Texts written during the time of the settlement in America often include descriptions of Indian
tribes and Native Americans. In these descriptions the Indians are often called “Savages”
because of their outer appearance and their behaviour. But were those Indians really savages,
barbarians or devils? Were they as uncivilized as often described or are those images the
result of misunderstandings? Is it possible that they were more civilized than the White Men?
To answer these questions it is necessary to have a closer look on those texts, for example, the
texts of John Smith and Benjamin Franklin who build up different pictures of the Native
Americans and the White Men. Smith’s and Franklin’s texts have varying approaches and
backgrounds but both men had close contact to the Indians. Therefore their texts are good
basics to answer the questions in an objective way because their varying descriptions make it
possible to carefully consider the facts and opinions. Because both texts are subjective it is
also necessary to give some facts about Indian tribes and their ways of life. John Smith’s text
is about the Powhatan whereas Benjamin Franklin mostly writes about the Iroquois. Therefore
it is obvious to also consider facts about those tribes and not only refer to Smith and Franklin.
All these background information will help to clarify who “the real savages” are.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. John Smith
- 2.1 From The General History of Virginia [...]
- 2.1.1 Image of the Native Americans
- 2.1.2 Image of the White Man
- 2.2 Explanations concerning Smith's description
- 2.3 Conclusion
- 2.1 From The General History of Virginia [...]
- 3. Benjamin Franklin
- 3.1 From Remarks concerning the Savages of North America
- 3.1.1 Image of the Native Americans
- 3.1.2 Image of the White Man
- 3.2 Irony and Explanation
- 3.3 Conclusion
- 3.1 From Remarks concerning the Savages of North America
- 4. Other Images of the Native Americans
- 4.1 American Indians - A General Overview
- 4.2 The Powhatan
- 4.3 The Iroquois
- 5. Conclusion - Who are the Real Savages?
Objectives and Key Themes
This research paper aims to analyze depictions of Native Americans in the writings of John Smith and Benjamin Franklin, questioning the prevalent label of "savages" applied to them. By comparing and contrasting their accounts, the paper seeks to uncover the biases and perspectives informing these descriptions and explore whether these portrayals reflect reality or are products of misunderstanding and prejudice. The analysis will incorporate historical context and information about specific tribes like the Powhatan and Iroquois to provide a more nuanced understanding.
- Contrasting portrayals of Native Americans in historical texts.
- Examination of the biases and perspectives of John Smith and Benjamin Franklin.
- Analysis of the cultural differences and misunderstandings between settlers and Native Americans.
- Exploration of the concept of "savagery" and its application in colonial narratives.
- Assessment of the historical accuracy and reliability of early colonial accounts.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the research paper by posing the central question: were Native Americans truly "savages," or were these descriptions biased representations? It introduces the texts of John Smith and Benjamin Franklin as primary sources for analysis, highlighting their unique perspectives and interactions with Native American tribes. The chapter emphasizes the need to consider various viewpoints and historical context to arrive at a fair assessment of the situation. The methodology of the paper is also briefly discussed.
2. John Smith: This chapter analyzes John Smith's account of his experiences in Virginia, primarily focusing on his descriptions of Native Americans and the colonists. Smith's portrayal of the Powhatan is revealed as ambivalent, encompassing both positive (hospitality, provision of food) and negative (capture, perceived barbarity) depictions. The chapter examines Smith's cultural biases and the impact of his interactions with the Powhatan on his perceptions. The contrasting descriptions between Smith's portrayal of the Native Americans and the colonists' actions highlights potential biases.
3. Benjamin Franklin: This chapter shifts to Benjamin Franklin's observations on Native Americans, focusing on his work "Remarks concerning the Savages of North America". Similar to the analysis of Smith's text, this section dissects Franklin's descriptions of Native Americans (Iroquois), examining the nuances of his portrayal and identifying instances of irony and implicit bias. The chapter compares and contrasts Franklin's view with that of Smith, exploring the extent to which their respective experiences shaped their perspectives and their portrayal of “savagery.”
4. Other Images of the Native Americans: This chapter expands the analysis beyond the perspectives of Smith and Franklin, providing a broader context by exploring general descriptions of Native Americans in colonial texts. It specifically focuses on the Powhatan and Iroquois nations to complement the previous analysis, contextualizing the perspectives of Smith and Franklin within a more comprehensive understanding of Native American cultures and lifeways.
Keywords
Native Americans, Colonial America, John Smith, Benjamin Franklin, Powhatan, Iroquois, Savagery, Cultural Misunderstanding, Colonial Narratives, Historical Bias, Ambivalent Representations.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Native American Depictions in Colonial Writings
What is the main focus of this research paper?
The research paper analyzes how Native Americans were depicted in the writings of John Smith and Benjamin Franklin. It questions the common label of "savages" applied to them, examining the biases and perspectives behind these descriptions to determine if they accurately reflect reality or are products of misunderstanding and prejudice.
Which primary sources are analyzed?
The primary sources are the writings of John Smith (specifically focusing on his account from "The General History of Virginia") and Benjamin Franklin (primarily "Remarks concerning the Savages of North America"). The paper compares and contrasts their descriptions of Native Americans.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include contrasting portrayals of Native Americans in historical texts, examination of the biases and perspectives of Smith and Franklin, analysis of cultural differences and misunderstandings, exploration of the concept of "savagery," and assessment of the historical accuracy of early colonial accounts.
How are the Native American portrayals analyzed?
The paper analyzes Smith and Franklin's descriptions of Native Americans, identifying instances of both positive and negative depictions. It explores the authors' cultural biases and how their interactions with Native American tribes shaped their perceptions. The analysis also considers the historical context and specific tribes, such as the Powhatan and Iroquois.
What specific Native American tribes are discussed?
The paper specifically focuses on the Powhatan and Iroquois tribes to provide context for Smith and Franklin's accounts and offer a more nuanced understanding of Native American cultures.
What is the overall conclusion of the paper?
The concluding chapter aims to answer the central question: Who are the real savages? It synthesizes the findings from the analysis of Smith and Franklin's accounts, and broader information about Native Americans to offer a balanced perspective on the colonial portrayals.
What is the structure of the research paper?
The paper is structured as follows: Introduction, a chapter on John Smith's depictions, a chapter on Benjamin Franklin's depictions, a chapter expanding on broader portrayals of Native Americans (including specifics on the Powhatan and Iroquois), and a concluding chapter.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include Native Americans, Colonial America, John Smith, Benjamin Franklin, Powhatan, Iroquois, Savagery, Cultural Misunderstanding, Colonial Narratives, Historical Bias, and Ambivalent Representations.
What is the overall objective of this research?
The research aims to provide a more nuanced and critical analysis of colonial depictions of Native Americans, challenging simplistic and biased narratives.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Jessica Narloch (Autor:in), 2006, White Men or Native Americans - Who are the Real Savages?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/186299
