The New World - Ryan Jaekle

 In The New World, we see the story of Captain John Smith and his settlers discovering Jamestown. The film also depicts the love interest between John Smith and the Native American Pocahontas. John Smith was tasked with bartering with the Native Americans in order to get food and supplies from the Indians. The film displays the Indian tribe as an eerie and unpredictable group and this is apparent because of the dark lighting and making the Indians almost look like shadows. Smith does grow fond of the way the Native Americans live their life while imprisoned at their camp. He begins to conform to the Indians free way of living and enjoys not having to deal with the strict rules that are being set in Europe and Jamestown. After the British settlers formed the Jamestown settlement, the Native Americans who previously owned the land were able to intrude the makeshift fort and capture John Smith. John Smith is then taken as the Indians prisoner and it set to be murdered to scare the other settlers still at Jamestown. Right before the killing could take place, the Chief's daughter, Pocahontas, jumped in front of Smith to save him. Smith was very grateful for Pocahontas and eventually they fall in love with each other. The chief told Pocahontas that the relationship between her and the Jamestown settler could be beneficial for other the settlers and the Indians, but as time goes on more and more conflict emerge between the Jamestown settlers and the Indians. As a result of the ongoing conflict, John Smith is forced to make a very difficult decision choosing between staying in Virginia with Pocahontas and trying to end the conflicts, or go back to England. Smith is very torn on what to do but when it was all said and done, Smith regretted his decision. They both struggle to live back in Europe because of the freedom that was stripped from them. Back in Virginia, they could appreciate each other and the nature and animals that are there with them, in Europe they are back in the industrial side of the world where rules must be followed strictly.


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