Christopher Columbus Response

Kiesha Garrett

September 7, 2008

Christopher Columbus Response

When you think about explorers, what comes to mind? Christopher Columbus will probably be one of the most common responses. On his four voyages, Columbus had continuous events of disasters. This article appeals to pathos to catch the reader’s attention.

Some things did not go Christopher Columbus’s way throughout his four voyages between 1492 and 1504. “Apparently friendly relations with the Taino Indians on the island of Hispaniola in 1492 turned sour as the settlers Columbus left behind demanded gold and sexual partners from their hosts; on his return there in 1494, none of the Europeans were alive.” (Paragraph 1) When a person reads this, they would probably show some sympathy for Columbus. Just when he thought everything was good between the settlers and the Indians, he sees that it wasn’t. Rather his motives was to really get along with the Indians or to slowly ease his way into getting what he wants, his settlers messed that up for him. The reader can feel the disappointment when he discovers that all his followers were dead. “…he encountered Spanish setters there in open rebellion against his authority.” (Paragraph 1) It’s hard to find out that people, who you thought was on your side, is now against you. That’s a major blow to your heart because now you feel alone and betrayed. “His last voyage, intended to recoup his tarnished reputation, resulted in a long period of suffering in Panama and shipwreck in Jamaica, and these outer woes were accompanied by nearly delusional periods as Columbus underwent a virtual breakdown.” (Paragraph 1) His last chance to prove himself ended in a horrible disaster. Columbus’s last chance to recover his reputation ended up making it worse than it already was. It’s difficult to go through that kind of embarrassment. There has been a time when some people have tried to do something to better themselves but ends up failing. Those people can relate to Columbus and feel bad for him because they went through the same thing.

Christopher Columbus went through some difficult times during his four voyages at sea. This article uses pathos to drill in the reader's full attention.