Pocahontas Analysis

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Woodward, in her book, analyzes the vital role played by the Powhatan princess, Pocahontas, in the founding of the first English colony in the New World, Jamestown. In her introduction, Woodward states that without Pocahontas’ intercessions on the colonists’ behalf, the colony would have failed during the first winter of the expedition. As the years continued and the colony persevered through quite overwhelming obstacles, the English came to see Pocahontas not just as their liaison to the Powhatan tribe, but as a political pawn whom they would attempt to control. One realizes that later in her life Pocahontas’ role was much more political. Pocahontas was kidnapped by the English living in Jamestown and was taught English manners, English theology and ultimately married an Englishman. The marriage is seen as an attempt by the colonists to end what is known as “Powhatan’s War,” which was a series of successful guerilla attacks on the colonists. From that point on, to those in the colony, Pocahontas is known ever after as Rebecca Rolfe, her Anglican baptismal name. The leaders of the Virginia Company decided it would be a great publicity move for them to send
Woodward focuses on the life of Pocahontas very vaguely before the arrival of the colonists, solely because of the lack of written history kept by the Powhantan Indians. She does venture to suggest what her early years may have been like based on what we now know about Powhatan culture . Woodward was very thorough in her use of sources which originate from the Jamestown colonists, particularly John Smith’s Generall Historie of Virginia.., the most cited resource in the monograph. She includes lengthy quotations from these primary sources throughout the main

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