Comparing The Invention Of Morel And The Last Voyage Of Columbus

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The Journey: Rebellion and Incorporeality
When a character in a piece of literature chooses to travel, the character usually has a purpose confined to the motivations of the individual. Distinct from this, in The Invention of Morel and The Last Voyage of Columbus the journey is a device employed by an author to imbue the travel of a character with purpose. The journey is an experience which comprises much more than travel from one location to another. Journeys can represent a literal or symbolic deviation from the expected path, and ultimately transform a character in the process. In The Last Voyage of Columbus by Martin Dugard, Christopher Columbus rejects preconceived notions of what lies to the West and begins a journey which transforms …show more content…

Columbus’ multiple journeys to the New World turn him from a young renegade into an old man who eventually fades physically and socially. In the centuries following his death, he was only viewed as a minor Renaissance explorer, tardily acknowledged for his accomplishments in the late eighteenth century (Dugard 257). Similarly, Columbus’ physical health degrades throughout the course of his voyage, directly because of his travels. His eyesight fails from long hours of looking into the distance on the ocean (Dugard 57). The journey transforms Columbus and wears him down in search of what he believes to be his destiny. However, this painful process for Columbus eventually leads to reverence and legend, albeit a mixed one (Dugard 267-268). In this case the journey is a painful process of transition and becoming, but one which will eventually lead to a solidification of destiny. This is similar to the Latin American experience of history. Unlike the rise of powerful nations in the West, civilizations at the very height of their power are conquered by people with technological advantages and the help of disease. The journey of Latin American culture and history is similar to Columbus’, tinged with pain but ultimately a story of becoming legend. The Last Voyage of Columbus represents the fruition of a lifelong journey to formulate a legacy as well as a physical journey to the

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