Which of the aspects of the American Dream (abundant land, veritable wealth, religious fortitude, open hospitality, laborious work ethic, etc. ), established by the early American writers and explorers, do you feel was best conveyed in the writings of Columbus, Smith, and Bradford? Give specifics from the selections to support your claim. (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011.)
16 comments:
If I had to pick the most important aspect of the American Dream written by all three authors I would have to choose the abundance of land. In Columbus writing he says the land is "a spectical of beauty" and that it is abundant with many islands. Smith says that the land is abundant with great resources. On the other hand Bradford does not say the land is barren and desolate but the land is still abundant.
I feel that the best aspect expressed in all three of the writings was the abundance of land. Columbus stated that the land was beautiful and very abundant in resources along with Smith. Smith had also stated that there were a lot of activities such as hunting and fishing that the travelers could live their life off of. For example, Smith stated that the travelers could make more in an hour than they can eat in a week. In contrast, Bradford recorded the land being barren, cold and rocky. Although all three of the writers did not present the same information about the land, they had all presented a reasonable amount of it whether it was to inform, persuade, or record.
In my opinion, the aspect that is best conveyed is the land. Columbus described it as being covered in "lofty trees" that were "verdant and flourishing", "covered with flowers", and "loaded with fruit." Smith wrote about how cheap the ample land was and portrayed it as fertile with many resources. While Columbus and Smith's writings paint an amazing mental image of vast, fruitful land, however, Bradford described it as "hideous and desolate wilderness" filled with "wild beasts and wild men." Columbus and Smith's stories obviously contrast with Bradford's due to the fact that his writing was not intended for others to read and conveys the land as it most likely was.
To me, the most important aspect of the American Dream written by Columbus, Smith, and Bradford would be religion. In Columbus's writing he says that the people will be easily converted to please the King and Queen of Spain. Smith says that the people need religion. However, Bradford and his people find comfort in religion and believe God's hand is just. I find this the most important because they all found the need to mention religion because religion is important to many people, whether they have one or not.
I agree with Jasmine; the abundance of land was discussed by all three men. It seems the most important to me, because it was stressed so heavily by Columbus and Smith. Columbus wrote mainly about the land, stating that it was verdant and rich in wildlife. Smith talked about the abundant resources, including fishing that one could do as a hobby and still make money.
LKing-2nd Block
In my opinion, the importance of religion was most conveyed in the writings. During this time period, religion often influenced many writers, explorers, and everyday people. Christopher Columbus, John Smith, and William Bradford were no exception to this. Columbus describes how in the new land, the natives would be easy to convert. Smith writes about how the natives are in need of religion. These explorers' writings about natives and religion in the new land shows that religion is important and how they wish to spread their philosophy. Bradford, however, records how religion was already part of the lives of those Puritans around him. He tells of their beliefs of God and how he is "just". Through the writings of these explorers, it is conveyed that religion was an important part to daily life.
km-block 2
I believe that all three writers talked most of the land. Columbus wrote about how verdant the land was and how beautiful everything was. Smith said that the land was rich with resources and very fertile. Bradford had a different claim which was that the land was desolate and barren. The land was most important in all three of these explorers writings.
Unlike everyone else, I agree with Samantha; religion is the most conveyed aspect of the "American Dream". As she stated, all three writers felt the need to include this subject in either his letter, diary or book. Columbus stating that the people there would be easy to convert, Smith said there was a need of religion and Bradford mentioning that God's hands is just. Therefore, with all three writers including religion in his description of the "American Dream" I believe religion is the most important aspect conveyed.
AParker-2nd
I believe, like most everyone else, that the land was best conveyed in the three explorer's writings. They all described what they saw as well as they could. Columbus wrote of lofty trees, various flowers, and an abundance of fruit in the Indies. Smith, who landed in Virginia, wrote of fertile land and an ample supply of fish and other game. However, Bradford did not write of such great things; Bradford had landed in Maine, in the dead of winter, and wrote of his dreadful surroundings that accompany Maine during the winter. All three writers took time to tell of the surroundings in great detail, ranging from lush fruits and plants to desolate, barren wastelands and that is why I believe that the land that was seen by the writers was conveyed the best.
I believe that the abundance of land was conveyed the best in all three writings. Columbus described the land as beautiful and verdant with plentiful resources. Smith also told how there was plentiful land and resources as well. Bradford told of the desolate and barren land, but there was much of it. The idea of abundance of land was conveyed very well by all three writers.
I believe that all three writers conveyed the land the best. Columbus described the land as verdant and flourishing with an abundance of resources. Smith said it had plentiful land and hunters and fisherman would prosper. Compared to Columbus and Smith, Bradford described the land differently. He said it was isolated, rocky, and barren. All three early American writers portrayed the importance of land.
JLee-1st
I believe that the land was the most important aspect in these three writings. Columbus wrote to the King and told him how beautiful, verdant and plentiful the land here was. Smith wrote to the people of Europe and told them how fertile the land was and how the abundant the resources were. Bradford wrote to himself and described the land as desolate and baron. Through all of these writings, the idea of how vast this land was and how beautiful, fertile and desolate it was was conveyed the best
I think that Columbus, Smith, and Bradford, the three ealy American writers, conveyed the abundance of land the best. Columbus wrote about a resourceful, thriving land of great beauty. Smith described the land smilar to Columbus; he said it was vast and perfect for hunters and fishermen. Bradford was the only writer who did not think the land was that wonderful. He described it as cold, rocky, and barren. All three writers stressed the abundance of land.
I believe all of the aspects were described adequately. However, the aspects varied between Columbus, Smith, and Bradford. Colombus attempting to persuade people to move to this newly discovered land, made it sound beautiful and entirely beyond compare. Likewise, Smith described the land as perfect for fishermen and hunters, limitless profit in the fishing industry. On the other hand, Bradford described the land as wretched. He spoke of the rocky and barren land as well as the "wild barbarians" who roamed the lands.
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