Harriot talked about religion as if its just a made up story that people believe in; unlike himself. "They believe also [in] the immortality of the soul..." (page 39).With using "they" all the time, It references the assumption of disbelief. I say this because he doesn't talk about himself believing in anything.
Harriot also describes the religion of the people from the view point that they are wrong, and he is right. "Some religion they have already, which although it is far from the truth, yet being as it is, there is hope it may be easier and sooner reformed" (pg. 39) The very first thing he mentions about it is how what they believe is far from what he believes, which he calls, "the truth" and in the same sentence talks about how easy it will be then to reform their religion. It is apparent from the start that it is not a merely descriptive text.
Columbus showed excitement about finding new land. In his journals, he would describe the new land like "All are most beautiful..." (page 26). He showed compassion for what he discovered. He did this by describing, "...of a thousand shapes, and all are accessible and filled with trees of a thousand kinds and tall, and they seem to touch the sky" (page 26). You can just here the enthusiasm coming right out of his mouth from the reading. Columbus describes the new lands he is seeing with emotion, and you can tell he is really moved by all they have to offer. He speaks about the extremely fertile lands, many harbors, beautiful mountains and "many rivers, good and large, which is marvelous." (pg. 26)
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ReplyDeleteThough Harriot talked about the natives' religion as if it was a made up story he did believe in God. He was a Christian and when he writes, "Some religion they have already, which although it is far from the truth," the truth he is talking about is Christianity. He mentions it on page 38, too, when he writes, "That they may in short time be brought to civility, and the embracing of true religion." He does go on to talk about how easy it will be to change their religion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your remark regarding Harriot in saying that his attitude is "they are wrong, and he is right." The quote you use to support this is strong, too. However, I wouldn't say that Harriot believed "religion is a made-up story"--more specifically, he believed that the Natives' religion was made up, BUT not his own. Connor is correct in pointing this out.
ReplyDeleteVery good support on Columbus--the passages that you cited are quite effective.
I would have to say that at least Harriot is not fooling anyone and he is just being himself and expressing his beliefs and emotions. For Columbus on the other hand I believe he is a liar and his reaction is just to get the attention of others, especially Isabella and Ferdinand. Columbus needs to stop kidding others and especially needs to stop kidding himself on the reality.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Harriot uses "they" to pull away from including himself in the stories. I also like the way you described him not believing in one religion, and thinking only his was the correct way. I think the quote you chose fit perfect to describe this. I agree with Columbs's excitment for the new land, however I do not know if I believe everything he said in the letter. I think he described the new land so glorious so that he could get funding for another voyage.
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