American Lit

Christopher Columbus wrote a letter that explains his voyage from the Canary Island to the Indies. He states that Our Lord had given him great victory over all the islands that he had visited in the 33 days of sailing. Columbus believed that he was living in the an important moment of history, which was the period between which God would reveal his great design of the world and the second coming of the messiah. Just like other renaissance theorists, Columbus emphasized that all the contemporary events were merely an episode that would contribute to the redemption of mankind. This progressive history would help in declension of the future generations. Columbus perceptions were that the prerogative of dominion was transferred from one group of people to another. In essence, God chose one group of people over others during any historical period as the main agents that will help the world to reunite under Jesus Christ. Columbus considered himself as one of the chosen people that would perform this task on behalf of God.

In addition, Columbus view of human history was quite different. He viewed America with its riches and exuberant landscapes as the original Garden of Eden and he even went ahead to locate it on the Orinoco River. Apart from the obvious commercial interests that the English and Castilians monarchs had in America, there were also spiritual and political reasons associated with colonization of the country, as one can adduce from Columbus writings. In his letter he state, “And there I found very many islands filled with people innumerable, and of them all I have taken possession for their highnesses, by proclamation made and with the royal standard unfurled, and no opposition was offered to me” (35). In this statem...

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...mes hungry. One thing that stands out in De Vacas narratives is that he lived in the same manner as the people he found during his explorations. If they ate a certain food or stayed hungry, he emulated their practice and mannerism. Indeed, he says that with the Arbadaos, he is naked, sunburned and often cut and bloodied by thorns. He says that in this state, he takes solace in the sufferings of Christ.

Throughout his expedition, De Vaca embodies humility and appreciates the people that he meets and coexists with them peacefully. There is no instance in the writings where he used force to convert the people, but rather uses actions and practice. In the end, Cabeza de Vaca convinces the Native Americans to go back to their homes and get back to their normal lives but “only with the greatest effort…ordered them to fear no more, reestablish their towns, and farm” (50).