Pearl River Community College's award winning literary magazine

Special Edition—Spring-Summer 1998

Special Section

MCCCWC entry—general essay division

Pocahontas

by Debra Stamps

An American Indian princess, the wife of an Englishman, and a Walt Disney star are a few of the special parts written about the life of Pocahontas. As ashamed as I am to admit it, I'm forty-four years old and believed Pocahontas married John Smith. And, as afraid as I am to think it, I feel many children believe the same after watching Disney's movie Pocahontas.

After having the opportunity to read about Pocahontas and watch the Disney movie, I realize how the movie misrepresents the true story. The targeted market for this movie is pre-school aged children. Their minds are like sponges that soak up everything around them. The movie is wonderful; it is funny, sweet, touching and romantic. Pocahontas is a beautiful princess who talks to the animals, swims in crystal blue lagoons, sings like a bird, dresses pretty, and lives a carefree life. Malice and tragedy are touched briefly in the destruction of the forest, the greed of the Englishmen, and the death of Pocahontas' fiance. The movie leaves the children with the romantic idea that life was fun and easy, and the explorers and Indians had a great time in the land of plenty. Our children shouldn't be exposed to media that misrepresents our history. With the power and talent of Disney employees, Pocahontas could have been a great learning tool for the little ones.

John Smith, an English explorer, is a handsome, strong, brave, gentle and kind young man in the Disney movie. He quickly wins Pocahontas' attention after gently talking to her raccoon while feeding it a biscuit. In reality, if John Smith had come across a raccoon it would have been his next meal. Food was not plentiful for the native Americans or the explorers. In the movie, when John and Pocahontas met, her voice was changed with a brush of wind and immediately they understood one another. There were no language barriers between a Matoaka Indian princess and an English explorer. In reality, it was very hard for the founding fathers to communicate with the native Americans. The movie shows Pocahontas defending John Smith's life, and the movie ends with John and Pocahontas locked in a hug. Children assume the two lovebirds were married and lived happily ever after, while swimming in the crystal clear blue lagoon.

In reality, Pocahontas was born in 1595 as an Indian princess. Her people are the true Americans. The explorers and settlers came and helped themselves to the land and its resources never giving thought to the people who were here first. Pocahontas was a woman, but when she spoke people listened. The women from abroad had few rights, and their opinions were of little importance. The lives of both the Indians and Virginians were extremely hard.

Pocahontas did marry an English colonist, but he was not John Smith. His name was John Rolfe. Mr. Rolfe is not in the movie, but he was a wealthy tobacco planter in the colony. In reality, the only picture of Pocahontas done in her lifetime is one that was painted after she became Lady Rebecca Rolfe. Pocahontas charmed London society and was entertained at the royal palace. Pocahontas died from a sudden illness in Europe. Many of the native Americans died from disease the explorers brought to America. Is it possible Pocahontas suffered the same fate?

Pocahontas, Lady Rebecca Rolfe, was obviously intelligent, charming, and wise. She was given credit as a peacemaker between the natives and the colonists.

The history I have found on Pocahontas is not in great detail or length, but it is sufficient. American literature and recorded history leave very little to the imagination. The cruelty, hardships, and everyday life clearly limited survival to the fittest. The Disney movie producers are responsible to the audience the movies target. Pocahontas is a beautifully designed movie, but this movie is not about design or animation quality. This movie is our history, and it leaves many wrong impressions.