Song of the Hummingbird

Discuss the significance of silence as a motif in the novel. Explore how characters navigate silence as a tool for resistance or control. What are its broader implications for historical memory?

Consider the symbolic weight of the confessional space and its impact on the narrative structure. How does this setting facilitate the unfolding of Huitzitzilin’s story and her struggle to have her voice heard?

Discuss the clash between Mexica religious traditions and the rigid structure of Catholicism as imposed by the Spanish. How does the novel explore the struggle to maintain cultural identity in the face of religious oppression?

How does Song of the Hummingbird explore the concept of intergenerational trauma? Consider how the violence and cultural destruction inflicted on Huitzitzilin’s generation impacts the future of her children raised under Spanish rule.

While Huitzitzilin outwardly complies with rituals like confession, her storytelling can be seen as an act of defiance. Discuss how she subverts the colonial system from within and asserts her agency even within a position of subjugation. How does her narrative challenge the authority of the Church and the colonial powers?

How does the affair between Baltazar Ovando and Huitzitzilin reflect the complexities of desire and power in the context of colonization? Consider the implications of their relationship on Huitzitzilin’s sense of autonomy and identity.

Discuss the significance of Huitzitzilin’s personal sorrows in representing the collective trauma of the Mexica people. How do her experiences of grief and loss—such as the death of her son and her separation from her twins—reflect the broader impact of the Spanish conquest on her community?

How does Father Benito’s character change through the course of the novel? How does he embody the moral complexities of the colonizers?