Preview

La Relacion Themes

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
401 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
La Relacion Themes
"La Relación" Themes

There were many themes in the tale "La Relación." One such theme was the idea of keeping your faith. Another theme was the concept of helping others in need. One final theme of story is to not judge other people. These themes played an essential role in the story of "La Relación." First, the idea of keeping your faith was a critical theme in the story. No matter how downtrodden Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and his crew were, they continued to keep their faith. Despite the fact that most of the crew was either dead of near death, de Vaca and his navigator continued to try to find a place to land the ship throughout the night. Even after landing on the shores of Galveston Island, the crew had to rely on the Indians for nourishment. Though they were almost certainly dead, they kept the faith that the Indians would continue to bring them food. Helping others in need was also a theme in the tale. The Indians primarily represented this theme in this story. The Indians provided the food for the dejected crew. This was very much appreciated by the sailors since they had been on rations of a half of a hand of corn per person for some time. The natives also provided the sailors with shelter. In addition to food and shelter, the Indians also offered compassion when the barge had crashed the second time and three of the remaining crew drowned in the sea. One final theme in the allegory "La Relación," was the concept of not judging people. After landing upon the island, the sailors thought that the men who inhabited the island were Christian since there were cow paths on the island. The residents of the island were in fact not Christian. However, the residents did show an astounding amount of compassion toward the newcomers despite not being Christians. After seeing the inhabitants of the island, the crew viewed the men as savages although the Indians wound up saving many of the lives of the crew members. There were many important themes in "La

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Cabeza De Vaca started out on a adventure and ended up on a doomed journey. De Vaca was a explorer on a Spanish expedition to the “New World” in the 1520’s. He was one of the only survivors. Cabeza lived through many circumstances for three reasons: his healing abilities, survival skills, and ability to befriend natives. These three reasons are what gave him the will to survive.…

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    On the 15th of November they had already marched 1 mile along the seaside and encountered some native inhabitants. The Indians ran towards the woods as soon as they saw the pilgrims, but the English followed them to see where they were going or if they could speak to them. But nightfall came and they had to set camp and continue their pursuit the next day. Following their tracks the next day, they came across a river from which they drank water, “the first New-England water they drunk of”. They continued their search for the Indians and found, over a pond, what seemed to be a former Indian establishment, the remains of a house, baskets filled with corn and, for them, other exotic food, hidden in the sand, graves and also a field of corn. Near this place they found the river they were seeking, a salt creek separated by a cliff of sand. The English set for the ship, taking part of the fruits they found with them, considering that their shallop could manage exploring the river from there after it had been repaired.…

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Jesus Came, The Corn Mothers Went Away gives an in-depth history of the Pueblo Indians before and after the Spanish conquest. It describes the forced changes the Spanish brought to the Indians, and also the changes brought to the Spaniards who came to “civilize” the Indians. The author's thesis is that the Pueblo Indians and other Indians were treated cruelly by the Spanish, who justified their crime by claiming they were civilizing an uncivilized nation, by changing their way of culture, social standing, marriage and sexuality practices to what the Spaniards deemed as correct. The Spaniards refused to acknowledge the Indian's culture as culture and set out to forcibly change the Indians. Even while the Spaniards themselves were influenced by the Indian way of life, the Indians continually suffered under the Spanish rule.…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cabeza de Vaca

    • 832 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the beginning of Cabeza's account of the expedition, he describes many hostile encounters with the indians. The first encounter began with the indians coming to them in peace, asking for their women and children whom had been captured by Cabeza and his men. They released them, but had detained a cacique(an indian chief) which caused the indians to become angry and attack them. "But the detention of a cacique by the Governor produced great excitement, in consequence of which they returned for battle early the next day [June 26], and attacked us with such promptness and alacrity that they succeeded in setting fire to the houses in which we were." (de Vaca, 160) Following this attack, the encounters that Cabeza and his men had with the indians continued in this way. "…the indians making continual war upon us, wounding our people and horses at the places where they went to drink, shooting from the lakes with such safety to themselves that we could not retaliate…" (de Vaca, 161) It was not until Cabeza's crew was at their weakest point that their relationship with the indians changed. Their ship was wrecked by a large wave on the 5th of November, where they encountered indians with whom they traded hawk bells for arrows, which was a pledge of friendship. They stayed in this place for awhile, working together with the indians to find food. The indians believed that Captain Alonzo del…

    • 832 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    During the sixteenth century, Spanish expeditions to the New World were pursued under the power of the Spanish King, who enforces Spanish law. Specific people were appointed certain positions on these journeys and the entire crew was expected to follow Spanish law and fulfill their responsibilities, on of which includes converting any natives to Christianity. Despite the fact Cabeza de Vaca essentially failed as being treasurer of his expedition, he believes that he, unlike the majority of the other Spaniards, carried out Spanish law correctly and is willing to prove himself to his King with his account. Throughout his document, Cabeza de Vaca carefully selects his choice of words to convince the King he is not one of the men responsible for the deterioration of the voyage. The purpose of chapter thirty-four is to specifically demonstrate how the Christians differed from Cabeza de Vaca and his men in carrying out their duties as Spaniards and as Christians. Since Cabeza de Vaca witnessed the disasters that happened, he doesn't hold Spanish law in high regards. He also believes the King should change certain aspects in order for a society to run successfully in a new environment as well as approach the act of converting any natives to Christianity in the correct manner.…

    • 1335 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is easy to see that Cabeza de Vaca went through hardships when captured by the Indians. In addition you can a sense that he uses much imagery of his men being killed and picked off one by one because he knew that the state and church would read his writings. In chapter seven, I feel that Cabeza de Vaca wanted to show the state and church that life over in the New World was very troubling and full of challenges that were hard to handle, in fact some of these challenges were so great no man can actually face. Columbus, who was also struggling while he was exploring, was confident going into his conquest but then, when confiding in the state and the church like Cabeza de Vaca, became nervous. Cabeza de Vaca embellishes his writings in purpose of being forgiven for the money and manpower spent on the expedition. In chapter seven Cabeza de Vaca shows in his writings how he was attacked by the Indians a few times, "The day following, others came against us from a town on the opposite side of the lake, and attacked us as the first had done, escaping in the same way, except one who was also slain" (pg. 130).…

    • 607 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    De Las Casas

    • 291 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In Bartolome De Las Casas’s “from The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies” a lot of descriptive verbiage is utilized to paint a distinct picture of good vs. evil in an unjust world. Referencing the Spaniards as Christians is done with a great deal of anger, and sarcasm. These Spaniards performed many acts of evil as they brutally tortured, killed, and enslaved the Native American peoples. According to De Las Casas “they attacked the towns and spared neither the children nor the aged nor pregnant women nor women in childbed, not only stabbing them and dismembering them but cutting them to pieces as dealing with sheep in a slaughter house”. (40) This was such a gruesome, cruel, and violent act of murder, without regard to even those we view as pure innocence such as that of a child. This provokes the reader to feel an intense sorrow and heartache for these innocent Native Americans. De Las Casas portrays the Native American people as innocent, gentle prey to the Spaniards, thus referring to them as “sheep.” They were deemed weak in their efforts to fight back, and they were unable to seek refuge in the mountains where they tried to flee. This piece incorporates multiple biblical representations throughout as well. The “sheep” biblically represent the followers of Christ, and they are submissive followers with little to no resistance like that of the Native American peoples. However, the so-called Christian Spaniards acted like ravenous, greedy animals rather than human Christ like leaders.…

    • 291 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ishmael Beah's Childhood

    • 857 Words
    • 4 Pages

    He steamed up grasses and let the heat lessen the pain of their feet. He fed them and gave them a place to stay and heal he also led them to the ocean where they could help heal their wounds. They are caught by the villagers and are to be killed but the chief makes them dance; the chief realized they were just…

    • 857 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thesis: The author posits that the derivative of a tragically unsuccessful colonization effort results with an epic ten-year odyssey of survival, assimilation, and revelation as the first Old World outsiders to athwart and live in the interior of North America. The culmination of the experiences of Cabeza de Vaca, man of influence, stranded in unexplored lands, encountering and existing with countless Native American tribes as guest, slave, trader, and healer engenders an atypical ideal of humane colonization and coexistence.…

    • 606 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Rawr

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Theme. What is the message the author is communicating through key events in the story?…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the next few months, they lost about 218 more men to the wilderness and natives as they traveled across the New World (making the total men lost at this point 418 out of 600). They were forced to kill their horses for food, and eventually they constructed boats in an attempt to find Mexico, and other Spaniards. They made five boats each with enough room for roughly 50 men. # Yet ANOTHER storm hits them, and this one lasts for six days, and several boats are lost After the storm they are so desperate for water that some of them even resort to drinking salt water, resulting in several more deaths. At this point only about 40 men of the initial 600 are alive. They shipwreck on an island which they promptly call Malhado, “The Island of Doom”.# Over the next few months, more survivors die off, and others are put into slavery, including Cabeza de Vaca. He is enslaved for several years, now being…

    • 942 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Land so Strange

    • 955 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The book “A Land So Strange” by Andrés Reséndez basically illustrates 8 years of long odyssey from what is now Tampa, Florida to Mexico City on Cabeza de Vaca’s perspective. Cabaza de Vaca along with his companions named Andres Dorante, Alonso del Castillo, and Estebanico, are survivors of failed expedition to New World from Spain during 16th century. Unlike other members from the expedition, these four members found a way to live with native Indian tribes to survive. They were slaves of Indians and treated cruelly all the time. However, after long period of time of being slaves, they decided to make escape to Spanish territory. During their fugitive period, they had chance to help injured Indians. Their knowledge of certain medicine, illness, and strong belief in Christianity helped promoted themselves to holy shamans whom many of native Indian obey and follow. They were able to get enough food and place to sleep during their journey to find Spain territory in America, and also followed by prodigious amount of Indians. As a result, these survivors changed his view on Indians and New World.…

    • 955 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Unbroken Theme

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Laura Hillenbrand’s monumental Unbroken is a true story of a promising young Olympic runner from Torrance, California. This promise was soon broken because of the upcoming Second World War, a time period of ferocity and sadism. During this war, many were captivated, many died, only a few came out in a single piece known as war heroes. The war wasn’t the end for these heroes, many caught on with the phrase, post-war life. Post-war life had many survivors on another set of problematic and unforgettable experience. Most Americans initially viewed their place in the postwar world with optimism and confidence. But within two years of the end of the war, new challenges and perceived threats had arisen to erode that confidence. The ultimate hero was…

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cabeza de Vaca

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Off the coast of Florida, Alva Nunez and his crew were on an expedition to Florida, when their ship sinks. Stranded, they set off by foot on a land they were not familiar with. They were captured by the Iguase Indians and separated. Alva was enslaved to a healer, and was amazed by the way of life. He would eventually pick up the lifestyle and be set on his way.…

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout Castaways, by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, and A Land So Strange, the Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca, by Andre Resendez, a transformation is seen through the thoughts and actions of the four Spanish survivors. Clearly motivated by curiosity, greed, and religion, at first, a dramatic transformation from explorers and conquistadors into assimilated Spanish Indians and revolutionary idealists occurs. Cabeza de Vaca believed that his peaceful ascendancy over the Indians of North America was achievable through a partnership, creating a more humane kind of colonial occupation (Resendez 207-208).…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics