Between Two Cultures

By Elena Zubenko

Introduction

[1] The scene named “Cabeza de Vaca Wanders the Land Alone” actually contrasts with the rest of the movie because it is basically the only scene showing Cabeza de Vaca spending a long time alone. And the viewers can see that though the protagonist looks a lot like a Native now, he somehow does not fit into the picture of the surrounding wild. In comparison with the rest of the film that is just filled with new events, this scene of his lonesome journey represents the perfect time for Cabeza de Vaca to reflect on what has happened to him and decide on his future path.

[2] It could be argued that the purpose of this scene is to show that the protagonist is on his way of transition to another culture, but he is not there yet. What is more, the feeling about the outcome of this process is rather pessimistic. It is definite that Cabeza de Vaca does not resist this new culture. However, he does not seem to understand these changes. His healing powers are of no use this time and the rest of his skills and knowledge seem insufficient to make him a confident traveler. The significance of this scene for the protagonist is that he probably starts to realize that he is unable to survive without interacting with other people, not just for the sake of food and shelter but for the sake of socializing as well.

[3] Though from a historical point of view this scene might seem unimportant, it is a useful moment to think about cultural clash that occurs in the human mind even when an alien culture is not forced on him directly (as when Cabeza de Vaca stayed with the Indian tribe). It is a ripe time for the hero to assess and compare the values of his home culture and the lifestyle of natives in the strikingly unfamiliar environment of the New World.

[4] The use natural light makes this scene look very realistic. This is especially true for the time Cabeza de Vaca spends in front of the fire, where we can see nothing but light and shades dancing on his face, making him look savage, almost like a prehistoric caveman. The sound is also very natural. Most of the time, the only sounds we hear are those produced by the protagonist. The occasional music accompaniment is very soft and melancholic and is organically entwined into the scene, enhancing the feeling of loneliness.

[5] There are certain moments of this scene that deserve to be analyzed more deeply.

Solitude

[6] Everything in this scene cries out with solitude. Cabeza de Vaca wanders in the wild surrounded by nothing but rocks. Even the sky above his head seems lifeless. We can see that our hero is very tired physically because of his bent posture and uneven walk. Though nobody would tell a European in him anymore because of his outfit, he still seems alien in his surroundings. Having no hunting tools, he barely can fend for himself and is forced to carry that huge and heavy bag with supplies with him. The pole that he is using for some reason is very hard to imagine being carried by a Native. It is also obvious that Cabeza de Vaca is worn out mentally. He does not seem to have any goal, illustrated by the fact that he looks back as if in doubt. The lost expression on his face when he is resting on the rock also shows that he is exhausted to the point of not thinking about where he is heading and for what reasons.

Cave

[7] After a while, the protagonist approaches a cave and that seems to excite him. What is a cave for a human in the wild? Is it just a shelter from the harsh weather? For Cabeza de Vaca it seems to have more sacred meaning. Just watching him hungrily looking around as if in search for something or someone wraps us up in his despair. He stares above into the opening in the cave ceiling and cries out. This outburst of pain and solitude makes him look like a lone wolf on the top of the cliff howling to the moon, calling his kindred. And yet it is not an open space but a cave, something that in human mind is so closely associated with home and family. His voice echoes within the cave sounding like a response to his cries. Was it supposed to alleviate his suffering by creating an illusion that he is not alone?

Despair and hope

[8] Cabeza de Vaca is outside of the cave when the snow starts. As the snowflakes cover him, he seems to dive even deeper into his despair. Almost crying, he whispers “I’m going to die.” However, when he seems to have given himself up completely we can hear the voice of the shaman chanting his spell, and the next moment we see him holding a burning branch. The sky above Cabeza de Vaca clears up, and then the tree in front of him bursts into flames. The welcoming cries of the protagonist at the sight of it sound very much like those of the shaman. It is evident that those two preserved a special bond between them even after being separated.

Supernatural

[9] It is interesting to notice that in the movie there are a lot of scenes were supernatural forces appear. More than that, it is often shown as a clash between Christianity and the religion of the Natives. The burning tree definitely brings up the same image from the Old Testament in which God speaks with Moses about his people’s fate. For Moses this sight became a symbol of endurance as well as the sign of hope. God granted his support to the chosen one. For Cabeza de Vaca the burning tree is also an encouragement, though not from an unknown supernatural being but from a friend. Though the tree soon burns down and no grand words are spoken, the fact that this fire was sent by a helping hand somehow warms the heart of the viewer. Our hero also seems to be sure of the origins of this miraculous fire. Having no fear, he rejoices at the sight of it, which might be another proof of his acceptance of the local spirits. As we can see during the whole scene, even in the moments of the darkest despair, he does not pray to his Christian God that abandoned him in this savage land.

Excluded scene

[10] This part of the scene is not included in the English adaptation of the movie. However, it is present in the Mexican version. Watching the flames dancing, Cabeza de Vaca starts hallucinating -- first hearing cries in Spanish and later seeing a lone raft slowly moving on the river surrounded by smoke and darkness. Attentive viewers are able to recall the scene on the rafts at the beginning of the movie, with many people arguing and fighting. The illusionary raft, however, is carrying a single European-looking man, and it is slowly drifting into the dark as if resembling the past of Cabeza de Vaca as European Sailor.

[11] Then the action suddenly moves into the cave where the protagonist is awakened by the Christian priest holding a torch and a cross. The priest leads Cabeza de Vaca further into the cave where he sees the armored Spanish Conquistador. The Spaniard is enraged, and his anger seems to be directed at the priest, who stretches his cross forward as if he is trying to drive away evil that comes from the Conquistador. It sounds like the latter is talking blasphemy. Interestingly, Cabeza de Vaca seems to agree with him. His shouts and gestures look like encouraging ones. We also can see a flat rock with the name of the Spanish Grandee engraved on it. The first thought is that it is a grave stone, and the Conquistador is the one that is buried under it.

[12] Then the Conquistador starts stomping on the ground, rotating and shouting. His dance of madness resembles the dance of the Natives, though the clinking sound of his armor spoils this impression. We find Cabeza de Vaca kneeling before him, beating his fists on the ground in accordance with the other man movements. Cabeza de Vaca seems to be possessed by the same insanity. In this scene his rejection of his former religion becomes more than obvious. Later he comes to his senses, gasping and sweating to see the same flames of fire kindled by friendly local spirits dancing in front of him. In this context, the fire might be considered a source of purification for Cabeza de Vaca’s mind, relieving him of lingering doubts about his religious commitment.

Bird

[13] The protagonist survives the night and continues his journey. There is still no sign of a living soul around him. And then he hears a bird crying in the distance. We do not see this bird. However, the very sound of life seems to cheer up our hero. Unlike the fire in the night, a bird crying is such an earthly thing, and still birds have always been a good tiding for travelers. For the sailors in the sea, they were a sign of the soil close by, symbolizing the impeding achievement of their goals. So it seems that for Cabeza de Vaca this bird becomes a symbol of good luck. We can hear him say “bird” several times, and it is one of the few words that he has spoken out loud while wandering alone. The tone of his voice sounds as if he has just awakened from a nightmare of loneliness to discover that the world is still full of life.

Village

[14] Later in the scene Cabeza de Vaca sees a village. He is being very watchful while approaching it, for he surely has no idea what he might encounter there. Yet he shows no sign of hesitation. We can only assume that his fear of loneliness is much stronger than the possible danger of meeting an unknown tribe. The last few moments of the scene we see him from behind looking down to the settlement. Then he suddenly drops all his belongings and rushes forward as if he has spotted something that made him lose all his cautiousness.

Conclusion

[15] To summarize all of the above, the mood of this scene is created by the awkwardness, helplessness, and loneliness of the protagonist. From a chronological perspective, we see this journey as a period of solitude between living with one Indian tribe and being captured by another. Nevertheless, the deeper analysis suggests that during this scene the protagonist is balancing between his European heritage and his acquired Indian culture. And though at the end he still seems to be a bit lost, at least it is obvious that the contest between Christian religion and native beliefs in his heart is won by the latter.