QUOTE:
“Thus we often misjudge the motives of men; we thought we effected the Indians’ liberty, when the Christians were but poising to pounce” (De Vaca 48).
SUMMARY:
De Vaca is reflecting over what happens with the natives that he befriended. He thinks that he can send the American Indians back to their towns to rebuild the neglected lands, but realizes the Christians already had a different plan of conquest.
RESPONSE:
This quote is not only what Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca experiences when the Christians take control of the newfound lands; it is also a profound observation of human nature. De Vaca has been fighting to reinstate the freedom and liberty that the native Indians had before the Christians besieged them and wanted to enslave them; but his attempt is in vain. Every time the Christians are mentioned, they come across completely hypocritical, which is the way stereotypical Christians today come across as well. However, anyone who makes him or herself out to be “holier than thou” usually isn’t, which is what De Vaca is referring to when he writes, “we often misjudge the motives of men.”
Reading De Vaca’s eloquent wording is like reading a prose poem. The alliteration of “poising to pounce” introduced by De Vaca’s insight into these “motives of men” (another alliteration), presents literary and poetic techniques along with his true accounts. However, does De Vaca become more likable than, let’s say Columbus, because he is so articulate? He obviously is sincere enough to address this narrative to Charles V in hopes that some policies might be changed. Maybe because he seems to care more about human rights than the “Christians” do, he is more likable, or maybe De Vaca is easier to like because he suffered so much in his journey. Reading about the hunger he and his men suffered from, along with the natives, increases the compassion that at least I feel for them. Either way, I would much rather see a “De Vaca Day” instead of “Columbus Day” on the calendar.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Journal #1 Christopher Columbus...Could He Be A Robinson Crusoe?
QUOTE:
“And there I found 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” (Columbus 32).
SUMMARY:
Columbus is describing his findings on islands in the Caribbean. He is sending very optimistic news back to his supporter in Spain; however, he assumes that he has now taken the islands in his possession.
RESPONSE:
Although many quotes from Columbus’s letters remind me of reading Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, this one especially seems to express the same type of conceit Crusoe has. Not only does Columbus say that he has taken possession of the natives, he also writes, “no opposition was offered to me,” which seems to be naïve; but considering that he is writing to his supporter, anything could have actually happened. On the other hand, Columbus may have the necessary state of mind any explorer must have in order to intrude on the lives of indigenous people.
Columbus also believes that he has God on his side, which at the time, justifies basically everything the Europeans do. Robinson Crusoe, who also believes God is on his side, feels like he can take possession of anything he comes across; much like Columbus, who names each island he lands on as if it is automatically in his possession. Columbus also considers the “infinity of small hamlets and people without number” (Columbus 33) as having no importance, which seems uncouth, but is understandable for an explorer out for the most profitable find.
After reading the next letter, the tone has changed and Columbus is writing about how he feels betrayed when he loses his control over the new land. This seems slightly ironic because he feels robbed of “his” land when he was the one who basically robbed the natives of their land. However, Columbus now writes about different motives for his journey in the first place. He no longer claims that he is looking for honor or wealth, similarly to when Robinson Crusoe decides that he will only serve God, instead of himself.
“And there I found 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” (Columbus 32).
SUMMARY:
Columbus is describing his findings on islands in the Caribbean. He is sending very optimistic news back to his supporter in Spain; however, he assumes that he has now taken the islands in his possession.
RESPONSE:
Although many quotes from Columbus’s letters remind me of reading Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, this one especially seems to express the same type of conceit Crusoe has. Not only does Columbus say that he has taken possession of the natives, he also writes, “no opposition was offered to me,” which seems to be naïve; but considering that he is writing to his supporter, anything could have actually happened. On the other hand, Columbus may have the necessary state of mind any explorer must have in order to intrude on the lives of indigenous people.
Columbus also believes that he has God on his side, which at the time, justifies basically everything the Europeans do. Robinson Crusoe, who also believes God is on his side, feels like he can take possession of anything he comes across; much like Columbus, who names each island he lands on as if it is automatically in his possession. Columbus also considers the “infinity of small hamlets and people without number” (Columbus 33) as having no importance, which seems uncouth, but is understandable for an explorer out for the most profitable find.
After reading the next letter, the tone has changed and Columbus is writing about how he feels betrayed when he loses his control over the new land. This seems slightly ironic because he feels robbed of “his” land when he was the one who basically robbed the natives of their land. However, Columbus now writes about different motives for his journey in the first place. He no longer claims that he is looking for honor or wealth, similarly to when Robinson Crusoe decides that he will only serve God, instead of himself.
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