Natives Restless 1

Running head: ARE THE NATIVES RESTLESS?

Are the Natives Restless?

(Name)
American Literature I

(Instructor)
April 2, 2012
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Natives Restless 2
Are the Natives Restless?
The interaction between and among European cultures and Native cultures was
complicated. Conflict and tension existed in both cultures; describing the Europeans as
conquerors and the Native Americans as victims over-simplifies that complex relationship.
Columbus was of the conqueror/victim opinion; Bradford believed in peace but was uneasy,
while the Native American writers wrote that they accepted the "white men" as brothers, but with
a sibling rivalry. For some reason, it was believed that this was new and "unowned" land that
had been discovered and no regard was ever given to those who were here before Columbus
the Native Americans (whom Columbus mistakenly called "Indians" as he was looking for a
trade route to India and, upon first landing, believed the Native Americans to be Indians of
India).
Columbus, for example, who had left settlers on the island of Hispaniola in 1492,
discovered that there were no settlers left upon his return in 1494, after the dealings Taino
Indians had soured (Baym, 2008, p. 25). Columbus characterized the Indians as victims after
discovering that the reason there were no settlers left was because they had demanded sex and
gold from the Indians (Baym, 2008, p. 25). In 1498, upon another return to Hispaniola,
Columbus learned that the Taino had literally been enslaved by Spanish settlers (Baym, 2008, p.
25). The Taino, despite holding their own the first time, were no match for the highly-organized
Spaniards the second time. Hence, Columbus believed the Spanish were in the wrong.
Bradford, on the other hand, believed the Indians to be the aggressors at first. They had
already known of the "savage barbarians" and looked forward to no welcome upon their arrival
to America in the 1600's (Baym, 2008, p. 60). Bradford, a religious man, believed that the
Natives were peaceful at heart and, despite random attacks periodically, sought that peace.
Natives Restless 3
Eventually, they came across "Samoset," an Indian from a different part of the area, who
introduced them to "Squanto," an Indian of the tribe they had feared who had been to England
and spoke better English (Baym, 2008, p. 68). Bradford negotiated peace with the tribe and, in
return, was shown how to cultivate the land and accomplish things in this new land (Baym, 2008,
p. 69). Eventually, the first Thanksgiving was held (Baym, 2008, p. 71). The relationship was
considered to be a shaky alliance.
Native writers wrote that the white man was, at first, taken as a brother. The Native
Americans looked to share their knowledge and culture, until it became known that their
"brothers" wanted more and more of their land and resources. Surprisingly, the white men were
never feared and, in fact, made the Natives angry (Baym, 2008, p. 218). Friendly contact
between Europeans and Natives occurred over and over throughout the years and was seemingly
always followed by conflict (Baym, 2008, p. 206). Natives looked to white men as equivalents,
trying their best to keep the relationship on an even bearing. Natives were more angry at white
men than fearful of them.
Each of the portrayals of Native Americans in the Columbus and Bradford texts differ
from the image represented by Native writers in the Native Americans: Contact and Conflict
section. While Columbus decided upon the victim angle and Bradford religiously counted on
peace, the Native Americans looked at the white men as equals. Each has a different take in how
relations developed between them and, in reality, only the Native Americans had the most
realistic idea that men are men. They aren't victims nor are they to have a relationship built on
fear. If the equality approach was initiated by all, our history would have been quite different.
For example, there may have been far less bloody conflict.
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References
Baym, N. (2008). The Norton Anthology of American Literature, (Shorter 7
th
ed.). London:
W.W. Norton & Company.
Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter. In L. Person's (Ed.), The scarlet letter and other
writings (pp. xx). London: W.W. Norton & Company. (Reprinted from The Scarlet Letter
(3
rd
ed.), 1850, Boston: Ticknor, Reed and Fields).
Person, L. (2005). The Scarlet Letter and Other Writings. London: W.W. Norton & Company.