John Smith Rhetorical Analysis

Throughout literature, tone has been used to manifest an author’s attitude toward a variety of subjects. Tone aids in the development of literary aspects such as characterization, mood and the interpretation of the piece to the reader. However, tone does not only function in literature, tone’s uses reside in art and music as well. In fact using historical literature, artists interpret authors’ declarations by using the author’s own use of tone about an event. One piece of art that displays this characteristic is “Captain Smith Rescued by Pocahontas”, 1607, engraved by D.G. Thompson in the 19th century. This art depicts one of the most well-known stories in history, the story of Pocahontas. Using the documents provided by John Smith, himself,

Thompson created his own, interpreted version of Pocahontas’ story and drew it as so. Within his representation of the story, there are multiple tones embedded in the engraving, three include, a remorseful, pitiful and rebellious tone.
In the engraving, “Captain Smith Rescued by Pocahontas” by D.G Thompson, one receives a remorseful tone as they view the portrait. Under examination and deep thought, one can understand why, by using cool color tones, references from John Smith’s sources, specific facial expressions on a key character and the position of the key character, one can receive a tone of remorse. For instance, the primary subject in the painting, the one who captures the viewer’s attention the most, is the chief, not Pocahontas. This revelation contributes to the painting’s remorseful tone by having the chief, who is supposed to the aggressor in the story, express such a concerned look on his face and capture one’s attention. From the chief’s “guidance”, viewers look at the other two main characters, John Smith and Pocahontas, and then take in the complete scene. His expression and hand position toward the main characters demonstrate his reconsideration of his decision to kill Smith as he sees the care she holds for Smith and his remorse and regret he had toward his decisions. Another example of the remorseful tone in the painting is choice of color and the position of the characters, the artist placed in the engraving. As one examines the picture, one can notice that it has a color palette that consists of cool, dark tones such as dark blues, grays, greens, yellows, browns and blacks, creating a darker picture and an overall negative, serious mood. This identification allows viewers to make assumptions and observations on the kind of tone the artist wanted to reveal to them. Along with the colors, the body positions of the chief in the scene help prove this dark tone, by having the chief in the middle, being the focal point of this engraving, one notices his stance, his red colored skirt-that shows his superiority- his dead-weighted hand holding the club, his concerned, shocked facial expression and his hand reaching out to touch Pocahontas’ head as if to stroke her head and change his mind. These details help the viewers attain a darker tone, a remorseful tone, from the main character, the colors and his portrayed attitude in the painting. Pocahontas’ and John Smith’s small, almost frail looking bodies at the mercy of the chief, and the townsfolk surrounding him, the chief’s body language reveals the regret he holds for his outburst of rage that is described in John Smith’s General History created in 1624. In General History, it states the aggression of Powhatan and the Pocahontas’ act of saving John Smith, “[A]nd being ready to beate out his braines, Pocahontas, the Kings dearest daughter, when no intreaty could prevaile, got his head in her armes, and laid her owne upon his to save him from death; whereat the Emperour was contented he should live…”. Pocahontas’ act of self-sacrifice made Powhatan feel remorse and he changed his mind about killing John Smith in that very moment. The author’s note in the change from aggression to remorse is what Thompson focused and interpreted into his painting, allowing viewers to receive that tone and further understand the event.
In the engraving, one receives a pitiful tone as they examine the painting created by D.G Thompson, “Captain Smith Rescued by Pocahontas”.

Through John Smith’s own historical confrontations, Pocahontas’ and John Smith’s body position and the setting of the painting all contribute to this pitiful tone. For instance, in John Smith’s 1616 Letter to Queen Anne of Great Britain, one sees where the artist received the idea for a pitiful tone, “[s]avage courtiers, at the minute of my execution, she hazarded the beating out of her brains to save mine; and not only that, but so prevailed with her father, that I was safely conducted to Jamestown: where I found about eight and thirty miserable poor and sick creatures, to keep possession of all those large territories of Virginia; such was the weakness of this poor commonwealth, as had the savages not fed us, we directly had starved. And this relief, most gracious Queen, was commonly brought us by this Lady Pocahontas.” In this example, Pocahontas’ pity held toward the English men is displayed as she risked her life to save John Smith and helped him achieve his freedom, conduction to Jamestown and the nourishment of the Englishmen. Her selflessness and compassion displayed in this account contributed to her presence in the painting and encouraged Thompson to include her nature into the multiple tones of the painting, even if it is minimal. This is shown in the painting itself, from Pocahontas’ and John Smith’s body positons. Looking at Pocahontas, one notices she looks very young-as confirmed in Smith’s account-; in a child’s pose position, draping herself over John Smith as if hugging a well-known friend, and facing away from not only her father, but also from the viewers, concealing her –if any -conflicted emotions. Looking at John Smith, one sees part of his face, but enough to guess his facial expression, one of surprise and shock, he is minimal in the painting, despite the attention his savior brought to him; his dark

blue colored clothes identify him as an alien in the Native American society, laying limp on the floor as if he had already accepted his fate and has given up the will to fight. Her position reveals the concern she holds for the English traveler and the length she went to for his safety and survival. His position exaggerates the helpless state he was in before Pocahontas acted as a human shield to protect him from the wrath of her father. Another instance in which a pitiful tone is engrossed in the engraving is the setting. Looking at the picture, one notices that all the characters are in a small, secluded cave in the forest, alone from society and away from what John Smith is familiar of; isolation. With this noted isolation, one can feel pity toward John Smith, as Pocahontas did, for he was not only away from his fellow journeymen, but also from his country, his home; he would’ve died in an unknown land, with no one there to comfort and aid him. These revelations displayed in Thompson’s creation and supported by John Smith’s letter, show viewers the importance Pocahontas has in the historical story and her important presence and tone that were than integrated into his creation.
In the engraving, one obtains a tone of rebellion as they examine the portrait made by D.G Thompson in 1616. Through John Smith’s documentations, Pocahontas’ action and her “facial expression” and the other’s characters presence in the painting. One example that proves this act of rebellion Pocahontas had displayed is in the John Smith’s Letter to Queen Anne of Great Britain, which states, “but of this I am sure; when her father with the utmost of his policy and power, sought to surprise me ,having but eighteen with me, the dark night could not affright her from coming through the irksome woods, and with watered eyes gave me intelligence, with her best advice to escape his fury; which had he known, he had surely slain her.” Using this example, one can detect the rebellion through Pocahontas’ actions; she helped out the Englishmen, her father’s enemy, and even guided them to safety, despite her chances at getting caught and persecuted for her actions against her father. This tone is transcribed into Thompson’s engraving by Pocahontas’ form, her “facial expression” and the other characters in the background. Analyzing the picture, one can notice that Pocahontas is facing away from her father and the chief, concealing her feelings and going against his wishes in front of not only him but in front of the townsfolk. Her position on top of John Smith and her face turned away from her father, shows defiance in what Powhatan is doing and disapproval of his taken actions. She pities and disagrees with her father’s way so much, she is willing to die at his hands then allow him to commit an atrocity to Smith. Thompson’s choice to show her facing away from viewers and the chief signifies an rebellious tone, all in its own, Pocahontas’ non-existent facial expression not only amplifies the commitment she made by choosing Smith over her father, but also forces Pocahontas’ to accept her own decision of “betraying” her family. The background characters, the townsfolk, notice this rebellion and gathers in the small cave anticipating, waiting with upset and curious faces. These aspects Thompson gathered and interpreted from John Smith’s letter, allowed him to weave Pocahontas’ tone into the engraving subtly, illustrating Pocahontas’ sacrifice and disobedience of the chief’s wishes, for the sake of John Smith.
In conclusion, as one looks at D.G Thompson’s engraving of “Captain Smith Rescued by Pocahontas”, one can receive a remorseful, pitiful and rebellious tone that aids in the depiction and illustration of the well-known story of Pocahontas. This piece of art by D.G Thompson is only one of the many art pieces that represent a historical event that can be expressed visually as well as literary. By interpreting articles and documents thoroughly and with great thought, an artist can apply an author’s tone as well as the artists’ own interpretation of those tones into his/hers creation, bringing new thoughts and ideas on memorable times in history. With tone one can immerse themselves into a story, an article, and work of art or work of literature, without it works would be bland and unimaginable; without the use of tone to indicate a situation, or inspiration, many parts in time and works of literature would not spark creativity, inquiry and express new perspectives.