Christopher Columbus Outline

Words: 463
Pages: 2

Explain, using examples from the text, what you can discern about Columbus?

I noticed a few things about Columbus from his letter: 1) he was unwell, 2) there were things he wanted to do before he died and 3) he felt he had little to show for the time he served the king and queen of Spain. In his letter to Ferdinand and Isabella, Co-lumbus wrote that he was “sick, in daily expectation of death”, from this we can estab-lish that he was unwell and possibly near death (Baym and Levine 38). He wants to be re-leased from his service, so that he can travel in the time he has remaining. Columbus wrote that it was his hope that the king and queen would allow him to travel to Rome as well as “other places of pilgrimage” (Baym and Levine 38). Columbus
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One positive emotion is evident when Columbus discusses the pleasure he felt when his hope for the new lands, was realized. Columbus was given “the title of viceroy and admiral and governor general of all” (Baym and Levine 37). Most of the emotions that are noticed in the letter are negative. Columbus felt betrayal that the man (or men) who ran to the king and queen with stories of wrong doing, were believed (Baym and Levine 37). He felt anger that the king and queen allowed anyone with a boat and a wish for adventure to travel his course to the new land, regardless of their experi-ence (Baym and Levine 37). His account seems to portray confusion when he was arrested and imprisoned without a chance to answer the accusations against him (Baym and Lev-ine 37).

Finally, discuss potential causes for Columbus’s attitude/emotional state.

Columbus found a new land for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Initially this find meant riches for the king and queen. It meant a promotion and title for Columbus. However, when news of wrong doings came to the attention of the king and queen, Columbus and members of his family were imprisoned, without a chance to defend themselves. The imprisonment may have resulted in Columbus’ ailment. (Baym and Levine