Chapter 2: Coronado’s Self-Deceived Letter to the King
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In Chapter 2, Petri presents a fictitious letter from Francisco de Coronado to King Charles V of Spain, dated April 20, 1541. Coronado reports that he has found overwhelming evidence of a golden city called Cibola, based entirely on the claims of a captive the Spaniards call “El Turco.” The captive promises cities of gold, a golden-covered tree, and a king who eats from golden plates. Coronado dismisses the skepticism of other captives, noting that they were burned alive on stakes. He interprets the Pueblo word acochis as “gold” and sees every ambiguous statement as confirmation. He ignores the captive’s signs of deception (including talking to the devil in a pitcher of water) and prepares to march east into dangerous territory. The chapter satirizes Coronado’s willful blindness, greed, and the violence of Spanish conquest.
Key Events
- Coronado describes the captive El Turco – The Spaniards shackle him, give him a mismatched nickname, and interrogate him about gold.
- El Turco’s story grows – He slowly “remembers” a city of gold, a tree with golden bells, and a king on a ship with a gold eagle.
- Other captives contradict him – They say there is no gold and that El Turco is luring the Spaniards into a trap.
- Coronado uses the word acochis as evidence – He insists the word must mean gold, even when the captive uses it in a threatening context.
- Two hundred people are burned on stakes – This occurs in front of El Turco, and Coronado notes the growing hostility.
- El Turco claims to have owned a gold bracelet – But he “doesn’t have it anymore.”
- He is seen talking to the devil in a pitcher of water – Coronado interprets this as a positive sign.
- Coronado prepares to depart eastward – Loads weapons despite El Turco’s urging to save room for gold.
Character Development
- Francisco de Coronado – Represents the archetypal conquistador: arrogant, credulous to flattery, willfully ignorant of clear warnings, and casually violent. He never questions his own interpretation of events nor the motives of a man he has enslaved.
- El Turco (the captive) – Though unnamed and coerced, he shows cunning survival instincts. He feeds Coronado exactly what he wants to hear, tailoring the story to appeal to greed and impatience. His true motives remain hidden, but the narrative implies he is leading the expedition to its doom.
- The other captives – Voiceless in the letter except through Coronado’s dismissive paraphrase; they represent the truth-tellers who are silenced or killed.
- The horse that kicks Coronado – Treated as a comic aside, but symbolic of the natural world fighting back.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Willful Self-Deception – Coronado actively chooses to believe a story that offers exactly what he desires. He dismisses all contradictory evidence, turning each warning into further proof.
- Language and Translation – The word acochis is twisted to mean “gold” even when the context suggests a threat. This motif shows how colonizers imposed their own meanings on Indigenous peoples.
- Greed as a Driver – The golden city is never seen, only promised. Gold outweighs human life, practicality, and safety.
- The Captive as Trickster – El Turco uses the oppressor’s greed against him, a survival tactic that echoes many resistance narratives.
- Violence as Routine – The burning of 200 people is mentioned in passing, highlighting the dehumanization endemic to conquest.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter satirizes a real historical event—Coronado’s 1540–1542 expedition—using dark humor to expose the absurdity and cruelty of European colonization. Petri shows how a single document (a letter home) can betray its author’s self-justifications and lies. The chapter also introduces a recurring pattern in US history: leaders ignoring obvious warning signs because of economic fantasy. For students, it models how to read primary sources critically and identify bias through tone and omission.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Coronado interpret the word acochis, and what does this reveal about his mindset?
Coronado decides acochis means “gold,” even when El Turco says “I shall see you have the acochis you deserve.” Petrification of the word into a single meaning shows that Coronado hears only what he wants. His “translation” is driven by greed, not evidence.
2. Why might El Turco be leading the expedition east, and what tactics does he use to persuade Coronado?
El Turco likely intends to lead the Spaniards into a trap or into barren territory where they will perish. He uses incremental disclosure (first a city, then a golden tree, then golden plates) and urgent appeals to greed (“save room for the gold”). He also exploits Coronado’s ego by claiming the golden king will flee if they delay.
3. What does the footnote about burning 200 people contribute to the chapter’s tone and message?
The footnote—delivered in the same casual tone as the rest of the letter—underscores the moral numbness of Coronado. It shows that violence is routine and unremarked upon. The humor turns grim: the reader laughs at the absurdity, then remembers the real historical atrocities.