The Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca the True Survivor Essay Example

The creation of someone with fame, honor, and greatness normally comes with the idea of being born into a popular family name. Although Álvar Núñez was born into a great line of conquistadors, he earned his honorable fame through more than being in charge. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was a conquistador born from a line of conquistadors. He was in the Spanish army for almost 20 years before being assigned by the king of Spain to become an treasurer and second in command to colonize the territory north and east of the Gulf of Mexico in 1527. A true survivor is someone who is selfless, courageous, brave, and leads people or themselves amidst hardships to survive or to overcome challenges is what makes a true survivor. Álvar Núñez with his actions of courage, bravery, selflessness, and ability to lead his men to safety and get them out of harm’s way and suffering proves that Álvar Núñez is a true survivor.

Álvar Núñez was a leader figuratively and literally, his accomplishments in war and on his expeditions led him to get great honor such as becoming the treasurer and the second in command for colonization. His ability to overcome fear in the gravest situations is a big contributing factor to making him a true survivor. Álvar Núñez and his men were stranded on an Island in the Gulf of Mexico that was inhabited by a group of Native Americans. The men were scared and afraid after having barely enough food to survive, losing a number of their men to natural causes, and becoming stranded on an unknown island. Álvar Núñez stepped forward and led his men and gave them hope, he communicated through signs to the Natives to get food and other commodities in return for bells and beads. Álvar Núñez had encountered the Natives in a terrifying situation that he depicts in his writing; “a hundred bowmen reinforced the first three individuals. Whatever their stature, they looked like giants to us in our fright. We could not hope to defend ourselves; not half a dozen of us could even stand up. The Inspector [Solis] and I walked out and greeted them” (41-44). When the Natives outnumbered his men vastly and in comparison to their malnourished bodies the Natives were giants compared to them, but Álvar Núñez stood up and risked it for his men to survive. Álvar Núñez with his ability to step forward without cowardice to hopefully bring his men commodities to survive another day reinforces that he is a true survivor.

Álvar Núñez’s accomplishments of bravery and leadership was a big reason why he and his men all survived. But without his selflessness then his men surely would have perished far worse than they actually did. Álvar Núñez had an aptitude for selflessness to his men and wasn’t selfish like many of the well known leaders and men of power in the day. Álvar Núñez and his men were sailing the Gulf of Mexico in the freezing winter surviving off of only corn and most of the time it was raw. Many of his men were sick from the freezing winds that licked their bags of bones for bodies. One particular night Álvar Núñez noticed his men were suffering from malnourishment and freezing cold while they all huddled together on the barge keeping warm. Álvar Núñez’s navigator was alone at the wheel steering the ship, he accounts this encounterment by saying; “ Two hours after dark he told me I must take over; he believed he was going to die that night. So I took the tiller … In that hour I would have welcomed death rather than see so many around me in such a condition.” (8-12). Álvar Núñez’s account reveals that there was a lot of suffering on that barge for several days from the condition of their minds and bodies. Without Álvar Núñez taking that tiller he and his men would have most likely died. His selflessness of taking that tiller and letting his men rest as he led them and endured the harsh cold shows that his character, strength, and selflessness proves that he is a true survivor.

With the account of Álvar Núñez’s great actions of bravery, selflessness, and courage reinforce the fact of his fitting title of a true survivor. The main reason for this paper is to show the great heros hidden in between the pages of historical leaders. Álvar Núñez was a man and a true survivor that cannot be argued. Without his help of taking the tiller of the barge and the bitter cold while being malnourished so his men could have a chance to survive shows the selflessness that a true survivor needs. His action of walking before the Natives that were giants compared to themselves at the time shows his bravery for taking on any challenge before him to create hope for his other men in times of hardship. The name of a true survivor is an honorable person not created by ink, paper, and robes but by blood, starvation, and suffering.