Explorations in Sights and Sounds
Orginal Publication Date
1984
Journal Title
Explorations in Sights and Sounds
Volume
4
Issue
ess/vol4/iss1
First Page
38
Last Page
40
Abstract
How do we ever own our history? How do we ever come to grips with our fairy tales of that history? How do we ever rationalize genocide? The Sun, He Dies makes us ask. Aztec Mexico is presented with its intricacies and intrigues, dreams and realities in this fictional piece based on folk history and historical documents. Nanuatzin, the "woodcutter," is the invented character who ties the events together and presents this alternative view of history that we must face. In the "Afterward and Notes on Sources," Highwater states, " History is always the account of events as seen and preserved by the dominant culture . .. The Sun, He Dies is an alternative vision of the same history." It is a painful vision from two standpoints: one, to own the greed, not grace, which prompted Cortes, and two, to examine the conflicting personal state of Montezuma and his impact on Aztec life and history.
Rights
Copyright, ©EES, The National Association for Ethnic Studies, 1984