Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Cabeza de Vaca
Katja
ENGL 48A
Journal #1, Cabeza de Vaca
October 10, 2006
"[...] and then gradually progressed north and west, gaining status and power among [...] natives from his activities as a merchant and [...] a healer." (59)
Referring to Cabeza de Vaca’s enormous range over a long period of time, this quote also speaks to his influence over some of the native peoples he encountered in North America. Additionally, the excerpt touches on an inherently American concept, i.e. Manifest Destiny.
Cabeza de Vaca’s exploration of the interior of the Southwest is a truly astounding feat, given the distances he traveled and the amount of time he spent, for all intents and purposes, lost. His family heritage offered him good reason to become a grand explorer steeped in the European tradition, but in truth de Vaca was more of a pioneer than an explorer seeking gold or slaves for the Emperor. His humanity is what set him apart from his peers. Having lived among various tribes, whether voluntarily or not, gave de Vaca a different perspective. He saw American Indians as people, not commodities. I believe it was this approach that afforded de Vaca the respect and influence he enjoyed in some tribes.
De Vaca, driven by his employer’s desires and by sheer curiosity, may be the first pioneer to have had a vision along the lines of Manifest Destiny. Unlike his peers, de Vaca chose to refrain from dictatorial control of native peoples, and instead—alongside them—expanded the scope of his journey in a more egalitarian fashion. In essence, de Vaca and his followers can be said to have laid the groundwork for the 19th century concept known as Manifest Destiny; the spread of democracy and freedom along with westward territorial expansion. Interestingly, this hypothesis would make Manifest Destiny a concept rooted in European history, despite it being commonly identified as an American phenomenon.
Later, De Vaca’s calls "for renewed explorations" (59) did come to fruition, however few future adventurers subscribed to his notions of co-operating with the North American tribes. As a result, it would be another three centuries before Americans would revisit the concept of Manifest Destiny.
ENGL 48A
Journal #1, Cabeza de Vaca
October 10, 2006
"[...] and then gradually progressed north and west, gaining status and power among [...] natives from his activities as a merchant and [...] a healer." (59)
Referring to Cabeza de Vaca’s enormous range over a long period of time, this quote also speaks to his influence over some of the native peoples he encountered in North America. Additionally, the excerpt touches on an inherently American concept, i.e. Manifest Destiny.
Cabeza de Vaca’s exploration of the interior of the Southwest is a truly astounding feat, given the distances he traveled and the amount of time he spent, for all intents and purposes, lost. His family heritage offered him good reason to become a grand explorer steeped in the European tradition, but in truth de Vaca was more of a pioneer than an explorer seeking gold or slaves for the Emperor. His humanity is what set him apart from his peers. Having lived among various tribes, whether voluntarily or not, gave de Vaca a different perspective. He saw American Indians as people, not commodities. I believe it was this approach that afforded de Vaca the respect and influence he enjoyed in some tribes.
De Vaca, driven by his employer’s desires and by sheer curiosity, may be the first pioneer to have had a vision along the lines of Manifest Destiny. Unlike his peers, de Vaca chose to refrain from dictatorial control of native peoples, and instead—alongside them—expanded the scope of his journey in a more egalitarian fashion. In essence, de Vaca and his followers can be said to have laid the groundwork for the 19th century concept known as Manifest Destiny; the spread of democracy and freedom along with westward territorial expansion. Interestingly, this hypothesis would make Manifest Destiny a concept rooted in European history, despite it being commonly identified as an American phenomenon.
Later, De Vaca’s calls "for renewed explorations" (59) did come to fruition, however few future adventurers subscribed to his notions of co-operating with the North American tribes. As a result, it would be another three centuries before Americans would revisit the concept of Manifest Destiny.
# posted by Katja @ 8:53 AM 
