Native Americans in the "Civilized" Land
Native Americans in the "Civilized" LandThere were different ways of getting the message across, but the views expressed when it came to the different images and texts relating to Native Americans were all the same. Indians were savage people that needed to be "civilized". It seemed like the only purpose the Indians served once America was conquered was to be trading partners with the Europeans and to be converted to Christianity. Other than that, the Indians were either attacked or ridiculed by the colonists. I was surprised at how the Indians had to face such harsh and difficult situations, yet somehow they still stood strong. The different texts scorned the Indian population through different techniques. I tried to analyze how they were written, but it was hard to determine the viewpoint of such works as the essay "Indian/Non-Indian Relations". I first decided that it had to be written from a Native American's viewpoint because it discussed how brutally the Europeans treated them and how they were ostracized from the colonies, but then I changed my mind after reading "many Indians died a 'wonderful plague' of smallpox" (Indian Relations). I simply refused to believe that a Native American could write those words,
The colonists didn't like the strangers without clothes on who did war dances and ran around free. Personally, the images were the most informative because I was able to make up my own words about the European and Indian relations. That's exactly how the Indians were depicted in the images, such as "A young gentill woeman doughter of Secota". After reading William Byrd's text, I saw that he had the same views on Indians as the essay writer, but he chose to be nice and describe a few admirable traits before abruptly attacking the Indians, calling them "indolent wretches", and using a humorous tone to ridicule the Indians because they "depend entirely upon the English, not only for their trade but even for their subsistence" (Byrd). The two females looked free with a certain beauty to them. Metacomet gave me the viewpoint of the Europeans being the foes instead of the Indians, which was more likable for me because I'm not of European descent, so I like to see the side where the European conquerors aren't always the heroes. I find magicians and jugglers and performers to be people I laugh at. A conjurer is a magician, juggler, or other magic spiritual performer. This elegant beauty is what I think frightened the Europeans. "Genocide had been deliberately accomplished by the Christian colonists" (Metacomet). "Indian/Non Indian Relations" William Byrd's text, and "The Prophecy of Metacomet" all have different ways to give the reader the same information. I guess the Europeans weren't ready for it. One of them looks like a savage because his body is all decorated with animals and there are Indian heads in his hand and at his feet.
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Acceptance Essays
