Marco Polo Character Analysis

When attempting to explore the intricacies of the East with Western eyes, it is important that one is concerned about the differences in culture. It is often hard for a Westerner to bridge the philosophical and cultural gap between the East and the West. That is why it is imperative to look to the accounts of Marco Polo, who spent his years of youth in the capitalist city of the time, Venice, and matures into a man as he ventures through the Middle East and continues into the land of the Mongols. The connections that Marco Polo is able to make are impossible for someone who has not encountered multiple cultures. Laurence Bergreen does fantastic work of taking Marco Polo’s Travels which were written while Marco was in prison and deciphering …show more content…
After the men returned to the great Mongol leader, this time taking young Marco Polo with them, Niccolo offered young Marco as a servant to Kublai Khan. Without the first trip to the Mongol empire by the Polo brothers, Kublai would have never accepted the young Venetian man to reside in his court. Although Marco’s success ultimately comes about because of his social genius and charisma, it would have been impossible for him to achieve the success that he has become famous for without the aid of his father. Marco’s position gave Westerners a unique and up-close view of the barbaric leader. Most of what the West knew about the Great Khan was from hearsay and speculation. Marco Polo admired Kublai Khan. According to Marco, the affection was mutual. Marco Polo did mention some of the military achievements, but focused more on his administration of the great empire. One of the most important decisions that was made by Kublai Khan was to include the Chinese in the empire. The ethnic Chinese posed one of the greatest threats of revolt to the Mongol …show more content…
While Marco Polo received the position by way of his father and the Great Khan agreeing, the reason that Marco Polo was able to interact so frequently was the fact that Marco Polo was charismatic and a social genius. Marco Polo continually earned greater favor with the leader, much to the envy of the other members of the court. Marco Polo’s success grew out of his confidence which a reader of his Travels can clearly detect. Marco Polo obviously was a master of social interactions and had a high emotional intelligence, traits that were continually improved during the Polo’s voyage from Venice to the Mongol empire. Marco Polo was given special assignments to help survey the empire. Kublai Khan certainly trusted him more than he would have a normal servant. The genius of his social interactions are a reason that scholars and student alike are able to understand the complex workings of the leader and apparatus of the Mongol Empire. Laurence Bergreen successfully organized what the world knows about Marco Polo into a narrative that attempts to decipher Marco Polo’s