I. Overview:
           Throughout all his trials and tribulations, Thomas Wingfield finds himself yet again fearing for his life. By the hands of the Spanish, Thomas is captured and imprisoned, his life momentarily spared by Marina, who dangles the riches of Montezuma before Cortes. Thinking Thomas knows the location of the hidden treasure, Cortes places Thomas in the hands of his sworn enemy de Garcia, to be tortured until he reveals the location of the treasure. After much torture by de Garcia, Thomas’ old friend Marina arranges an escape for Thomas and Otomie. After a treacherous escape, Thomas and Otomie travel to the people of the Otomie for safe- keeping. There Otomie appeals to her people to stay free and proud and not become the slaves the Spanish would make of them. Under Thomas’ leadership, the Otomie hold off the Spanish for a few years. With his good friend Quatemoc still a prisoner to the Spanish, Thomas travels for months to execute a rescue, only to find the great King and friend hanging from a tree, the victim of Cortes.

II. Analysis: Honor and Friendship
             Honor is one of the motivations that keep our protagonist. Thomas plunges ahead after each episode of his journeys. In fact, the sole reason Thomas is in Mexico is to avenge his mother’s death. Without this vow, he could have gone home a wealthy man after Fonseca died. However, Thomas is honor bound and would never accept this weakness. This strong sense of honor Thomas exhibits extends to that of his friend, Quatemoc. While in the “place of torment” (237), Thomas is subjected to untold pain and suffering, yet not once does he reveal the location of the treasure. For “two dreadful hours [Thomas] uttered no groan… and spoke no word good or bad”(239). This great sense of duty would not allow him to break his brotherly bond with Quatemoc. Honor and friendship towards Quatemoc also take him away from his family. On a quest to free Quatemoc and against his better judgment, for Thomas believed there was “no hope in such a scheme” (265), he travels far to honor that friendship and love between himself and Quatemoc. The risk was great to Thomas, for if he were to be captured again by the Spanish, then torture and death were certain to follow. Yet he still forged ahead in the hope to save his friend and his honor.
             Thomas is not the only one bound by this sense of honor. Otomie has proven time an again that her honor is just as strong as any of her male counterparts. Honor and love bound her to die with her husband. Otomie would not forsake the vows she made no matter the outcome. Honor brought her back to her people to take her place as leader. She withstood their scorn and anger through the “majesty of her presence” (257). Indeed, the sense of honor by both Thomas and Otomie are palpable and proven through their actions and devotion to their reputation.

III. Questions
1. Is there any difference between the honor Thomas feels and that of Otomie?
2. What value does Haggard place on honor, or the lack of, as in the case of de Garcia?