When directors make a film based off of a historical event, it’s often questioned whether or not the information they provide for their story is an accurate representation of what really happened: especially if the film was a Disney production, which is targeted towards younger viewers.
In the movie Pocahontas, British settlers sailed to the New World in the ship Susan Constant, in search for rumored gold and riches in Virginia, 1607. On the rigorous journey overseas, they lost many men during a violent storm. When they arrived, they immediately began their search for gold. Captain John Smith, an honored member of the council sent to set up Jamestown, met Pocahontas, the daughter of the Powhatan chief, for the first time almost immediately …show more content…
Even though the Indians thought the colonists were bad people and had every intention to kill Smith, the chief found a way to offer peace between the two groups and instead traded him for tools. In the textbook, it explains that Smith was a very successful, respected leader, which is why he was chosen to be on the counsel. The movie depicts him as someone the crewmembers aspire to be associated with, which is incorrect, considering Smith was considerably harsh on the settlers at Jamestown, according to the book. But his physical means of getting the colonists to get the work done made Jamestown successful. In terms of historical accuracy, the movie did get a few specific details incorrect. For instance, in the movie, Pocahontas was in around her early twenties, when in reality, in 1607 when the settlers arrived in Virginia, she was 11 years old. Also, Smith and Pocahontas was no more than friends, not lovers like the movie explains. My assumption would be to make the film more romanticized than the real story was to grab the attention of the audience of the film. While this movie has many significant differences that history presented and the audience of the film was directed towards younger children, the benefit of showing this movie to student for a history lesson would be providing a background of the events that happened during this time period in colonial America.
In the movie Pocahontas, British settlers sailed to the New World in the ship Susan Constant, in search for rumored gold and riches in Virginia, 1607. On the rigorous journey overseas, they lost many men during a violent storm. When they arrived, they immediately began their search for gold. Captain John Smith, an honored member of the council sent to set up Jamestown, met Pocahontas, the daughter of the Powhatan chief, for the first time almost immediately …show more content…
Even though the Indians thought the colonists were bad people and had every intention to kill Smith, the chief found a way to offer peace between the two groups and instead traded him for tools. In the textbook, it explains that Smith was a very successful, respected leader, which is why he was chosen to be on the counsel. The movie depicts him as someone the crewmembers aspire to be associated with, which is incorrect, considering Smith was considerably harsh on the settlers at Jamestown, according to the book. But his physical means of getting the colonists to get the work done made Jamestown successful. In terms of historical accuracy, the movie did get a few specific details incorrect. For instance, in the movie, Pocahontas was in around her early twenties, when in reality, in 1607 when the settlers arrived in Virginia, she was 11 years old. Also, Smith and Pocahontas was no more than friends, not lovers like the movie explains. My assumption would be to make the film more romanticized than the real story was to grab the attention of the audience of the film. While this movie has many significant differences that history presented and the audience of the film was directed towards younger children, the benefit of showing this movie to student for a history lesson would be providing a background of the events that happened during this time period in colonial America.