The Discovery

Summary of the Prose
Herman Ould's play The Discovery dramatizes the events on the last night of Christopher Columbus' sailing expedition to search for a sea-route to India.The story is sometimes anachronistic and credits to Columbus far greater knowledge than he had on the expedition that led to the 'chance' discovery of America.

The crew is restless at the outset and becomes eager for a fight as the play unfolds. The high-handed attitude of Columbus and absence of sympathy for the justified complaints of the crew leade to a situation close to mutiny. Destiny, however, has decided to bring laurels to Columbus and crown his efforts with the discovery of a land that is still not colonized.

Columbus is quite authoritative and stern disciplinarian. Yet he seeks adventure; he is a risk-taker by nature. The play conveys both the strengths and flaws in the character of this great explorer.

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