Gaspar De Villagrá is considered to be the first published poet in the United States as he recounts his journey through epic poetry. The poem, Historia de la nveva Mexico, is divided into three separate parts and then into thirty-four various cantos. As Manuel M. Martín-Rodríguez comments in his passage describing the origins of Villagrá’s poetry and expedition, “Villagrá’s poem serves a utilitarian purpose: that of justifying actions and highlighting services in hopes of obtaining royal favor,” Villagrá composes his expedition in hopes of appeasing the king and validating his own actions towards the Natives of what is now New Mexico. Villagrá writes in such a way to convince the king and the readers that his actions were heroic and influential.
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The text directly relates to the test item, “otherness and ethnocentrism”, “western notions of the attributes of an organized society”, and also “Spaniards response to linguistic barriers with Native American peoples.” Villagrá construes the Spaniards actions to gain the approval of the king, yet the truth lies within the lines of poetry he writes. Throughout Villagrá’s violent recount of the founding of New Mexico, he uses comparisons and conflicting language when it comes to the depiction of Natives and the attacks that were brought forth upon them. In the canto III, Villagrá details the vast and beautiful land which is New Mexico. His illustration of the land glosses over the blatant fact that he and his men slaughtered many innocent Native Americans to own and repopulate said land. He also contradicts himself by using the word “gallant” to describe the Natives, when he follows the word with “barbarian”, “All listening to the gallant barbarian, could not contain ourselves for pleasure and content” his usage of these words confuse the reader and leave them wondering what the truth behind Villagrá’s words are. (It is later illustrated that he has no …show more content…
He compares them to “mad dogs” and constantly refers to them as “barbarians” as previously stated, even though his actions towards them expose true barbarianism. During canto XVI Villagrá portrays a hideous scene where the Spaniards begin beheading the Native Americans, as they believed they should be annihilated because they “broke the law.” By using words such as these, Villagrá makes it a point to portray the Natives as evil beings, who are seemingly out to get him and the other Spanish settlers. There is a clear distinction between Villagrá and the way he writes the Native Americans. He distinguishes them as being evil and animalistic, and adds almost no characterization of his fellow soldiers, in an attempt to keep their crimes and actions anonymous. Another test item related to this text is, “western notion of the attributes of an organized society.” The king certainly has his own ideology on how he believes the exhibition should turn out, and Villagrá does his best to appease him. He analyzes the Native culture, yet chooses not to fully understand or respect it. However, he recognizes the hierarchy within the Native villages when he observes the leader of the tribe, “Who said to all that he was called Mompil.” While Villagrá details his experience with the Native Americans and how he and his men followed the Natives and their methods of survival,
The text directly relates to the test item, “otherness and ethnocentrism”, “western notions of the attributes of an organized society”, and also “Spaniards response to linguistic barriers with Native American peoples.” Villagrá construes the Spaniards actions to gain the approval of the king, yet the truth lies within the lines of poetry he writes. Throughout Villagrá’s violent recount of the founding of New Mexico, he uses comparisons and conflicting language when it comes to the depiction of Natives and the attacks that were brought forth upon them. In the canto III, Villagrá details the vast and beautiful land which is New Mexico. His illustration of the land glosses over the blatant fact that he and his men slaughtered many innocent Native Americans to own and repopulate said land. He also contradicts himself by using the word “gallant” to describe the Natives, when he follows the word with “barbarian”, “All listening to the gallant barbarian, could not contain ourselves for pleasure and content” his usage of these words confuse the reader and leave them wondering what the truth behind Villagrá’s words are. (It is later illustrated that he has no …show more content…
He compares them to “mad dogs” and constantly refers to them as “barbarians” as previously stated, even though his actions towards them expose true barbarianism. During canto XVI Villagrá portrays a hideous scene where the Spaniards begin beheading the Native Americans, as they believed they should be annihilated because they “broke the law.” By using words such as these, Villagrá makes it a point to portray the Natives as evil beings, who are seemingly out to get him and the other Spanish settlers. There is a clear distinction between Villagrá and the way he writes the Native Americans. He distinguishes them as being evil and animalistic, and adds almost no characterization of his fellow soldiers, in an attempt to keep their crimes and actions anonymous. Another test item related to this text is, “western notion of the attributes of an organized society.” The king certainly has his own ideology on how he believes the exhibition should turn out, and Villagrá does his best to appease him. He analyzes the Native culture, yet chooses not to fully understand or respect it. However, he recognizes the hierarchy within the Native villages when he observes the leader of the tribe, “Who said to all that he was called Mompil.” While Villagrá details his experience with the Native Americans and how he and his men followed the Natives and their methods of survival,