Song of the Hummingbird

Song of the Hummingbird (1996) by Graciela Limón is a historical novel that delves into the conquest of Mexico from the perspective of a Mexica woman named Huitzitzilin. The narrative unfolds as the protagonist recounts her experiences to Father Benito, a Spanish priest, in the aftermath of the Spanish conquest. Through her stories, she challenges the colonizers’ accounts of the conquest, providing a poignant and critical view of the atrocities committed against her people. Limón crafts a narrative that not only questions historical narratives written by the conquerors but also explores themes of cultural identity, loss, resilience, and the recentering of Indigenous voices.

This study guide refers to the 1996 paperback edition of the book published by Arte Público Press.

Content Warning: The source material features depictions of sexual assault, domestic violence, suicidal ideation, self-harm, violence in battle, murder, and executions.

Plot Summary

In 1583, a young Spanish priest named Father Benito arrives at a convent in Mexico to serve as a confessor. There, he meets Huitzitzilin, an elderly Mexica woman, who recounts her life before the Spanish conquest. Her descriptions of cultural and religious Mexica rituals both fascinate and disturb Benito, who adheres to a strict Catholic code of morality.