Title: The Concept of the Noble / Ignoble Savage in 20th Century New World Novels:
Maurice Shadbolt’s Season Of The Jew and Michael Blake’s Dances With Wolves
Confrontation of civilized Europeans with foreign „primitive“ peoples has mostly been disatvantageous for the latter. The easiest way to deal with the strangeness of indigenous people was to regard them in a stereotypical way. Stereotypes such as the „noble“ and the „ingnoble savage“ were used to deprive such cultures of their humanity and to justify colonization and genocide. These stereotypes also found their way into European literature. In this work, I will analyze how the authors Maurice Shadbolt and Michael Blake deal with such stereotypes in their novels, Season Of The Jew and Dances With Wolves, respectively. I chose to compare these novels because they have many similarities but on the other hand also enough differences to make them an interesting comparison. Both novels are considered to be historical novels but there are some differences in the dealing with stereotypes, which I consider to be an important aspect of historical novels in general.
Firstly, I will draw an outline of the history of the terms „noble“ and „ignoble savage“ and then make a concise definition of the terms. The next step will be a short book portrait of both novels in order to compare them to each other. In the main part of this work I will analyze how the concepts of the „noble savage“ and he „ignoble savage“ are dealt with in both novels. This will be done in consideration of various aspects which before have been presented in the definition of the terms.
Exctract from the main text:
d) Behaviour And Further Criteria
One thing which astonished many European travellers was the missing idea of property among indigeous people. Many writers such as Lahontan were of the opinion that the „noble savage“ had no „mine“ and „thine“, an idea which was closely associated with the idea of the utopian Golden Age. This presented indigenous people in a light that made them appear to be content and not greedy. Other people such as Volney and Darwin were of the opinion that because their own European society was based on the idea of property, the missing of exactly this idea among indigenous people was a further proof that they were not „civilized“ and therefore inferior.
Although Europeans as well as indigenous people made wars, the difference lay in their motives... ***END OF EXTRACT
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. History and Definition Of The Terms „Noble“ / „Ignoble Savage“
1. History Of The Term
2. Definition Of The Noble / Ignoble Savage Concept
a) Differences In Opinion About The „Noble Savage“ Concept
b) Appearance of the „Noble“ / „Ignoble Savage“
c) Religion And Ethics Of Indigenous People
d) Behaviour And Further Criteria
III. Historical Setting, Plot And Intended Readership
1. Maurice Shadbolt’s Season Of The Jew (1986)
a) Setting And Plot
b) Intended Readership
2. Michael Blake’s Dances With Wolves (1988)
a) Setting And Plot
b) Intended Readership
3. Comparison Of Both Novels
IV. The Noble Savage And Season Of The Jew And Dances With Wolves
1. Season Of The Jew
a) Chapters 1 and 2: The Maori Chief, The British Soldiers And Faiweather
b) The Tuhoe People
c) Ropata And His Followers
2. Dances With Wolves
a) Appearance Of The Comanchen
b) Moral Superiority Of The Comanchen Compared To The White Soldiers
c) Counterarguments To The Nobility Of The Comanchen
V. The Ignoble Savage And Season Of The Jew And Dances With Wolves
1. Ignoble Savages And Season Of The Jew
a) Chapter 22: The Matawhero Massacre
b) Racism: Fairweather And The Poverty Bay Colonists
2. Ignoble Savages And Dances With Wolves: The Pawnee
VI. Conclusion: Stereotypes And Beyond
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how the authors Maurice Shadbolt and Michael Blake utilize the recurring literary stereotypes of the "noble" and "ignoble savage" within their respective historical novels, Season Of The Jew and Dances With Wolves. The primary objective is to analyze whether these narratives reinforce or deconstruct such colonial tropes while comparing their treatment of indigenous characters and their historical contexts.
- The historical definition and evolution of the "noble" and "ignoble savage" concepts.
- A comparative analysis of narrative approaches to indigenous representation.
- The role of "revisionist" history in challenging colonial-era stereotypes.
- Critique of racist structures within the historical contexts of the novels.
- The function of character archetypes in shaping modern readers' perceptions of history.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapters 1 and 2: The Maori Chief, The British Soldiers And Faiweather
In chapter I, Shadbolt introduces us to the main protagonist Lieutenant George Fairweather, belonging to the 65th Foot of the British Imperialist army, who are fighting against Maoris located on a hilltop fortress. The besieged fort is described in some detail: „With high parapets, robust palisades and large outer earthworks, the Maori fort bulked on the uproach to that interior.“ The protagonist comments, that the Maori forts are „traditional“ and „from the days of spear an club“, which means that they are quite „primitive“. Right from the beginning Shadbolt leaves no doubt that the British army force is superior to that of the Maoris, both in number as well as in technology: The Maoris are besieged and outnumbered by the British and attacked with „efficient Armstrong guns“ and „gunboats“. The Maoris can only answer weakly with „shotgun and musket“. Shadbolt concludes, that „the spectacle was more one of formal execution than battle.“
The chief of the Maoris is depicted as a „savage“ who has „gone half-civilized“: „A defender in the feathered cloak of a Maori chief, with ragged European trousers incongruous beneath, rose beside the truce flag.“ This is not the stereotypical depiction of a savage, a „child of nature“. The influence of civilization on these Maoris is also apparent in their religion: Their conversion to Christian belief is something that makes them more „civilized“ in the eyes of Europeans. The belief and actual observing of Christian faith is the main reason why the Maori chief acts in a „noble“ way.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: The introduction outlines the persistence of "noble" and "ignoble savage" stereotypes in literature and sets the research focus on Maurice Shadbolt’s and Michael Blake’s novels.
II. History and Definition Of The Terms „Noble“ / „Ignoble Savage“: This chapter traces the etymology and historical development of the "savage" concept, defining how European perspectives shaped these stereotypes through religion, behavior, and social observation.
III. Historical Setting, Plot And Intended Readership: Provides the contextual background for both novels, highlighting their similarities as historical narratives and their distinct approaches regarding their intended audiences.
IV. The Noble Savage And Season Of The Jew And Dances With Wolves: Analyzes the presentation of indigenous figures through the "noble savage" lens, exploring how both authors depict bravery, morality, and internal character strength.
V. The Ignoble Savage And Season Of The Jew And Dances With Wolves: Investigates the "ignoble" stereotype, focusing on depictions of violence and racism in both the colonial New Zealand setting and the American frontier narrative.
VI. Conclusion: Stereotypes And Beyond: Summarizes the findings, arguing that while both authors engage with these tropes, Shadbolt offers a more critical, revisionist approach compared to the more sensationalist storytelling in Blake's work.
Keywords
Noble Savage, Ignoble Savage, Colonialism, Indigenous People, Maurice Shadbolt, Michael Blake, Season Of The Jew, Dances With Wolves, Stereotypes, Revisionist History, Maori, Comanche, Pawnee, Representation, Frontier Romance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this term paper?
The paper explores the literary representation of indigenous peoples in 20th-century historical novels, specifically focusing on the stereotypes of the "noble" and "ignoble savage."
What are the primary novels analyzed in the work?
The study compares Maurice Shadbolt's 1986 novel "Season Of The Jew" and Michael Blake's 1988 novel "Dances With Wolves."
What is the central research question?
The work investigates how these authors deal with colonial stereotypes and whether their novels succeed in providing an authentic historical perspective or merely perpetuate existing myths.
What scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, examining character representation, historical context, and the deconstruction of stereotypical tropes across both texts.
What does the main body cover?
The main body examines the history of the "savage" concept, analyzes the plot and setting of both novels, and provides a detailed breakdown of how each novel depicts "noble" and "ignoble" traits in indigenous characters.
Which key terms define this work?
Key terms include noble savage, ignoble savage, revisionist history, indigenous representation, colonialism, and frontier literature.
How does Shadbolt’s portrayal of the Matawhero massacre reflect his revisionist approach?
Shadbolt presents the massacre with gruesome detail, not to cast the Maoris as mindless savages, but to highlight the complex political, religious, and social motivations behind the actions of characters like Te Kooti.
How does Michael Blake portray the Comanches compared to the Pawnee?
Blake depicts the Comanches as "noble," emphasizing their harmony with nature and moral superiority, while portraying the Pawnees as "ignoble" villains to fulfill dramatic narrative needs.
Why does the author conclude that these novels differ in their historical authenticity?
The author argues that Shadbolt’s novel is more authentic because it challenges the colonial biases of its characters, whereas Blake’s novel leans toward sensationalism and simplistic "good vs. evil" dynamics.
- Quote paper
- Oliver Steinert-Lieschied (Author), 2005, Maurice Shadbolt's Season Of The Jew and Michael Blake's Dances With Wolves, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/59262
