YMMV / Aztec

• Alternative Character Interpretation:
  • Did Chimali and Tlatli refuse to marry Tzitzi because of their feelings for each other or was it because they were afraid of Pactli who'd no doubt turn his anger on whoever married the target of his obsession and had already taken her virginity?
  • When Tlatli asked Mixtli to “save his woman”, was he referring to his sculpture or to Chimali? As Mixtli wouldn't be in position to save his sculpture, it seems likely that he meant Chimali and was asking Mixtli not to tell the court about him and to warn him about what had happened. This may be why Mixtli decided not to mention who was responsible for the bloody handprint on his door. In addition, Mixtli would also understood better than anyone Chimali's desire for revenge and may have felt it was his right to pursue it if he choose to just as Mixtli himself had. In fact, his grudge towards Chimali seems to only begin when the latter decides to go the Revenge by Proxy route instead of keeping it between the two.
  • Did Chimali intend to cause the death of Zyanya in a Taking You with Me moment or was it an accident? Mixtli himself considers whether Chimali could have found out where he lived. Chimali was blind and mute by this point so his ability to do would be impaired and when during the incident, he was caught in a flood. It also seems unlikely that he'd be able to recognize Zyanya by her voice seeing as we don't know how much he interacted with her when he visited her family's inn and it would have been years since he did. Did Chimali decide to roll with the punches and attempt one last act of revenge against Mixtli or did he never realize the identity of the woman who trying to rescue him
  • Mixtli's servant describes that Chimali tried to say something and that was when Zyanya tried to get away. Did the servant misread the interactions and he was just crying out because of the situation he was in or was Chimali genuinely trying to say? If so, what? Did Zyanya recognize him by his Tongue Trauma or was Chimali actually trying to save her life because he knew she'd leave him to die if she knew who he was. It may been that Chimali had a change of heart and was trying to preventZyanya from sharing his fate because she tried to save him from it.
  • Did Mixtli and Tzitzi's mother know about what really happened to her daughter? Given her behavior and the fact that she was forced to flee Xaltócan during the riot suggests that this may very well have been the case.
  • Did Mixtli know that the Bishop intended to burn him as a heretic after he'd concluded his story? He likely knew in what light many parts of his life would be viewed by them. The criticisms and lewd details he delivers at the Bishop and the other members of his audience's offense could be his way of saying what he wants because he knows his life is forfeit and he knows he cannot be executed until his chronicle has been completed.
• Moral Event Horizon:
  • The Spaniards, especially during their massacre of unarmed civilians shortly after their arrival. Also, Chimali, at least by the time he murders Mixtli's newborn son and the baby's mother in cold blood.
  • The cacao-bean man for taking an unknowing Mixtli to see Tzitzi and never letting him know her true identity, robbing the two of the chance to be reunited. He only informs Mixtli of her identity after she's committed suicide which is all but stated to have been prompted by the visit. Worse, he never suffers any comeuppance for this because of his status and the only reason he seems to done it was to be cruel.
• Tearjerker: Wow, where to begin. The revelation of the meaning of Zyanya's name ("nothing in the world but Always.") and her death and disappearance. Blood Glutton's final words. Poor, poor Beu's last days and final reveal that she's loved Mixtli her whole life.
• Unintentionally Unsympathetic: Most of the characters really. The book is intentionally full of Black-and-Gray Morality, but even the characters you are supposed to root and sympathize with are guilty of incest, pedophilia etc, which makes feeling for them when something bad happens somewhat difficult.

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