Blood on the River Essay
“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how
character is built.”-Eleanor Roosevelt. A character trait is shaped by the person and describes
who they are. In the book Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone, John Smith accompanies a
voyage to the New World as a translator, and he shows his greatest character traits. You will see
how John Smith proves he is calm, fair, and brave.
First, a character trait that describes John Smith is Calm. On the ship when Master Wingfield
accused John Smith of being a traitor, John Smith almost punched Master Wingfield. Samuel
said, “Since the moment when he nearly punched Master Wingfield, the moment when he reined
in his anger, Captain Smith has been calm,” (pg.27-28) This proves that John Smith is calm
because even though he got angry he doesn’t resort to physical violence but instead he makes
himself calm so that he can focus on what to do. John Smith realizes that if he punches Master
Wingfield then it will not end well so instead he relaxes himself and holds his anger in. A
definition of calm is someone that is at peace and is not provoked. Therefore, calm describes
John Smith well because he can control his actions when he gets mad and knows how reining his
anger in will benefit to him.
Second, another character trait that describes John Smith is fair. The day when John Smith got
elected as the President of Jamestown, He was telling everyone the new rules. John Smith said,
“Gentleman or not, any man who wants supper has to pitch in.”(pg. 144) This proves that John
Smith is fair to everyone because he won’t make different social classes do different amounts of
work. John Smith believes that everyone should help, which would increase the amount of things
getting done. A definition of fair is someone that is honest and non-judging. Therefore, fair
describes John Smith well because he treats everyone evenly and if he didn’t have this trait then
he would have no respect of anybody in Jamestown.
Third, the last character trait that describes John Smith is brave. When John Smith was talking to
the new settlers, after they terrorized the Native Americans. John Smith said, “I will go up the
river and talk to the tribes these men have wronged.”(pg. 191) This proves that John Smith is
brave because he is willing to risk his life so that all of the others in Jamestown won’t die. Even
though he wasn’t the one that was terrorizing the Native Americans he takes it in his own hands
to make it safe for everyone. A definition of Brave is someone that is courageous and has no
fear. Therefore, brave describes John Smith well because he is a heroic person and if he didn’t
have this trait then everyone in Jamestown would surely die.
Lastly, this shows John Smith is calm, fair, and brave. He is calm because he controlled his
anger, became calm, and did not punch Master Wingfield. He is fair because when he got elected
as president he declared that everyone should work, no matter what social class. He is brave
because he knows the risks he must take to fix the problem, which could include death. If John
Smith did not have these traits the colony would have perished, and history would change
dramatically.