Why Did Acorn Whistler Have To Die Analysis

The Four Deaths of Acorn Whistler continually asks the question “Why did Acorn Whistler have to die?” The answer to this is not as simple as it may appear on the surface. This seemingly local event had consequences that connected all aspects of the colonial world. A complicated web of lies shows how a drunken warrior’s self promotion led to his downfall and execution. Because he constantly talked himself up, it was easy for other lies told about him to become believable. After a group of Osochi Natives attacked a peaceful party of Cherokees, Acorn Whistler and the Upper Creeks were framed for the murders. Thomas and Mary Bosomworth, colonists with English and Creek roots, created a consistent story of the event that supported the interests of both Malatchi, a Creek chief, and Governor Glen of South Carolina. These stories spread to become a conviction of Acorn Whistler’s character and guilt. Overall, the lies about Acorn Whistler’s death are a complex dance of power between all …show more content…
Tom’s British heritage and Mary’s Creek roots gave them a unique but unstable position of power in colonial society, because “Mary could be seen as truly powerful only by those standing outside of Creek country, and Thomas could be seen as influential only by those standing on the margins of Britain’s empire” (195). Using their respective ties to their advantages, they wove a consistent story that Acorn Whistler was guilty of the April 1 attack. This lie was soon echoed by Glen and Malatchi because it supported their own national agendas. Thomas and Mary Bosomworth used their joint power to become important bargaining pieces and translators for the entirety of the events, but never became truly powerful or rich. They had hoped that the support of Malatchi and Governor Glen would lead to the authentication of their Creek land claims and alleviate their