Difference between revisions of "329-2010--Week 2 Questions/Comments"
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One of the interesting things from this account is Smith’s optimism upon the departure of Captain Newport. Smith stated that Captain Newport returned to England on June 22nd “leaving provision for 13 or 14 weeks” and that all of his men were “in good health and comfort, albeit, that through some discontented humors…” We can look back on this now because we know how badly things went for the colonists. They got short on supplies, relations with the Indians shifted constantly and they could not change their English customs to adapt to the new world. To me, it was just very curious to look back at these comments, knowing now that high morale and good fortune for the English did not last long. -afrisk | One of the interesting things from this account is Smith’s optimism upon the departure of Captain Newport. Smith stated that Captain Newport returned to England on June 22nd “leaving provision for 13 or 14 weeks” and that all of his men were “in good health and comfort, albeit, that through some discontented humors…” We can look back on this now because we know how badly things went for the colonists. They got short on supplies, relations with the Indians shifted constantly and they could not change their English customs to adapt to the new world. To me, it was just very curious to look back at these comments, knowing now that high morale and good fortune for the English did not last long. -afrisk | ||
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| + | While they were very interesting, I think that Smith's journals should be taken with more than just a grain of salt; since they were rewritten and republished several times, which fairly significant changes, they become a less reliable source. I also think that it is important to consider that Smith was writing to his superiors, so he was most likely trying to make himself look better, while simplifying what he knew of the Native American culture, such as describing their fascination with his glass beads and trinkets. However, Smith's journals do provide us with some insight into the power dynamics, at least from the English point of view, between Natives and colonists. -Meagan P. | ||
