The Bride of Huitzil—An Aztec Legend

"The Bride of Huitzil—An Aztec Legend" by Hervey Allen is a narrative poem that dives into themes of love, sacrifice, and the brutal customs of Aztec society. The story takes place many years ago and tells of a king who needs to please his gods, so he looks for a bride to sacrifice, which makes the lives of many people become painfully intertwined. The plot fixates on a king trying to get the war god Huitzil to be happy. To do this, he picks a beautiful huntress as his soon-to-be sacrificed bride, only to start questioning if sacrificing her is the right thing to do. The story is told through powerful images, showing the ceremony and the king's inner struggle as he balances his feelings for his bride and what his religion expects. Later, the story looks at the vengeful mother of a sacrificed boy who was traded for the maiden's life. This mom plans a dark revenge that ends up having awful results for the king. The characters' stories come together in a depressing ending that judges the unfair sacrifices forced by the Aztec gods.