When it comes to Christopher Columbus, he is a controversial figure. On one hand, Columbus is not a noble figure when analyzing his past. On the other hand, Columbus is a great explorer and a hero according to some text books in various schools . When comparing Ridley Scott’s 1992 film with Columbus’s diary, there are clear differences between the two. Ridley Scott’s film clearly sides with the positive depiction of Columbus. The diary, however, appears to showcase the negative qualities of Columbus. Thus, both directly contradict each other. In effect, this paper will analyze the difference in portrayal of Christopher Columbus and the natives of the new world. The first major difference involves the depiction of the natives. In the diary,
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In addition to treating the natives as equals to Spaniards, Columbus is not greedy and selfish in the film. When it comes to looking for gold, the film acknowledges the purpose of Columbus’s voyage to the new world. However, the film suggests that gold plays a small role when it comes to Columbus wanting to explore. Two scenes in the movie come to mind to illustrate Columbus’s character. Shortly after leaving prison, Columbus finds his wife and she notes their financial status (Scott, 1992). Despite the loss of wealth, Columbus embraces his wife with happiness (Scott, 1992). Furthermore, when Columbus meets the queen after imprisonment, he makes clear his desire to further explore before death (Scott, 1992). Taking the two aforementioned scenes into account, it seems as if finding gold is merely an excuse. To clarify, Columbus may be using gold as an excuse to gain funding and permission for his voyages. The difference is important, because the diary paints a less flattering picture of Columbus. For example, there is a mention of reward for the first person to see land (Las Casas, n.d., p. 63). Despite not being the first person to see the island, Columbus ends up claiming the reward . No doubt, stealing the reward is a black mark on Columbus’s character. To put it simply, Columbus’s action in the diary suggests greed and
In addition to treating the natives as equals to Spaniards, Columbus is not greedy and selfish in the film. When it comes to looking for gold, the film acknowledges the purpose of Columbus’s voyage to the new world. However, the film suggests that gold plays a small role when it comes to Columbus wanting to explore. Two scenes in the movie come to mind to illustrate Columbus’s character. Shortly after leaving prison, Columbus finds his wife and she notes their financial status (Scott, 1992). Despite the loss of wealth, Columbus embraces his wife with happiness (Scott, 1992). Furthermore, when Columbus meets the queen after imprisonment, he makes clear his desire to further explore before death (Scott, 1992). Taking the two aforementioned scenes into account, it seems as if finding gold is merely an excuse. To clarify, Columbus may be using gold as an excuse to gain funding and permission for his voyages. The difference is important, because the diary paints a less flattering picture of Columbus. For example, there is a mention of reward for the first person to see land (Las Casas, n.d., p. 63). Despite not being the first person to see the island, Columbus ends up claiming the reward . No doubt, stealing the reward is a black mark on Columbus’s character. To put it simply, Columbus’s action in the diary suggests greed and