Christopher Columbus' Letter: Its Purpose and Rhetoric Anonymous College

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, “I discovered many islands…...