Tribal Culture In The Crucible And The New World
Historically, women in Native American societies were treated with much more respect than female colonizers in New England. Dances With Wolves (1990) and The New World (2005) both depict tribal culture in North America in both the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Crucible (1996) and The Scarlett Letter (1995) vividly portray what it was like for women in sixteenth century New England. In the film, Dances With Wolves, a Union soldier finds friendship and love within the Sioux peoples in 1864. Many scenes depict the tribe’s holy man, Kicking Bird, in conversation with his wife. She had no qualms in advising her husband. He took her word with no contempt, but as a great source of knowledge to consider. This cinematic depiction of a
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In the popular story shown by the movie, Captain John Smith arrived in America along with a royal charter from England. Disease, lack of supplies, and animosity with regional Native Americans threatened the settlement’s success, so Smith set out on a mission to find supplies and trade. On his journey, Native Americans captured him and brought him before Chief Powhatan. Right when he was about to be executed, the chief’s daughter, Pocahontas, jumped in front of him to prevent his being killed. This moment— when Pocahontas kept John Smith from being killed—may contain a bit of truth in this embellished story. In the Powhatan tribe, some women had the power to determine the fate of captives (Brown). The film continues with John Smith living as a prisoner among the Powhatan people, who are depicted as an ideal, peaceful people, living in perfect harmony. The film exaggerates, but the Powhatan people did have a place and a job for every member of their tribe. Women were in charge of farming, raising children, and spiritual rituals, while men hunted, fished, and took the role as warriors. Men and women’s roles complemented each other. Because of women’s equal importance, lineage wealth and political power was shared among females, as well as males (Brown). Women were treated with respect, which the film portrays beautifully, although
In the popular story shown by the movie, Captain John Smith arrived in America along with a royal charter from England. Disease, lack of supplies, and animosity with regional Native Americans threatened the settlement’s success, so Smith set out on a mission to find supplies and trade. On his journey, Native Americans captured him and brought him before Chief Powhatan. Right when he was about to be executed, the chief’s daughter, Pocahontas, jumped in front of him to prevent his being killed. This moment— when Pocahontas kept John Smith from being killed—may contain a bit of truth in this embellished story. In the Powhatan tribe, some women had the power to determine the fate of captives (Brown). The film continues with John Smith living as a prisoner among the Powhatan people, who are depicted as an ideal, peaceful people, living in perfect harmony. The film exaggerates, but the Powhatan people did have a place and a job for every member of their tribe. Women were in charge of farming, raising children, and spiritual rituals, while men hunted, fished, and took the role as warriors. Men and women’s roles complemented each other. Because of women’s equal importance, lineage wealth and political power was shared among females, as well as males (Brown). Women were treated with respect, which the film portrays beautifully, although