The Destruction of the New World

The Destruction of the New World

The words in these books not only give us facts and stories, we get to share in their surprise, in their religious opinions, and in their fear. What these men share in common is the fact that they were there when these events took place, they lived through these adventures; however, they all differ in their attempts to present their story. The perspective that each of them hold separates their works, and gives forth great differences in the way in which they portray the encounters in their stories.

De Lery's work is an objective eyewitness account of events, as he tries to remain detached and almost scientific, in his approach. Although he was a part of these early American cultures, he stays much separated from them in his writing. Trying his best not to offend any natives, he plays a great role as guest; however, as he explores their culture, he completely separates himself from his surroundings.

Diaz is in a very unusual situation, first forced into defending himself as a soldier and religious messenger, and secondly as an explorer in an alien land. This is going beyond ones imagination to fathom a reality where there still are alien and foreign places we have yet to know of. Radically different from what is known to be true, faced with a terrible mixture of fear and curiosity Diaz offers up a very different perspective than that of either of these men.(this can be related to a toddler in this world, and even a growing teenager as they try to under stand the strange society that surrounds them)-exploration

Diaz's mission when he got there was to convert the wayward, and bring wealth back to his land It is a time of war for Diaz, on alert at all times, with a lack of supplies, and no way of returning home from a foreign land, where allies are few, and enemies many. There exist a constant wartime lack of trust towards the Americans. He is always anxious to start trade with these people there is no time wasted on telling us about himself or his home, no time for thoughtful reminiscing or philosophizing just pragmatic stories and encounters, a journal soaking up encounters and cultures like a camera takes in light. There are no real thoughts or feelings no relishing the moment, but instead just doing a job. In the end it seems the Spaniards not only conquered them physically, but through this absorption of their culture they bottle up a living breathing society, onto pages and lines. By no means can we find history books that have been passed down from there generation to the next, instead we see them devoured while other cultures push and move forward.

Diaz attempts to offer up a clear and precise view point of events stamped in his past;