Comparison of Christopher Columbus & Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca

English 2326

        In the excerpt  “From Letter to Luis de Santangel Regarding the First Voyage” written by Christopher Columbus and the excerpt “From The Relation of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca” written by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca both Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca explain in detail what they witnessed and achieved on their trips. These details help compare and contrast their opening comments about their respective trips to the New World.

        In comparison, both Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca involve their God when explaining how their voyages are profiting. Columbus says the “Lord has crowned” his voyage. Columbus knows that Luis de Santangel will be pleased with the “great victory” the Lord has blessed him with. Cabeza de Vaca says “the will of God”  is what will more or less impact his trip. He believes that when God wants his voyage to start profiting than then and only then will he have achievements.

        In contrast, Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca approach the informing of their findings differently. Columbus starts off right away telling of his accomplishments. “you will learn how in thirty-three days, I passed from the Canary Islands to the Indies…And there I found very many islands.” Although Columbus only found a few islands with Indians on them he brought about his findings to be “marvelous.” On the contrary, Cabeza de Vaca explains the importance of effort first before he tells what he has found and accomplished. Cabeza de Vaca says that sometimes fortune is brought about “not by conduct but by accident” and that some “exceed (their) expectations” while others only have their “fruitless effort.” Cabeza de Vaca knows that he doesn’t have much to offer besides information over the natives so he takes time to explain how effort is important.