A frightening image helped A frightening image helped promote support in the slaying and promote support in the slaying and

subjugation of Native Americanssubjugation of Native Americans

Natives were seen as a threat not only to Natives were seen as a threat not only to the the ““innocenceinnocence”” of Puritan settlers, but to of Puritan settlers, but to the most vulnerable and cherished aspect the most vulnerable and cherished aspect

of their societyof their society

Warnings and desolate landscapes Warnings and desolate landscapes portrayed the land as empty and portrayed the land as empty and

lacking in cultured societylacking in cultured society

Natives were without clothing, Natives were without clothing, primitive in their weaponry, and in primitive in their weaponry, and in

colonial eyes, this made them less than colonial eyes, this made them less than human.human.

Native customs were often portrayed Native customs were often portrayed as ludicrous and sometimes terrifying.as ludicrous and sometimes terrifying.

Often, Natives were written of as evil Often, Natives were written of as evil cannibals who only wanted to feast on cannibals who only wanted to feast on

human fleshhuman flesh

Another way of representing the Native was as Another way of representing the Native was as a sort of idiotic simpleton who wanted to freely a sort of idiotic simpleton who wanted to freely

give their land away to settlers.give their land away to settlers.

The famous story of Natives gladly giving their land and The famous story of Natives gladly giving their land and food away to settlers is not quite the way things food away to settlers is not quite the way things

happened, according to historical texts.happened, according to historical texts.

Settlers often thought it acceptable to Settlers often thought it acceptable to ““taketake”” native women from their native women from their families, among countless other families, among countless other

atrocities.atrocities.

An image from the recent media…how An image from the recent media…how much of our view of indigenous culture much of our view of indigenous culture

has changed?has changed?

What does this mean What does this mean for us today…?for us today…?

Over the centuries, European settlers, specifically English settlers have done infinite damage to the culture of Native peoples and their lands. We can se in the literature of the times, as well as in today’s work, that these colonist mindsets are not easy to erase from the world, but Post-Colonial Theory helps us to notice when it occurs so that we are no blind to its influences.