Blog #2 - John Smith and Pocahontas (Movie vs. Reality)

As I was reading John Smith's accounts of his story with the Indians, I thought about the Disney movie we all know (and mostly all love), Pocahontas. Pocahontas, like all Disney movies, is a sappy love story that's kinda sorta based on something that actually did happen. But just how much of that movie is based off of the real facts? Not a lot.

In the movie, Pocahontas is a beautiful, young woman who appears to never have a bad hair day, despite the fact that she's a "savage." She also had a tattoo and wore a leather mini dress. In real life, she was a naked child when she first visited John Smith. John Smith is a handsome, tall, blonde man who wore some armor. In real life, he was short with a full beard and wore puffy pants.

In real life, they really looked like this: 

Practically identical, right? There's also more to it than just their appearances, though. 

According to http://pocahontas.morenus.org/, there are several things in the movie that are different (because of the Disney rewrite), but there are some things in the movie that do represent what historically really did happen.

1. In the movie, both Pocahontas and John Smith were young when they met. In real life, Pocahontas was 11 and John Smith was 28. 
2. The colonists in the movie sailed on a ship called the Susan Constant. Historically, they sailed on 3 ships, one of which was called the Susan Constant. 
3. John Smith was captured when he set out to visit Pocahontas, whereas in real life, he was captured when he and his Indian guide split off from the rest of the expedition. 
4. In the Disney movie, John Smith's compass showed Pocahontas where he true path lay. In reality, John Smith used his compass to describe how the earth was actually round and how objects in space revolve around one another.
5. Pocahontas was engaged to Kocoum, but chose John Smith instead. In reality, she ended up marrying John Rolfe. 

Also in the movie, we see the characters Percy and Thomas. Percy was Ratcliffe's dog, and Thomas was a young friend of Smith's.

Percy

Thomas

George Percy was a prominent colonist who followed Smith as council president, and wrote two books about his experiences. A clever name for the dog! Thomas Savage, young laborer, arrived in January 1608, and was sent to live with Powhatan the next month, sort of like a "cultural exchange student." (The Real Pocahontas)

So some of the action in the movie was actually inspired by real life events. If you know the real history, it makes the movie that much more appealing. Even the song "Colors of the Wind" probably had some sort of historical accuracy. Listen to the words, and learn a life lesson! :)