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Pocahontas Argumentative Essay

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If one mentions the name Pocahontas to any young girl today, chances are, their eyes will light up with visions of Disney's romanticised representation of the classic character. However, historical descriptions and portraits of Pocahontas tell a different story from the one playing on the silver screen. Compared to Disney's story of romance and sacrifice, Pocahontas' real story is more about politics, English-Indian diplomacy, and power struggles – not one of compassion and love. Although it may seem like Disney's Pocahontas is a retelling of her real story, Disney ignores the legacy of Pocahontas by twisting her story into one of mawkish romance rather than one of politics and diplomacy with the English.
The main contrast of Disney's Pocahontas to the historical Pocahontas involves her experiences with John Smith and the other English settlers. Take the compass in the Pocahontas …show more content…

Pocahontas used her relationship with the English to free Indian captives and to facilitate trade deals, eventually marrying a powerful English planter (John Rolfe). Additionally, Disney's skewed portrayal of Pocahontas applied to John Smith and his motives as well. Smith's own records state that his mission in Virginia was to gain leverage and power from the Indians in the area. Smith's actions of giving important gifts to powerful tribesman and becoming the adopted son of the chieftain truly reflect his motives. The story of Pocahontas, although inspiring, is a story of politics and power, not of love and compassion. Disney is famous for making fairytales and legends come alive on the silver screen and Pocahontas is no exception to this rule. Disney's Pocahontas is clearly a romanticised fairy tale and not from historical fact, but it is at the viewer's discretion to tell the difference before both fact and fiction merge into

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While reading the book, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma, I learned a great deal about early Indian life, in a way I had not before. Of course, in grade school you learn about “Pocahontas” but not in the way Camilla Townsend describes her. I started this book not really knowing what to expect besides to learn more than I had previously known. I know recently a lot about history has come up for discussion in ways it has never before. Native Americans and Africa Americans have been a topic of discussion for the past few years, shedding light on their history.

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