Pocahontas To Jamestown Summary
One of the many speculations of Townsend that I believed in is her theory that one of the possible reasons why Powhatan sent Pocahontas to Jamestown to try to secure Namontack’s release, an Indian who were held in captive by John Smith and his people, was because Pocahontas was probably the best translator available. Pocahontas was probably able to know the basics of the English’s language growing up since the English has been coming to their town way before she was born. She also learned more from Thomas Savage, an English teenager whom Powhatan held captive. Townsend said that “It is possible that the adults encouraged the children to talk to him, that Pocahontas spoke to him, even taught him to say netoppew, “my friend”. Two months later
she would apparently know some English. Thomas may well have taught her what she knew” (Townsend, 68). A speculation of Townsend that I somehow disagreed upon is when she said that “Pocahontas probably never saw the okee at her father’s town of Werowocomoco, because only the priests tended to the gods and were privileged to enter their temples” (Townsend, 21). Contrary to that statement, I think that there is a great chance that Pocahontas saw the okee inside the temple although it was said that she was not allowed there. As I read the chapters and learn more about Pocahontas, I came into an impression that like other children in her age, Pocahontas was a curious girl. When she was born, she was first called “Amonute”. Her name was then changed into Pocahontas which the meaning reflected her personality. According to Townsend, “By the time she was ten, the child was known as Pocahontas, apparently meaning something like “Mischief” or “Little Playful One” (Townsend, 14). It was also mentioned that Pocahontas would always listen to the stories of older people about their gods. After that, she would ask a lot of questions. Pocahontas’ growing curiosity about their gods could certainly be a feasible reason for her to be able to find a way to see the okee or to even just enter the temple to satisfy her curiosity.
she would apparently know some English. Thomas may well have taught her what she knew” (Townsend, 68). A speculation of Townsend that I somehow disagreed upon is when she said that “Pocahontas probably never saw the okee at her father’s town of Werowocomoco, because only the priests tended to the gods and were privileged to enter their temples” (Townsend, 21). Contrary to that statement, I think that there is a great chance that Pocahontas saw the okee inside the temple although it was said that she was not allowed there. As I read the chapters and learn more about Pocahontas, I came into an impression that like other children in her age, Pocahontas was a curious girl. When she was born, she was first called “Amonute”. Her name was then changed into Pocahontas which the meaning reflected her personality. According to Townsend, “By the time she was ten, the child was known as Pocahontas, apparently meaning something like “Mischief” or “Little Playful One” (Townsend, 14). It was also mentioned that Pocahontas would always listen to the stories of older people about their gods. After that, she would ask a lot of questions. Pocahontas’ growing curiosity about their gods could certainly be a feasible reason for her to be able to find a way to see the okee or to even just enter the temple to satisfy her curiosity.