Christopher Columbus Letter To The Natives Analysis

In Christopher Columbus’ letter he portrays the Natives during his journey as inferior and uncivilized people. This can be seen through the encounters with the natives, the lack of their sense of item value, and their lack of civilization. The first encounter that Columbus had with the natives they ran away. The text gives no indication as to why the natives ran. However it mentions that was Columbus capturing the natives, “I fully understand from other Indians, whom I have captured” (52). The way he phrased it was as if the natives were just a commodity for him to use. Earlier in his letter Columbus claimed that he would take slaves amongst the idolaters, however the only mention of idolaters would be the cannibals on an Island. His letter

Columbus describes the natives giving nature, “Whatever they have, if you ask for it, they never say no, but rather than offer it with a full heart, and show so much good will that they yield their souls” (53). The fact that Columbus said not “with a full heart”, but is willing to “yield their souls” is an important indication that the natives will submit easily (53). He illustrates the simplicity of the natives, “And whether it be some item of value or a thing of little worth, they are happy with any little thing” (53). To Columbus the natives are fools, for they do not have an understanding of the value of an object due to their giving nature. In the letter Columbus claims to appeal to his audience that he would not let his crew trade broken items with the natives, “They even accepted bits of broken barrel hoops and gave what they had like beasts” (53). Columbus uses this example as a way to portray the foolishness of the simple natives. He later says that he gave the natives “a thousand goodly things” which he had with him at the time. Columbus uses the natives lack value as a way to reveal the simple and foolish nature of the