Pocahontas: A Great American Myth Essay -- Native Americans History Es

Pocahontas A Great American MythJohn smiths tales of the Indian princess, Pocahontas, gift, over time, encouraged the evolution of a great American legend. tally to this myth, which is common knowledge to more or less Americans, Pocahontas saved smith from being killed by her father and his warriors and then fell in love with John Smith. some(prenominal) versions of the myth popular among Americans include the marriage of Smith and Pocahontas. Although no one can be sure of exactly what happened almost four-hundred years ago, most historians agree that the myth is incorrect. Pocahontas did non save John Smiths life from savages and never showed any affection for him. The events of her life differ greatly from the myth Americans view as created. Historians, such as Nancy Egloff, of the Jamestown settlement, conceptualize Smith created the story of his attempted move out to gain fame (Vincent 1). Our sole evidence that Pocahontas saved Smiths life comes from his story in Th e General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles (1624), simply this may not be a reliable source. According to Smith, he was captured by Indians, interpreted to their chief, Powhatan, and was to be killed, but Pocahontas, Powhatans daughter, saved his life (111). John Smith was captured by the Indians, but whether he was to be killed by them in the communion which he describes in The General History of Virginia is not certain. Smith describes a dead reckoning where all of the Indians gather around him, place his head on a stone, and Pocahontas lays her head on top of his to save him from being clubbed to death (111). Historians confide that this was not an attempt to beat out his brains, as Smith describes (111), but rather an adoption ceremony. The Indians merely welcomed Smith into the tribe, for after the ceremony, head Powhatan named him his son, which Smith also describes in his General History, but attributes his acceptance to Pocahontas love for Englishm en. This ceremony was actually a traditional ritual of the tribe, and Pocahontas played a designated eccentric in that ritual (Chief Crazy Horse). She accepted Smith as her blood brother in the ritual, while Smith believed she saved his life from ruthless savages. Smith may have misinterpreted an Indian ritual, or he may have romanticistized the story to gain fame, which many believe was typical of him. Some believe Smiths captivity may never have occurred... ...eys further dramatization of the myth It is unfortunate that this sad story, which Euro-Americans should find embarrassing, Disney makes entertainment and perpetuates a dishonest and self-seeking myth at the expense of the Powhatan Nation. (3)Perhaps we, as Americans, enjoy this romantic tale of Indians and Europeans, our ancestors, uniting. We therefore continue to relay this obstruction of the truth from coevals to generation, until the truth is no longer recognizable. Works Cited Pocahontas. Association for the Pres ervation of Virginia Antiquities. Online. Internet. January 24, 1998. obtainable at http //www.apva.org /history/ pocahont.html. John Smith. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Baym, Nina et. all. 4th ed. Vol. 1. New York Norton, 1994. 111. Chief Roy Crazy Horse. Pocahontas Myth. Powhatan Nation. Online. Internet. January 24, 1998. Available http//www.powhatan.org/pocc.html. Pocahontas. Columbia Concise Encyclopedia Microsoft Bookshelf. Microsoft Corporation 1993. 1. Vincent, Mal. watch the historical Pocahontas. Online. Internet. 24 Jan. 1998. Available http//www.pilotonline.com/movies/mv0620his.html