Zuni Folktales · Chapter
The Hermit Mítsina explained
The chapter tells the story of Mítsina, a hermit of evil understanding who lives alone in the Canyon of the Pines.
What happens
The chapter tells the story of Mítsina, a hermit of evil understanding who lives alone in the Canyon of the Pines. He lures young men into gambling games, winning all their possessions. The War-gods Áhaiyúta and Mátsailéma challenge him, lose everything, and are nearly roasted. Their elder brothers rescue them, defeat Mítsina in a game, gouge out his eyes, and take his treasures. Mítsina later regains a kind of vision using pitch and sets out toward the City of the Gods, reformed.
Themes in this chapter
Transformation and Identity
Mítsina transforms from an evil hermit to a reformed figure after losing his eyes and possessions, ultimately setting out toward the City of the Gods.
Sacrifice and Consequence
The War-gods sacrifice their bodies and possessions in the game, and Mítsina suffers the consequence of losing his eyes for his greed.
Characters to notice
- Old Mítsina
The hermit who gambles with and defeats young men, later loses to the War-gods and is blinded.
- Áhaiyúta
One of the younger War-gods who loses to Mítsina and is nearly roasted.
- Mátsailéma
The other younger War-god who loses to Mítsina and is nearly roasted.
- The Twain
The elder War-gods who rescue their younger brothers, defeat Mítsina, and blind him.
Key passages
“Alone shalt thou dwell, being unwise and evil in thy ways, until thou hast, through much happening, even become worthy to dwell amongst us.”
You must live alone because of your evil ways until you learn enough to be worthy of our company.
The gods' decree establishes Mítsina's exile and sets up his eventual reformation.
“Pluck out his eyes.”
Remove his eyes.
The elder War-gods decide to blind Mítsina as punishment and to prevent further gambling.
“the fumes from this medicine of the woodlands restored to him a kind of vision.”
The smoke from the burning pitch gave him a partial ability to see.
Mítsina uses pitch to regain a form of sight, leading to his spiritual transformation.