Prejudice
I think that the movie was mainly about prejudice. The men in the Virginia company had a certain idea of who John Smith was, and what his relationship to them was. He was a mutineer-- a betrayer, and they will only side with him when it is advantageous to them. And the nature of the relationship never changes.
Likewise, John Smith's relationship with Pocahontas was based on the fact that she saved his life, but no matter what she's still a woman, and a savage, at some level, and he knows what's best for her.
And then there's the relationship Pocahontas has with her father. She is his golden child, and when she steps out of that role, when she can't or won't put her people before herself, rather than face the fact that she is not who he knows she is, he kills her, essentially. He disowns her, and pretends she never existed, then lets her be traded for a copper kettle.
That was deep, huh?
Likewise, John Smith's relationship with Pocahontas was based on the fact that she saved his life, but no matter what she's still a woman, and a savage, at some level, and he knows what's best for her.
And then there's the relationship Pocahontas has with her father. She is his golden child, and when she steps out of that role, when she can't or won't put her people before herself, rather than face the fact that she is not who he knows she is, he kills her, essentially. He disowns her, and pretends she never existed, then lets her be traded for a copper kettle.
That was deep, huh?
posted by Eva at 7:53 AM
2 Comments:
This is a pretty interesting character analysis/analysis of human nature. Are you saying that people can't handle it when we don't stay within the bounds of our "roles," or what people think our roles should be. For instance, Pocohantas couldn't be a woman who saved Smith's life for noble purposes, she had to be in love with him and subservient because of her race?
this is eva
to mom, yes that's pretty much what i'm saying. but it carries over into every relationship. a relationship can only be stable if the people in it fit into a role the other person sees them in. if they break out of that role a new relationship has to be created, because the old one is over. but more often than not people react violently when people change roles, at least i do, and a lot of people i know do the same thing... so usually that's what ends relationships.
Post a Comment
<< Home