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What defines a savage? Oxford’s Dictionary 2nd Edition states that a savage is, “Of animals: Wild, undomesticated, untamed. Often, and in later use exclusively, with the contextual implication of ferocity.” Now it’s obvious that this definition of a savage relates to animals, however as we’re in a new age, none of the definitions in our present dictionaries would work. For this reason I choose the definition of savage in relation to animals because Christopher Columbus would use a definition similar to this to describe the natives that he encounters on his voyages. They have no religion, ethics, nor seem to care about anyone but themselves, he would say. He considers them primitive as seen in, The First Voyage: The West Indies of Columbus: Accounts of Voyage, where he describes his accounts of meeting with the natives in order to trade. In this meeting, he discusses the trade transaction, the way in which the natives keep their appearance and his belief that they belong to no religion. If Oxford’s definition is the correct definition of a savage, then who is to say that the natives don’t see Columbus and his men as savages. They arrive to the natives land acting in a completely different manner than the natives have seen or are used to, live in a different way than the natives, and they kill many of their people and treat others as if they had no right to live. In this essay I plan on reinforcing the argument that the natives see Columbus as a savage as well, through the first voyage and his manner in which he trades, discusses religion, and the appearances that he gives. Trade is a large concern in Columbus’s voyages. He will always trade with natives in order to bring back as much information to his King and Queen as possible. In the first voyage, Columbus gives the natives red caps and glass beads, things that he considers to be, “…of slight value.” (pg 51) With this transaction he says that the natives take great pleasure in what they receive.
Approximate Word count = 1361
Approximate Pages = 5.4
(250 words per page double spaced)
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