Pocahontas Research Paper

As a young girl, I remember watching Disney films and falling in love with the Disney princesses. Every Halloween I would dress up as Princess Belle and my cousin would dress up as Cinderella. Today, many people are familiar with Disney films and the Disney princesses. The first original Disney princess was Snow White, which was released eighty years ago in 1937. Since then Disney has created fourteen Disney Princesses. These Disney princesses all had common facial features. They had a tiny waist, defined cheekbones, a thin nose, and light skin. For most of the Disney princesses, except for a few, they were characterized as the damsel in destress who needed saving from Prince Charming. The last princess brought to the big screen in November

It is said that there are many different versions to a story. There is one persons story, then there is an other person’s story, and then, there is the truth. “Our memories change each time they are recalled. What we recall is only a facsimile of things gone by.” Dobrin, Arthur. "Your Memory Isn't What You Think It Is." (online magazine). Psychology Today. July 16, 2013. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/am-i-right/201307/your-memory-isnt-what-you-think-it-is. Every time a story is told, it changes. From Disney movies to books, to what we tell our friends and colleagues. Sometimes the different sides to the story challenge the

Sophie Gilbert says that the “environmentalist message” was powerful and unique. The facts, sadly, are not so positive. The movie would have still been great, even if names where changed, but would it still have appeal? Many people, children and adults alike, grow up thinking that they know the story of Pocahontas. A Powhatan Chief, Roy Crazy Horse, stated “It is unfortunate that this sad story, which Euro-Americans should find embarrassing, Disney makes ‘entertainment’ and perpetuates a dishonest and self-serving myth at the expense of the Powhatan Nation”, although creators of the movie may have thought that it would be harmless, people could still find offense to Pocahontas. James Allen, who knew the history of Matoaka, decided that “turning a story like that into something fluffy and “empowering” is just uncomfortable” and if the real history was ever made known among the public, people would most likely agree.

Pocahontas was faced with an impossible choice. Betray her father and tribe or betray her English friends, especially one who was very dear to her, Captain John Smith. Her decision was an important one that would help shape the New World. Overcoming hatred between families, love at first sight, and doing anything to protect each other describes Pocahontas and John Smiths' unique and special relationship. Their story is one of a complicated relationship that began when John Smith and his expedition embarked on America.

When Disney introduces new princesses, the first observation made is one concerning beauty. Often times, when Disney designs princesses, the definition of beauty implies a slim waistline, big eyes, and a perfect

[1] Disney’s Pocahontas has understandably received a lot of flak about the historically inaccurate story that is told about the legendary Pocahontas and Captain John Smith. There is a good reason for that. The movie does little that can be construed as historically accurate, yet Disney claims that was never their intent. Disney, in their previous movies, has been attacked for being racist and unsympathetic to racial minorities. Their answer was a movie whose sole purpose, as stated by Disney, was to promote racial tolerance. The question is, then can a movie promote racial tolerance when the issue is built on false history, history that if told accurately would depict the exact opposite?

Pocahontas was born in 1596, in Virginia, and her name was Amonute, but she is called by her nickname, Pocahontas. She was a Powhatan Native American woman. The name Pocahontas meant “playful one” because of the environment that she lives in. She is the daughter of Chief Powhatan, Wahunsenaca. She was her father’s favorite daughter. Like any other females, she have learned how to find food and firewood. She also need to prepare feasts for any celebrations and build houses. She needs to learn all of these jobs by when she becomes an adult woman.

John Smith's tales of the Indian princess, Pocahontas, have, over time, encouraged the evolution of a great American myth. According to this myth, which is common knowledge to most Americans, Pocahontas saved Smith from being killed by her father and his warriors and then fell in love with John Smith. Some versions of the myth popular among Americans include the marriage of Smith and Pocahontas. Although no one can be sure of exactly what happened almost four-hundred years ago, most historians agree that the myth is incorrect. Pocahontas did not save John Smith's life from "savages" and never showed any affection for him. The events of her life differ greatly from the myth Americans have created.

There were several notable American Indians who played a large role in helping the British settlers survive in the colonies. However, one of the most well-known Indians is Pocahontas. Her kind-hearted personality towards the Jamestown settlers likely saved their lives from starvation, as well as the life of their leader.

This history goes back to as early as the XI Dynasty. In 1891, Amunet, a Priestess of the Goddess Hathor, at Thebes, was discovered. According to Taylor (1998), Amunet is believed to be alive sometime between 2160 BC and 1994 BC. Amunet displays several lines and dots all over her body. The dots and dashes that were found were found in a grouping pattern. This form of tattoo is believed to only belong to women, and usually the women were associated with ritualistic practice. The Egyptians had spread the practice of tattooing throughout the word. By the year 2000 BC, the art of tattooing had stretched out all the way to Southeast Asia (Taylor, 1998).

Pocahontas was the daughter of Powhatan, the powerful chief of the Pamunkeys, a tribe that inhabited the area around the Chesapeake Bay. She was born around 1595 to one of Powhatan’s many wives. Pocahontas first observed the English when they landed in Virginia in May of 1607. She had her first meeting with them when Captain John Smith was captured by her tribesmen that winter. Pocahontas saved his life as he was about to be executed by her tribesmen and developed a friendship with him and the other settlers during her visits to the Jamestown Fort. She delivered messages from her father and accompanied tribesmen bringing furs and food to trade. In 1610, Pocahontas married a Pamunkey man named Kocoum. English settlers kidnapped Pocahontas and

Cassandra Stover explains in her Journal Damsels and Heroines: The Conundrum of the Post-Feminist Disney Princess, the dramatic shift with Disney princess at the peak of the late 1980s and early 1990s. She explains that the shift can derive from feminist movements and how the change can be directed to the third wave of feminism. She examines the original Disney princesses and decribes them to be more passively aggresive and unindependent, while the new princesses are more independent and brave. The author then explains if the shift from the old to new princesses are actually better, and not just different. Stover analysizes that Disney princesses evolve and are a part of the worlds change on feminism.

Pocahontas. Americans know her as the beautiful, Indian woman who fell in love with the white settler John Smith and then threw her body upon the poor white captive to protect him from being brutally executed by her own savage tribe. The magical world of Walt Disney came out with their own movie version several years ago portraying Pocahontas as a tan, sexy Barbie doll figure and John Smith as a blond-haired, blue-eyed muscular Ken doll. Although Disney attempts to instill racial tolerance, inter-racial friendship, and nonviolent resolutions in Pocahontas, they contribute to the inaccurate Indian woman stereotype that has evolved from such stories. While it can be argued that Disney has

In Camilla Townsend’s book, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma, Townsend points out that there are many historical inaccuracies and myths that are associated with the story of Pocahontas. Using historical evidence to support the story of Pocahontas, Townsend attempted to create an accurate timeline bringing the past to the present. At the same time, the Disney film Pocahontas attempted to depict Algonquian culture accurately, however, according to history, much of the material presented in the film is full of misconceptions and is historically imprecise. In fact, Disney’s Pocahontas epitomizes John Smith and

Almost every princess, both in fairy tales or in real life, they're always identified by their crowns and tiaras. Although, it is no longer common for the royals to wear their crowns everywhere they go, so here are some of this generations princess wedding tiaras.