Pocahontas Research Paper

Dreams and Spirits A cultural belief makes one view fate differently than others. Many people native to the Indian culture believe reincarnation is their fate. While other people in other parts of the world might believe God has a plan for their fate. For the Native Americans, they believe in different spirits who helps decide the fate of the tribe. In the children’s book, Pocahontas, it shows an example of how Native Americans find their fate. Pocahontas uses her dreams and spirits to continue down the path of her and her tribe’s fate. Pocahontas tells of these reoccurring dreams she continues to have. She explains the dreams to the spirit, Grandmother Willow, “I dream I am running through the woods and I see a spinning arrow. It spins faster and faster until it suddenly stops. Then I wake up” (390). When John Smith lands on the shores of her tribes land, Pocahontas suddenly begins to make the connections to her dreams. She sees John’s compass arrow spinning, and she knows

Pocahontas visits one main spirit daily name Grandmother Willow. Pocahontas also tells Grandmother Willow about her dreams. Grandmother Willow knows right away, “I think this spinning arrow is pointing you to the right path” (390). She serves as a reassurance and encourages Pocahontas to listen to the other spirits who will speak to her heart, and tell her the right way to go. She also uses the spirit of the wind. The wind tells her when John’s boat lands and advices her to go see. By listening to other spirits, it brings her to her fate of meeting John Smith and the other settlers. Most people in our region do not speak to spirits like the Native Americans. Similarly, some people of today’s time pray. People pray and ask for guidance to fulfill God’s plan for their life. With the help of spirits, Pocahontas is able to fulfill her tribe’s fate and create peace between her tribe and the new