A Comparison of Early American Texts
A Comparison of Early American TextsWhen the Europeans first came to the Americas in the late 15th - early 16th century, they brought with them a distinctive style of literature that was a complete contrast to the Native Americans' who inhabited the land. The Europeans' system of literature was based on writing, which was a technique unheard of by the Native Americans, whose system of literature was based on oral traditions since they did not use alphabetic writing. Despite this variance in styles, both European and Native American literature constructs a definite description of an author's personality. I plan to present how the texts of Christopher Columbus, Bartolome de Las Casas, Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, and Garcilaso de La Vega reveal a distinctive personality in each of these authors and the significance of this presentation.Christopher Columbus presents himself as a compassionate, magnanimous and dutiful voyager in the texts contributed. Christopher Columbus' texts seem to exhibit the author as an adherent to his "Highnesses", King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Throughout these texts Columbus repeatedly declares of his actions as restrictively for the favor of his king and queen. For example, in t
There will be no more, there will be no more. ) Both of these authors present a form of guilt in their previous actions and a desire to pay homage to God in hopes of exoneration. An example of this pride is best presented in Ayala's statement about his father, claiming, "My father served in an important capacity during all the wars, battles, and revolts against the Spanish Crown. Las Casas also presents himself as a disciple of God, spreading the word of Christianity and acknowledging God's part in the Spaniards' conquest of the New World. " Another example is in the passage "Columbus describes the people of the New World," in which Columbus proclaims, "Our Lord willing, at the time of my departure I will bring back six of them [Native Americans] to Your Highnesses, that they may learn to talk. he passage "The people of the new world greet Columbus," Columbus states, ". Las Casas speaks of himself in the third person as a cleric who had, prior to the Indian being wounded in the stomach by a Spaniard, assured the native that there no longer would be any demise and atrocity, stating, "No more, no more. His ability to confess of his own failures in attempting to erect a humane settlement establishes a loyal and infallible reputation for Las Casas, with an indication of his guilty conscience for being a part of such massive ravaging. This presentation of self has ultimately led to our modern culture's style of writing, which has remained unchanged in documentary literature for over 500 years.
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Acceptance Essays
