The New World - Simon Robson

             In The New World, we see the tale of Jamestown and the cause and effect of the British’ encounter with the Native Americans. We see through this the transformation that immediately begins to take place on both sides as a result of this collision of paths. This transformation is personified and represented through Pocohontas and John Smith, a Native American woman and a British colonist who end up falling in love. Through their love story we see the 2 of them begin to try to conform to the other’s respective community and group. At first Smith goes with Pocohontas and lives among her tribe for a while, finding his free side. He thrives in this setting and doesn’t want to go back. When he does go back however, Pocahontas chooses to follow him against the advisings of her father. She is cast out by her tribe and Smith is flogged for his relations with the natives. 

Eventually Smith ends up leaving for a new job and leaves Pocohontas behind; she believes he has died. In the end she falls for a new man, another British colonist because she cannot go back to her tribe. The film highlights ideas of transformation and conformity in a negative light. As a result of Pocohontas’ love for Smith she conforms to his society and as a result he stops showing interest in her. She is already cast out from her tribe and both of their worlds are changed forever. Through their interactions they also created relations and tensions between the British and the Powhatan that led to much more history and the nation and area we live in today. 

How much do you think that someone should conform to another one when they are in a relationship?


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