When settlers journeyed to the New World, they had many expectations. They envisioned a limitless land full of opportunity and prosperity. Little did they know, that this kind of utopia was not realistic. The New World was far from perfect, and survival would be difficult. The settlers had no knowledge of the land, leaving them very vulnerable. Because of this, the settlers were forced to adapt to the difficulty of the dystopia. Ultimately, the New World was a combination of both utopian and dystopian qualities.
There is a major contrast between utopias and dystopias. Each is characterized by opposite qualities, making the two entirely different. While a utopia is considered to be a perfect world that is void of conflict, a dystopia is regarded as an imperfect world that is full of difficulty. Although these definitions appear to be rather definitive, the New World shows a correlation to both. However, it is clear that the New World has more correspondence to a dystopia than to a utopia.
The New World presents several utopian qualities. A utopia is characterized by a peaceful, safe environment, abundant with opportunity. Utopias are generally considered to be perfect. Ideally, a utopia would be free of any conflict, poverty or disease. The New World offered the settlers a chance at a new life. They viewed it as a land full of knowledge and undiscovered resources. In Christopher Columbus’ Letter, he affirms that the beautiful land is perfect for planting and sowing, as well as building towns and villages (Belasco 82). Everyone was treated equally and they worked together to grow as a community. These are all characteristics of a utopia.
Although the New World consists of many utopian attributes, a larger majority of them are dystopian. A dystopia is a place full of difficulty and hardships. It is unorganized, chaotic, and dangerous. When the settlers arrived in