The Americanization of Pocahontas

The 1995 Disney film titled Pocahontas follows a Native woman, circa 1607, who encounters a British settler by the name of John Smith. The two fall in love after a few moments of bonding in the wilderness. The main plot of the movie involves the dispute behind the Natives and the settlers who have come to this "New World" to seek a gold treasure that is only myth. Pocahontas's former fiancee Kocoum attacks John Smith after witnessing the two share a passionate kiss. Smith's fellow settler Thomas saves him by shooting and killing Kocoum. This event creates the central drama between the two groups of people. John Smith is then sent to face execution for his involvement in the death of Kocoum, as a war practically ensues between the two groups. A peaceful Pocahontas interferes in the execution and insists both groups stop pointlessly fighting. After a few heart-warming events, John Smith plans to return home insisting that he will one day be reunited with Pocahontas.

The character Pocahontas is depicted in this film as a beautiful dark-haired, dark-skinned Native woman who dons a tribal gown, necklace, and armband. Pocahontas is an incredibly free-spirited person who seems to differ greatly from the other tribal members. Interestingly enough, the movie more often depicts the other Natives to fit the role of a stereotyped Native as opposed to Pocahontas. Her tribal people are depicted as "savages" and are often called exactly that throughout the movie by the British settlers. Pocahontas actually resembles more of an American figure. For example, Pocahontas is a beautiful young woman whose most notable features include long, black hair and full, red lips. She also appears to be able to speak both English and her native tongue. The fact that the center conflict is resolved by the peaceful behaviors and attitudes of an American-like Native seems creates this (possibly intentional) illusion that Natives are simply savages that want to inflict harm upon peaceful British colonists, for these reasons I believe that the representations of Natives in the film Pocahontas seem to justify the economic and social marginalization of the racial group. The fact that the protagonist falls in love with a tall, White, blond "hunk" does not help the case either. Although the British settlers search for this imaginary treasure, the conflict truly begins when Pocahontas father, Chief Powhatan, declares all settlers dangerous. In some light, Pocahontas's own people seem to be the antagonists of the movie. The Natives are never quite given the chance for redemption other than the obvious ceasefire near the climax of the movie; this occurrence appears to be quite common in American depictions of conflicts between the two racial groups.