Morrissey 1
Colin Morrissey
Colonial / Revolutionary America
Dr. Knarr
Townsend Paper
In reading the book Pocahontas and the Powhatan dilemma, one can come away
with information regarding the myths of several key characters in the historical account
of the colonization effort made by the English on the New World. One may recall in
their childhood watching the Disney movie Pocahontas, but many haven't taken the time
to actually see the historical information about this native woman. To understand how
Pocahontas is studied by Townsend in his book Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma
one would look at the myths developed around Pocahontas, what caused Pocahontas's
actions, and what factors made Pocahontas known the way she is in history.
Townsend suggests that Pocahontas was born in or near 1597, and her mother's
family had no political significance.1 Pocahontas was given a ceremonial name of
Amonute and a hidden name which only her parents knew.2 Later, the reader learners that
Pocahontas reveals her secret name as Makoaka the day she got married.3 Pocahontas
would most likely be responsible to work with Powhatan's wives and children. Townsend
believes that with her interactions with the villagers she got her famous name of
Pocahontas meaning "Little Playful One".4 As a woman in the tribe she would learn from
1
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 13
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 13
3
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 127
4
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 17
2
Morrissey 2
the other women how to gather berries and greens in the wilderness.5 This kind of
knowledge would probably serve the colonists well as Pocahontas lived and shared
information with them.
The famous myth surrounding Pocahontas is storied around John Smith who was
a prominent leader of the Jamestown colony and Pocahontas a native Indian girl who is a
member of the tribe that captured John Smith. In the story John's head was placed on a
rock and a warrior raised a club ready to beat his brains in. At that very moment of
intense chanting, Pocahontas threw herself over the body of John Smith.6 Powhatan then
was said to smile and signal for the events to stop.
Townsend made several reasons as to why this famous story can be falsified. One
of the main reasons one can assume the story is false is because John only wrote about
the account seventeen years later in 1624, when no one was alive to refute him.7 If that
isn't proof enough, John Smith had a writing style that always liked to incorporate a lady
and her saving graces. When John was fighting in Turkey, a Muslim lady was described
as treating him fairly when he was captured.8 Stories were made to be juicy and provide
rich stories full of action and exotic women that readers and explorers could inspire upon.
Lastly, in 1624 one learns that John Smith was adopted as a son of Powhatan.9 John
Smith probably had to play his cards right and maybe he did interact with Pocahontas, but
ultimately Powhatan made the decision to adopt John Smith.
Pocahontas didn't have to act in any sort of way towards the colonists, but she
choose to and did so often. Powhatan sent Pocahontas to try to release Indian captives
5
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 18
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 52
7
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 52
8
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 53
9
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 58
6
Morrissey 3
from the fort.10 This was Pocahontas's first time at the fort, and perhaps she was sent by
Powhatan because she was a curious girl. At this moment in time Pocahontas was
companied by Rawhunt an advisor of Powhatan. Pocahontas asked on behalf of
Powhatan that the captured be released and the English asked for Thomas Savage back
who they regretted leaving behind with Powhatan.11 Townsend suggests that it could
have been the custom of werowances sending their daughters as emissaries that prompted
Pocahontas to act.12 This kind of action would show trust in the enemies and a desire to
work with them.
Another myth was developed when Powhatan ordered a massive ambush on
Jamestown and Pocahontas warned the English people of the attack to come. The
instance described Pocahontas warning John Smith of the plots in the middle of the night
in the rain.13 Townsend assumes this myth can be falsified because the English would
have had their suspicions and been on the lookout. The English also knew they had the
upper hand with weapons and armor, so Pocahontas would have known the English didn't
need her saving grace.14 At this juncture Pocahontas does not see John Smith until years
later in London. Pocahontas goes with her people and retreats deep into the woods.
The myths go on as she is off away from the English and even while she is
reunited with the English. While Pocahontas was out of contact with the English she
married a Indian man named Kocoom who is suggested came from the Patowomeck
nation.15 Not much is said about Kocoom because he died a couple years after marriage.
10
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 69
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 70
12
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 70
13
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 80
14
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 80
15
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 87
11
Morrissey 4
The English found news of Pocahontas in 1613 and wanted to capture her because the
Virginia Company wanted to see to it that royal hostages be taken.16 Pocahontas was
tricked onto a ship with the help of Yapassus who was a werowance. The goal of the
capture was to retrieve men who were held captive by Powhatan and to get guns and tools
back that Powhatan had taken in return for the hostage Pocahontas.17 The idea was to put
Pocahontas in Henrico which was a heavy fortified settlement with men and women
living in inside the settlement.18 The hope was that living with these kinds of people
would make her more educated with English culture and perhaps convert her to their
religion as reverend Whitaker had hoped.
Events where Pocahontas was with the English develop the historical
understanding of her. While Pocahontas was with Whitaker one learns that she was a
quick learner by her events of talking to large groups of people and reciting what she had
learned.19 During the time Pocahontas was captured John Rolfe fell in love with her.
What is surprising is that Pocahontas acted in marrying John Rolfe and accepting
a Christian baptism.20 Townsend tries to explain Pocahontas's motives with intelligent
assumptions. The theory Townsend purposed was that Pocahontas, knowing that if her
people were to survive, an alliance had to be made with the powerful English.21 It only
made sense that having a child with the enemy would create an alliance as Indian custom
suggests.
16
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 101
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 101
18
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 108
19
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 114
20
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 117
21
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 119
17
Morrissey 5
The trip to London probably shaped a lot of what people thought of her
historically. While in London, Pocahontas was encouraged to act and dress like normal
English women. The Virginia company and their advertisements had a large part in
shaping what people thought about Pocahontas. The company wanted everyone to hear
about the Indian princess who promised friendship to the settlers.22 Many critics and
writers in London were also ready to belittle Pocahontas. The Stapple of News, people at
the masque, and a town gossip named John Chamberlain were all ready to take stabs at
Pocahontas.23 Townsend suggests that most of this criticism was probably directed at
John Rolfe, who was described as stooping so low as to marry a Indian princess to gain
social status. In order to turn the tide on this Indian image Pocahontas had she was
painted as a great lady of the Jacobean court.24 This would perhaps change how some
would historically think of Pocahontas. In the end, some people might believe that
Pocahontas got so engulfed with the English ways that she abandoned her culture. The
story ends for Pocahontas when she dies shortly after taking off for the New World.25
The character of Pocahontas and her legacy in history is greatly distorted. At
different times in history Pocahontas has been viewed in different ways. At the time
close to when she lived many people perhaps viewed Pocahontas as an exotic Native
princess who married a Englishman. The social implications of Indians and white
Europeans interacting brought a lot of criticism. The advertising attempts and books
undoubtedly added to the mythic thoughts of Pocahontas. Eventually, the assumptions of
Pocahontas culminate into what many believe about Pocahontas today. Today, one
22
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 140
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 148
24
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 151
25
Camillia Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma (New York, NY: Hill and Wang, 2004), 157
23
Morrissey 6
would say that Pocahontas was an Indian girl who was caught between her love with the
English and loyalty to her native people.
Townsend made a detailed account using many sources to create his historical
account of Pocahontas. The author used critical thinking and examined the historical
facts to make the best assumptions about Pocahontas. Educated assumptions had to be
made because we don't have detailed accounts of what Pocahontas thought. Townsend
tried his best to create an accurate account that tries to discredit the common
assumptions. The author on occasion was more into telling a store by narrating scenes
that probably didn't historically happen, but you have to understand the book would be
incredibly dry without a little imagination. On occasion the author goes into some
tangents that aren't really needed, but a lot of the tangents are based on interpretations on
historical information. Pocahontas indeed had several myths and assumptions about her
and her motives, but the author did a thorough job at trying to clear up history. One
however should be cautious in reading any interpretations a historian makes on historical
events especially if it is in the form of a book. If one really wants to know truths and not
assumptions about Pocahontas they should turn to primary sources. That isn't to say
Townsend didn't use primary sources, but since it was a book not everything was based
on solid historical backing.
Morrissey 7
Works Cited
Townsend , Camillia. Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma . New York, NY: Hill and
Wang, 2004.