Collin Thornton 11/17/16 Pg. 113 Final Draft Two Personal Accounts of Exploration and Settlements The two selections that give the most complete picture of this historical period are The General History of Virginia and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. In the early 1600s, Captain John Smith found himself in a precarious situation, the failing Virginia colony. Likewise, Olaudah Equiano was put in a difficult situation as he faced many atrocities on the slave ship at the hands of the slave traders and owners.
Initially, the natives welcomed the English. However, in 1609, when the English continued to demand food from them, Chief Powhatan ordered his people to refuse them. It was not until 1614 when peace reigned between the two groups again. The year earlier Chief Powhatan’s daughter Pocahontas was kidnapped by the English. During her captivity, she and Englishman John Rolfe met and fell in love.
John explains, “But watching her mix the formula for my next meal made me seethe. Look what they’ve done to me. Just look what they’ve done to me” (page 159). John’s whole way of life had been altered because of his attacker. This left him furious and with nothing he could do about it.
Now we have all heard about the story of Pocahontas, unfortunately many of the stories we were told growing up are not completely true. Camilla Townsend, the author of “Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma”, intends to inform its readers about the evolution of the many lies written and told by the Englishmen regarding their relationships with the Native America peoples that many of us have heard about today. However, Townsend has ineffectively given her readers information about the whole truth to the stories she has written about the many relationships of the English and Native Americans. Firstly, although Townsend claims to have done her research on the topic by reading all the documents written from this time period and beyond, she leaves
The author goes on to debate what Pocahontas actually felt in her relationship with John Smith and how she most likely did not reciprocate the feelings he claimed she had. This may be new information to the reader and provides historical difference of the real Pocahontas from the Hollywood version while strengthening Townsend’s argument. Also, the author does not use challenging language in her own writing. She keeps her own wording basic as to give the readers a break from the difficultness of the old language. Another positive aspect of this book is the notes section and the preface.
The Many Theories Relating to John Smith and Pocahontas Everybody from generation after generation knows the story about how a man by the name of John Smith and a girl by the name of Pocahontas had a very important encounter in the late year of 1607. Unfortunately, too many people believe the one story about how Pocahontas laid over him just as he was about to get killed, and then fell in love with each other and moved backed to England. This is unfortunate because there are many different theories, myths, and evidence for what actually occurred between them, and that time era. Pocahontas was the daughter of Chief Powhatan who had one of the biggest tribes at that time. They lived in Chesapeake Bay, in the southern part of Virginia.
When John was asked if he attend church he would regularly respond with “Not since i marched with the army”. Warfare was obviously another adversity he faced in his lifetime which he allowed to shape his identity tremendously. John before the war was a man who regularly attend church but he allowed the war to shape his identity by changing his religious beliefs. He also allowed this adversity turn him into an alcoholic and almost abusive father.
Petalesharo’s writing reflected the treatment of Native Americans during the 1800s. Being a Native American himself, Petalesharo was able to give perspective on a point in history typically viewed from a white man’s opinion. The excerpt “Petalesharo” explains how the Native American was able “to prevent young women captured by other tribes from being sacrificed”, making Petalesharo well liked by the Americans (588). Petalesharo gave the “Speech of the Pawnee Chief” infront of Americans to convey the differences between Native Americans and Americans through emotion, logic, and credibility, which showed how the two groups will never be the same, but still can coexist in the world together.
According to the header for John Smith, “The Virginia Company was formed by a group of investors seeking to establish a new colony in North America” (120). This was strictly a business venture. This is how their purpose affects their attitude towards the physical environment. They saw the land as money, and their attitude was that they were willing to do almost anything to make the venture successful. A possible consequence of this attitude is violence and harsh relations the Virginians had with the Native Americans.
Most likely, one has heard about the story of Pocahontas and John Smith. However, John Smith was not as loving and kind as he was portrayed. In the letter Address to Captain Smith, the speaker, Chief Powhatan, Pocahontas’ father, takes a condescending tone and addresses to the English settlers, especially John Smith, how the chief’s generous hospitality has not been appreciated. Literary devices such as rhetorical questions, antithesis, and repetition, diction, and pathos and ethos are exercised by Chief Powhatan to address his purpose and produce it as impactful as fully possible.
Both John Smith and William Bradford were Englishmen who came to America and helped to found the earliest colonies in New England. They came at different times and for different reasons. Both tell of events during these travels in their written accounts, but these accounts show that the two men, as well as their goals, were drastically different. Captain John Smith, considered to be the first American writer, came to America in the spring of 1607. He had many adventures prior to the voyage to New England, and thought quite highly of himself, as is clear in his writings.
Smith states in General History (1.2), “Pocahontas… got his head in her arms, and laid her own down upon him to save him from death; whereat the emperor was contented Smith should live.” This quote is exactly what Disney portrays in the movie. Smith also states in General History (1.2) “Powhatan…came unto him and told him how they were friends...” The story Disney depicts also goes along with the idea that the Indians and English end up being friends.
Thesis: The English were a prideful group, entangled in ethnocentrism, that caused a condescending and harsh treatment of the Native Americans, while the Native Americans were actually a dynamic and superior society, which led to the resentment and strife between the groups. P1: English view of Native Americans in VA Even though the English were subordinates of the Powhatan, they disrespected him and his chiefdom due to their preconceived beliefs that they were inferior. “Although the Country people are very barbarous, yet have they amongst them such government...that would be counted very civil… [by having] a Monarchical government” (Smith 22). John Smith acknowledges the “very civil” government of the Natives but still disrespected them by calling them “very barbarous,” which
Text-speak is definitely harmings students grammar. It harms them because instead of using proper grammar they use language shortcuts like lol Meaning laugh out loud. For example in the passage Text-Speaking Is Harming Teens’ Writing skills its says that researchers at pennsylvania State University gave middle schoolers a grammar test,and the ones who used language shortcuts did poorly. These shortcuts may affect this age group’s understanding of standard english grammar. In Text-Speak Can Help Students the claim is that texting helps students,but in reality it does not.
And whispers started, neighbors telling neighbors how Smith said the new people were kind and hospitable to him. How Smith said the new people treated him to their delicacies and provided him with provisions on his journeys. How Smith said the new people were respectful, helpful, and friendly. Smith writes about Chief Powhatan of the Powhatan Nation, "He kindly welcomed me with such good words and great platters of sundry victuals, assuring me his friendship and my Liberty in four days... Having all the kindness he could devise, sought to content me, he sent me home with four men: one that usually carried my gown and knapsack after me, two loaded with bread, and one to accompany me."
