Christopher Columbus First Voyage Analysis

1. First, we must ask ourselves what constitutes reading material as American Literature. Simply put, it is literature that assesses the copious literary history of the United States (the American experience). Therefore, the reading assignments such as Williams Bradford’s Of Plymouth’s Plantation, excerpts from the Journal of Christopher Columbus, “First Voyage”, Fourth Voyage”, and “Second Voyage”, and the “Story-Telling Stone” are perfect examples of American Literature. All of these stories depict life in America, whether written on paper, or communicated orally from generations to generations. However, the Native American Period, 1620–1840, refer to the period of Native American dominance in the New World. Native American literature consists
2. Consequently, there were many incidents in Columbus' writings which caused much awe and flabbergasting opinions of him, thus creating a different perception about him that was not learn in any of the history classes. To begin with, I did not know that Christopher Columbus had departed for the New World more than once. In addition, two islands had names that were significant. For example, the first islands name was Santo Domingo, since he discovered it on Sunday, and the second island Santa Maria la Gallante for the love of his ship the Santa Maria. The following incidents caused me to have a different perception of Christopher Columbus: his first voyage, he (Christopher Columbus) took six natives of the Bahamas in which the Indians called it Guanahani back with him for the King and Queen to basically make in their image, transform and transmogrify the six natives of Bahamas into what would be pleasing to them. He was to visit these newfound places and gave accounts of what he saw and the people there, not to have some accompany him back to his homeland. Another incident that tainted my view of him was on the second voyage, that he took 12 beautiful and plump females about 15
There are many examples of Biblical or religious references in Bradford’s Plymouth Plantation. First on page 74, states “ But it please God,…..to strike this young man with a critical disease in which he died in a despairing way , and he was the first to be cast overboard. The ill fate that he wished the others, were bestowed upon him, and it was a surprise to the others, for they had acknowledged this to be the hand of God upon him.” This example makes a religious reference to God letting the young man know that he was not above the others on the boat. The same cruel intentions that he had for them, he would be the first to endure. Secondly on page 75, “…..thought themselves happy to avoid the hazards as night approached them, as by God’s providence they did.” In this example, the Pilgrims were committing themselves to the will of God, trusting Him in helping them reach their destination despite their concerns about the boat, and the troubled waters that they encountered. Thirdly, on page 76, a biblical reference comparing the Pilgrims trip to the mountaintop to view the New World as Moses did when he ventured upon the mountain and saw the Promise Land. For example, “They could not go up to the top of Pisgah, to view from the wilderness a more great country to nourish their hopes……..” Fourthly, on page 76, “…….Yea let them which have been redeemers of the Lord show how God has delivered them from the hand of the persecutor. When they roam in the desert wasteland, out