Christopher Columbus Letter Its Purpose and Rhetoric - Literature Essay Samples

Christopher Columbus had always dreamt of setting sail to Asia, but there was an obstacle: he needed financial support. At first, Columbus was unable to get funding for his trip, but then he approached the King and Queen of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, and they agreed. Finally, he was able to set sail from Spain to Asia in the year 1492. He was certain that he was headed to Asia but, his plan did not turn out as he had hoped. He ended up somewhere completely different, even though he was unaware. A few months after his voyage, Columbus decided to write his trip patrons a letter. In the letter that Columbus wrote to the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, he explained why and how his voyage was a success. He wanted them to know that the voyage they financed had brought them riches and new land as promised and encourage them to fund future voyages; in sending the letter, he delivered both relevant information from his voyage and a carefully-crafted persuasive argument. There were many reasons for which Christopher Columbus wrote that first letter to Ferdinand and Isabella. Naturally, he needed to let them know that he actually arrived and was able to give back to Spain. In the letter, Columbus states, â€Å"I discovered many islands†¦I took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King†¦Ã¢â‚¬  By saying this Columbus wants the King and Queen of Spain to know for a fact that he had taken control of all the places he went to and was able to gain them for Spain. In another paragraph he says, â€Å"†¦they might become Christians and inclined to love our King and Queen and Princes and all the people of Spain.† With this quote, Columbus wants the King and Queen to understand that he is spreading Christianity to other parts of the world and is expanding Spain’s territory by conquering new land. He wants the King and Queen to know that Spain is leaving a mark with these people and that they will always be remembered. Another main point of the letter was to point out that the voyage was a great success, as promised and providing reasoning for future voyages. Columbus convinces the reader in this letter by stating the positive aspects of the islands that he had encountered such as, â€Å"numerous harbors on all sides†, â€Å"very broad and healthy-giving rivers†, â€Å"exceedingly fertile fields†, and â€Å"well adapted for constructing buildings.† With these lines, Columbus is providing evidence of reasons to return and how his findings were successful. Columbus wants to have future voyages and explore the world better. The only way he can do is so by the sponsorship of the Ferdinand and Isabella. Without them, he would not have even gone anywhere in the first place. The main reason for the letter, however, is that Christopher Columbus wanted to receive credit for his findings and discoveries, even though Ferdinand and Isabela had already made an agreement with him. Columbus discovered a lot more than he thought he would. Even though he was unable to find what his original voyage goal was, the direct water route from Europe to Asia; he never actually reached Asia, and was unaware of this fact. Throughout the letter, Columbus mentions â€Å"I† consistently, making it seem as though he is only responsible for all the positive aspects of his voyage. Columbus wants to leave a mark and make sure that he receives some sort of credit for his voyage. Since all of the land and most of the riches were conquered by him but, are for Spain, the explorer, Columbus, does not end up with a big proportion of the findings but, being able to take credit for his findings make a difference. Columbus wanted to make sure that Ferdinand and Isabela are not the on ly ones receiving credit for his explorations. Columbus was successful in finding many new discoveries, land, and islands throughout his voyage. In this way, he could give back to the country of Spain for funding his voyage and future voyages since he did, after all, have a prosperous voyage. Columbus’ main reason for the letter was to receive credit for his hard work, just like his inspiration, Marco Polo (although Marco Polo wrote a book to establish his prowess). His main goal was to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia but, instead, he actually ended up attaining even greater discoveries in the New World.

Edgar Allan Poes Death - Free Essay Example

No one knows how Edgar Allan Poe Died. People have many theories, such as brain tumors, rabies, suicide etc. Although, there was never any actually proof how he died. He was given an autopsy, but the documents were never discovered. Cooping was one of the many theories of how he died. Cooping was used in the early 1800s for elections. Multiple men would be beaten, stripped of their clothing and forced to drink until they were drunk out of their minds. Then they were given new clothes and would be sent in to vote for a certain person. It was a way people cheated to get a certain candidate elected. This was very common. This is how Poe is believed by many to have died because of, where and when he was found, what would happen around where he was found and Poes overall health at the time. Edgar Allan Poe was found near a tavern in Baltimore, drunk and in bad condition. He was immediately rushed to a hospital where he soon died mysteriously a few days later. According to many sources he was found, Edgar Allan Poe Found Delirious Outside Baltimore Tavern. On Oct. 3, 1849(findingDulcinea Staff). Edgar was found on election day, the day cooping would have taken place all over Baltimore. When cooping happened the men were dressed in different clothes. Edgar was dressed in clothes he wouldnt normally wear. He was immediately taken to the nearest hospital where he remained in a febrile state, delirious and confused, drifting between vague awareness†babbling incoherently†and complete unconsciousness(Israel Centeno) Variety of sources prove that Ppoe was found in bad shape, like he had been drugged, or not sober. A stage in cooping was, beating the victim and forcing him to intoxicate himself with alcohol or other drugs. All these facts leave a variety of proof po inting his death to cooping. Was the fact he was found outside a poll in cooping condition just a coincidence? According to a source, Edgar was found around Ryans Fourth Ward Polls which was a place where people went to vote. At this time, election ballots were stolen, judges were bribed and voters for the other candidate were intimidated and pressured. So basically, at the voting building where Poe was found near, was where many bad people did bad things. Especially on election day, which was the exact time for cooping to take place. It says, Some gangs were known to kidnap innocent bystanders, holding them in a room, called the coop. (natasha Ggeiling) Then To ensure compliance, their victims were plied with liquor and beaten. Poe could have easily been grabbed, thrown in a room, and beaten for compliance. The odds are just too good for this death to be a coincidence. If Poe actually died from cooping, then he would have either been too injured to live or the liquor would have killed him leaving a small chance for him to survive. No, if you drink liquor once youre not going to die in a matter of a couple days. Although, Poe could have. Poe had an alcohol problem long before he died so he would have eventually ended up dying anyway. This just my have added the cherry on top. At the time he had barely any money, he was just getting by when he had to provide for his family. Now he couldnt even support himself, especially when he lost all hope when his family passed away. According to sources poor nutrition and a weakened condition(The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe) could have killed him. Think about it, if Poe wasnt eating a lot and was dehydrated then kidnapped and beatin his body would be able to handle it. He was already weak from not getting protein but this would have killed Poe. Besides the rich people in this time period, it was very har d for people to live long. People were not eating enough and the common cold could kill you. Poe wasnt upper class so he had as much of a chance to live as the poor boy that stole bread to survive. Poe was found outside a poll with different clothes and not in his right mind. Was this all just a big Coincidence? Or was Poe a victim of the act Cooping? People at the time were weak and did not live long. Poe may have made beautiful works of literature, but that didnt differ him from anyone else health (body strength) wise. Many facts point to Poe being a victim of cooping, but no one will ever know for sure. Centeno, Israel. The Cooping Theory. Sampsonia Way Magazine, www.sampsoniaway.org/fearless-ink/2013/06/04/the-cooping-theory-israelcenteno/. findingDulcinea. On This Day: Edgar Allan Poe Found Delirious Outside Baltimore Tavern. FindingDulcinea, www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/Oct-3On-this-DayEdgar-Allan-Poe-Found-Drunk-and-Delirious-.html. Geiling, Natasha. The (Still) Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe. Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 7 Oct. 2014, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/still-mysterious-death-edgar-allan-poe-180952936/. Jaz. The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore Articles E. A. P.: A Critical Biography (A. H. Quinn, 1941) (Chapter 01), www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poedeath.htm