- Oct 2024
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www.screenwritersnetwork.org www.screenwritersnetwork.org
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If you kill him,you'll have to kill me too.Daughter, stand back.I won't! I love him, Father.Look around you.This is where the pathof hatred has brought us.This is the path I choose, Father
Though the romance between Pocahontas and John Smith never happened, Pocahontas might have influenced the fate of John Smith. According to the Park Service, a theory is Pocahontas placed her head upon his when the Chief was about to bash his head open, but this has been debated for years.
McClurken, Jeff. “Pocahontas.” University of Mary Washington, September 3rd, 2024.
“Pocahontas: Her Life and Legend.” National Park Service, September 4, 2022. https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/pocahontas-her-life-and-legend.htm
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Lies. Lies! All of it!Murderous thieves.There's no room for their kindin civilized society.But this is their land!This is my land!
This line shows the English's lack of empathy for anyone or anything due to the selfish drive to get rich. They believed that because they came there they are now the rulers of the land and the Natives are just uncivilized savages, which is far from the truth.
McClurken, Jeff. “Pocahontas.” University of Mary Washington, September 3rd, 2024.
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This place is incredible.And to think we came all this wayjust to dig it up for gold.- [Pocahontas] Gold?- Hey, Meeko.- What's gold?- You know, it's yellow.It comes out of the ground.It's really valuable.Oh! Here, we have lots of it.Gold.No, no! Gold is this.There's nothing like that around here.
When John asked Pocahontas about the gold, as shown in these lines, she thought he was talking about corn. Native Americans did not see gold as something of value, they valued resources like crops and animal skins. They lived by what they needed, not what they wanted. The British were after what they wanted, a material that was given value, not inherently valuable.
McClurken, Jeff. “Pocahontas.” University of Mary Washington, September 3rd, 2024.
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savages all over the world.Savages?Not that you're a savage.- Just my people.- No.Listen, that's not what I meant.Let me explain.- Let go!- No. I'm not letting you leave.Look, don't do this.Savage is just a word, you know?A term for...people who are uncivilized.
These lines further explore the conceptions the British people had about Natives. The British believed that their way of life was superior. Though they took it upon themselves to rob and fight the natives because of the natives' skilled way of the land. They had captivated the land, and the British just replied on trade, occasionally, and taking it from them. Yet, they thought their way of life was more "civilized".
McClurken, Jeff. “Pocahontas.” University of Mary Washington, September 3rd, 2024.
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Steady as the beating drumSinging to the cedar uteSeasons go and seasons comeBring the corn and bear the fruitBy the waters sweet and cleanWhere the mighty sturgeon livesPlant the squash and reap the beanAll the earth our Mother givesO, Great Spirit, hear our songHelp us keep the ancient waysKeep the sacred fires strongWalk in balance all our daysSeasons go and seasons comeSteady as the beating drumPlum to seed to bud to plum
This excerpt of the script shows the context in which Natives have knowledge of the land and how to benefit from it. Unlike the Natives, the British did not understand how to captivate the potentials of the land. They assumed the land would already be rich in nutrients, and didn't prepare to be laborers.
McClurken, Jeff. “Pocahontas.” University of Mary Washington, September 3rd, 2024.
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This New World'sgoing to be great, John.I'm going to get a pile of gold,build me a big house, and if anyIndian tries to stop me, I'll blast him.Just worry about that fortuneof yours, Thomas.- Leave the savages to me
This excerpt from the script portrays the English view on Native Americans during this time. They referred to them as "savages" and treated them with no respect. Native Americans were seen as an obstacle to the "get rich quick" goal they were pursuing.
McClurken, Jeff. “Pocahontas.” University of Mary Washington, September 3rd, 2024.
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But mark my words, Wiggins,when King James sees the goldthese peasants unearth,success will be mine, at last.
This excerpt of the script further proves the point that the most important goal the British had was to get rich and claim their riches in Britain. Colonizing wasn't necessarily a goal at first.
McClurken, Jeff. “Pocahontas.” University of Mary Washington, September 3rd, 2024.
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We will destroy these invadersthe way we destroyed the Massawomecks.
When the English arrived, the Native Americans were already fighting amongst themselves. They understood the land and its advantages and disadvantages, unlike the British.
McClurken, Jeff. “Pocahontas.” University of Mary Washington, September 3rd, 2024.
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In Sixteen Hundred SevenWe sailed the open seaFor glory, God and goldAnd the Virginia CompanyFor the New World is like heavenAnd we'll all be rich and freeOr so we have been toldBy the Virginia CompanySo we have been toldBy the Virginia Company
The filmmakers tried to portray the ideals the British had when setting sail to the Americas. The Script indicates the Virginia Company believed the land would be filled with gold and rich with valuable resources, yet this was far from the truth.
McClurken, Jeff. “Pocahontas.” University of Mary Washington, September 3rd, 2024.
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