Autobiography Letters

In the collection of the supplemental readings of the first week, we find four different excerpts from four different stories. These four are consist of an ancient-traditional story which belongs to the Pima; a letter written by Bartolome de Las Casas to be read at a Spanish colonization forum; a piece of the ship log of Christopher Columbus during his journey of 1492 and finally an extract by Jacques Cartier on meeting the Micmac Indians.

The Pima Creation Story basically creates an abstract and more religious likely atmosphere to tell the story of the creation of the Earth, the living and the people. It speaks of an invisible power flowing in the darkness, which later on refers as the creating-power. Then it speaks of the powerful creatures (i.e. “buzzard”) and the creation of the lands and plants as a preparation for the arrival of the human beings.

In the letter of Bartolome de Las Casas generally explains the slaughter and the torture which natives in the Latin America were subject to. It tell the cruelty in details and aims to inform the colonizers of the situation. In his journal Christopher Columbus gives out a detailed list of the actions which were taken by him and his crews in the manner of reporting to the Princes. His first encounters with the locals are described in a very friendly and favoring manner. Also included, very detailed descriptions of the nature and habits of the locals in terms of potential slaves. Finally, in his journals Jacques Cartier tells about his expeditions to The Cape of Hope. It generally expresses the timid first encounters with the natives and the progress they had experienced later on.

Whereas all four excerpts rose a feeling of interest in me, especially Columbus’ and Cartier’s experiences gave me the insight of the partially shy nature of the invaders, despite of their sordid and manipulative nature of objectives. De Las Casas’ letters created an impact of the power of religion, even back in the old days. In addition it clearly stated the authority of the religion people, such as their influence in administrative matters.

In the excerpt of “Adams Family Letters (March, April, May 1776) we see four letters penned either by Abigail Adams or her husband, a delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, John Adams. The main theme of all four letters is the roles and significances of women during the times, on the verge of the Revolutionary War.

In the first letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, we see very direct demands of Mrs. Adams from her husband to put in effect on behalf of all women in the nation. Fist, she addresses the issue of the declaration of independence, later she explains how the current situation of women in the society resembles of a tyrant’s and how this needs to be changed. In his reply to his wife Mr. Adams expresses his surprise with the amount of discomfort he receives from women’s side in general and he tries to explain that such drastic changes can not be taken so suddenly. Never the less he also tries to convince her that her demands were not going to be totally overlooked. In her letter to Mercy Otis Warren, Abigail Adams shares the discussion between her and her husband and explains how dissatisfied she is with the notion. In the final letter between the Adamses, Mrs. Adams addresses her dissatisfaction directly to her husband and implies that the men are trying to retain an absolute power over the women and are not trying to create an equal ground for women in society.

These letter have shown me the rather pro-active side of the women in the nation back in 1776. We already knew that with men leaving their homes and plantations for the war, women had become much more active participants in society but these letters reflects that the progress they had gone through led them to also concern about the political affairs of the nation.

In the excerpt from his journal, an African Slave trade ship’s surgeon, Alexander Falconbridge gives a detailed description and explanation of the situation the slaves have to go through from their starting from being summoned to be taken on board and also during their voyage overseas.

He observes that right after the slaves are purchased, the cruelty of the black traders begin, who will sell them later on. He witnesses that at every single step along the way, the slaves are scars on food and intolerable hygienic situations. As a surgeon he also concludes that the extremely common and reoccurring medical conditions among the slaves are also to be explained with these reasons. The lack of fresh air, the lack of amount and also the quality of the food are emphasized repetitively.

On the other hand the cuffs and iron grids the slaves are being locked with, the hot coal swallowing are some examples of the physical tortures the slaves are subject to.

The experiences surgeon Falconbridge shares in his journals confirms the inhumane and inconceivable situations the slaves had to endure, as we know it. One of the most surprising

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