Miscegenation and the Pocahontas Narrative
HIST WGSS 3560
Week 5
Response Question #4
Miscegenation and the Pocahontas Narrative
The first thought that came to mind when reflecting back on all of the readings we have completed for the week comes from a line in Tilton’s “Miscengenation and the Pocahontas Narrative in Colonial and Federalist America.” On page twelve Tilton explains that historians have stated that the intermarriage between Pocahontas and Rolfe lead to keeping peace between the races and even the civilization of the Indians. This reminded me of the White Man’s Burden that is so often talked about when the discussion of whites taking over the Indian lands arises. The White Man’s Burden is the thought that whites are assigned to the task of teaching the native people what it means to be civilized, as well as integrating them into the typical white society. As discussed, Powhatan and his people already had systems of diplomacy developed just as the whites did. It may have been considered a less sophisticated system, determined largely by family structures, but despite being considered less complex, there was no visibly apparent reason on why it changed. This dynamic is also seen in the letter of John Rolfe to Thomas Dale on page sixty-seven when he says that it would be beneficial to Pocahontas for her to be converted to Christianity. “Shall I be of so untoward disposition as to refuse to lead the blind into the right way?” he asks. “Shall I be so unnatural, as not to give bread to the hungry?” Rolfe believes that he can alter the unchristian ways that Pocahontas has been living and convert her to a more acceptable member of society by marrying her. This is interesting because the two main reasons that he presents to Rolfe as to why he wants to marry her is because he loves her deeply and that he has a sort of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” mentality. When Rolfe needed more of an argument as to why he should marry her, he pulled out the religion card and played to the fact that
Week 5
Response Question #4
Miscegenation and the Pocahontas Narrative
The first thought that came to mind when reflecting back on all of the readings we have completed for the week comes from a line in Tilton’s “Miscengenation and the Pocahontas Narrative in Colonial and Federalist America.” On page twelve Tilton explains that historians have stated that the intermarriage between Pocahontas and Rolfe lead to keeping peace between the races and even the civilization of the Indians. This reminded me of the White Man’s Burden that is so often talked about when the discussion of whites taking over the Indian lands arises. The White Man’s Burden is the thought that whites are assigned to the task of teaching the native people what it means to be civilized, as well as integrating them into the typical white society. As discussed, Powhatan and his people already had systems of diplomacy developed just as the whites did. It may have been considered a less sophisticated system, determined largely by family structures, but despite being considered less complex, there was no visibly apparent reason on why it changed. This dynamic is also seen in the letter of John Rolfe to Thomas Dale on page sixty-seven when he says that it would be beneficial to Pocahontas for her to be converted to Christianity. “Shall I be of so untoward disposition as to refuse to lead the blind into the right way?” he asks. “Shall I be so unnatural, as not to give bread to the hungry?” Rolfe believes that he can alter the unchristian ways that Pocahontas has been living and convert her to a more acceptable member of society by marrying her. This is interesting because the two main reasons that he presents to Rolfe as to why he wants to marry her is because he loves her deeply and that he has a sort of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” mentality. When Rolfe needed more of an argument as to why he should marry her, he pulled out the religion card and played to the fact that