The "savages"
referenced in John Smith's writings are the Native Americans. The
Europeans didn't find anything wrong with this belittling title.
Referring to the Native Americans as "savages" was just a
racist comment that would actually help justify the Europeans with
the taking of their territory and resources. It was very dehumanizing
towards the Natives, and eliminated any idea of worth or feelings.
Some may admire
the Indian way of life, but the Europeans showed little sympathy
towards it. They referred to them as "savages" for many
reasons such as: their lack of knowledge towards money and property,
their outer appearance and behavior, and their less modest cultural
background. The Europeans were very cultural prejudice people. The
Native Americans were judged for simply protecting themselves and
their land the only way they knew how.
Not only did
Native Americans use stone and animal parts to carve tools during
this time, but some say they would cut out the heart of animals for
food. They were nomads and had no sense of social organization
amongst them. Tribal mentality was the only thing they were
accustomed to. Their diverse means of religion seemed very confusing
to the Europeans; because they didn't understand it, they rejected
it.
Because of the
Europeans, many people today have the wrong idea about the Native
Americans. Even books and films portray false facts. Most of them
focus on the numerous stereotypes that society believes today. For
example, the Disney movie, Peter Pan, contains the line “You are
our Great White Father”. This represents that Native Americans are
subservient to whites, which is not at all true. This movie also
shows a chanting scene where the Indians are depicted as somewhat
obnoxious, carefree, and wild. We wouldn't have these assumptions and
stereotypes if it weren't for the Europeans.
Many assume that
the Native Americans were brutal scalpers out to kill anyone that
crossed their path. This picture is an example of modern fiction that
shows the “savage” side of a Native American. It was intended to
depict their tragic side, the one in which they express resentment
towards the white race. Could you blame them?
The Native
Americans can be defended to an extent. They could possibly be
described as more civilized than the white men. Everything they did
had a reason and a purpose. They were forced to make a life given an
insufficient amount of resources, ones they had to accumulate on
their own. The most important thing to the Native Americans was their
family and their land. Whatever they could do to protect those two
things, they would accomplish it. The Native Americans and Europeans
definitely came from two different backgrounds and two different ways
of life; however, this doesn't make the Natives any less important.
The Europeans may
have referenced the Native Americans as “savages”, but they were
the real savages. There isn't anything sane about people from a
completely different country invading someone else's land, taking
over, and killing many of their kind. That portrays more of a
scandalistic view than anything else.
Works Cited
The Norton Anthology, American Literature, Vol A
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