Pocahontas

A detailed play describing the life of Pocahontas and the settlers of Jamestown, this volume celebrates the title woman's influence over the New World. Born around 1595 as Matoaka, literally “Little Snow Feather,” Pocahontas grew up as a princess of over 30 Native American tribes. Chief Powhatan, her father, considered her one of his favorite children and often kept her beside him during tribal ceremonies and political discussions. When the English arrived in Virginia in 1607, with Captain John Smith among them, Pocahontas was nearly 13 years old. In what has come to be a highly contested event in history, Pocahontas supposedly saved John Smith from dying at the hands of her father by placing her head on top of his before Powhatan lowered his battle-axe. Though this event brought peace between the Native Americans and English settlers for some time, hostilities began again in 1612. In 1613, Pocahontas was captured by the colonists during a skirmish and held for ransom. During her captivity, Pocahontas learned English, converted to Christianity and was baptized as Rebecca. After nearly a year in captivity, Pocahontas was given the opportunity to return to her father and her people. She chose instead to remain with the English and act as a translator between the Algonquin-speaking natives and the colonists. At age 19, in 1614, Pocahontas married John Rolfe, a wealthy tobacco planter and New World settler. In 1616, John and Pocahontas (Rebecca) Rolfe traveled to London. Pocahontas was somewhat of a celebrity among the English and was invited to many extravagant parties during her visit. In 1617, just before the Rolfes were about to set sail for Virginia, Pocahontas died at only 21 years old. Today, the woman has been a subject of movies, art and literature. Her story of rescuing Captain John Smith has been romanticized in dozens of works, and thousands visit her grave in Gravesend each year. Even nearly 400 years after her death, Pocahontas’ story continues to be retold through history books, paintings and films dedicated to the Princess of Jamestown.