the Mexicans and the Spanish after *spoilers* Montezuma is stoned to death by his own people.
Montezuma is a Kurtz-like enigma. The conquistadors communicate with him through messages sent by his caciquesfor the first 100 pages before meeting him almost halfway through the account. There meeting is a little tense at first, but then Montezuma and Cortes become friends, partly due to the legend of the teules (gods). (The natives considered the Spainards supernatural beings that were sent to rule over them.)
Cortes is a Catholic who wants to put a cross and a picture of Our Lady at the temple where Montezuma makes sacrifices to Huicholobos (Mexican god of death) and Tezcatlipoca (god of Hell) and for Montezuma to stop sacrificing human beings. What else?
Though Montezuma really likes and respects his new friends and "continued to show good will but never ceased his daily sacrifices of human beings [while in Spanish captivity]." Poor guy was torn between the new gods and the old gods, and *spoilers* sadly died before being baptized, though he did seem open to it. Baptism by desire anyone?