Blood on the River

“‘I know these gentlemen. They’ll expect to have everything done for them, expect it to be easy. They won’t lift a finger to work.’”

The voyage to Virginia has not yet begun, and Captain Smith is already annoyed by the behavior of some of the men involved in the expedition. The captain’s irritation with the gentlemen members of the expedition to the New World foreshadow conflict between himself and the gentlemen; as well, his irritation suggests that Captain Smith understands the ways of privileged men and that their ways are very different from his ways.

“Instead of trying to decipher which of the men are to be trusted and which are not, I have made it simple for myself: Trust no one. It is a philosophy that worked for me in the poorhouse, on the streets of London, and at the orphanage.”

Though Samuel’s personal philosophy worked for him when he needed to survive tough life experiences as an orphan, it is not a philosophy that is sustainable. Samuel is young, and he has not known much love or affection, so it is only natural that he has developed a straightforward approach to dealing with the world; however, the world is a complicated place and Samuel will soon have to learn a new approach to dealing with his life as it begins to undergo dramatic changes.

“‘You have no right to accuse me!’ Master Wingfield shouts. ‘You are a commoner! You cannot level charges against your betters!’”

Master Wingfield’s language reveals his classist attitudes, demonstrating that Master Wingfield feels himself to be a superior person to Captain Smith purely because they hold different social positions in English society. He talks down to Captain Smith when the captain suggests that Master Wingfield is lying, conveniently diverting the attention away from the behavior in question.

“Captain Smith begins speaking strange words and using hand motions to communicate. I easily understand the hand motions. We come in peace (hand over his heart). We desire trade (he dangles several strings of sparkling beads.) We need food (he rubs his stomach).”

Captain Smith is released from his chains so that he can communicate with one of the natives who travel to the Susan Constant by canoe from one of the islands. Unbeknownst to the others, Captain Smith does not speak the language of this particular tribe, but he cleverly pretends that he can in order to create the illusion that he can communicate with natives all over the world in order to make himself valuable to the gentlemen and to avoid being shackled in the future.

“‘You see how it is when you’ve left the confines of England?’ he asks me. ‘You might have been born the biggest fish in the sea, but the skill and perseverance of those lower born can take you down and destroy you.’”

In this passage, Captain Smith explains to Samuel the symbolism of the underwater battle between the enormous whale and the three much smaller fish. Though the whale seems unbeatable, the cleverness and the teamwork of the smaller fish enable them to work together to make the kill successfully. Captain Smith also reveals that his interest in making the voyage to the New World has to do with his interest in making a life in a new place where he is not limited by the social hierarchy of English society; this admission means that Samuel too might be able to find a new life in Virginia.

“What if I do wrong? Will he beat me, make a fool of me? I lower my hand. It is better to remain unteachable.”

When Captain Smith offers to teach Samuel how to clean a sword, Samuel resists, fearing maltreatment if he does not learn the skill quickly. Captain Smith responds to Samuel’s reluctance by interpreting Samuel’s behavior as stubborn defiance, so Samuel tries to clean the sword according to the captain’s instructions.

“‘Does it work, Samuel?’ he demands. ‘Can you stand on one foot when a storm rocks the ship? Can you keep your footing when I shove you?’”

Samuel and Richard are fighting when Captain Smith separates them. To teach Samuel a lesson about cooperation, he makes an unusual request of Samuel; though Samuel thinks the command to stand on one foot is silly, he follows the instruction, and Captain Smith makes his point. Both during the voyage to the New World and during his new life in Virginia, Samuel and the others survive only when they work together.

“‘It will be a delicate balance, but if we can find a piece of land they are not using, and come to them in peace with goods to trade, I believe we can settle here without a war.’”

Captain Smith reveals his pragmatic attitude toward the process of establishing a settlement on land that rightfully belongs to someone else in this passage. He shows an understanding of the need to approach the situation with great care as well as empathy for the native population. His thoughtful attitude highlights the contrasting clumsiness of his opponents, who simply want to use shows of strength and power to get what they want.

“James wriggles out of my grasp, heads toward the tent opening. I grab him, harder this time. He turns and sinks his teeth into the flesh of my arm.”

Samuel attempts to stop James from leaving the tent during an attack by the natives, knowing that James’ plan to run to the ships will likely result in his death. In panic, fear, and misguided certainty, James leaves the safety of the tent, and he is killed for his rash actions. Samuel later feels guilt over the death of the young boy, suspecting that his early mistreatment of James had led to a breakdown of trust; had James trusted Samuel more, he might have listened to Samuel and avoided death.

“‘I want you to learn these words. They will be better protection than any weapon.’”

When Captain Smith tells Samuel that he wants to teach him how to use a powerful weapon, Samuel assumes the captain means a musket. He is disappointed to find out that the captain means Samuel will learn how to speak Algonquin, but later in the novel, Samuel understands that the captain was right.

“Captain Smith has taken all of the credit for discovering Master Wingfield’s stash, and for that I am grateful.”

Because Samuel swore under threat of bodily harm not to reveal that Master Wingfield had hoarded food while others were sick and starving, he is relieved that Captain Smith has not revealed him as his source of information. This gesture of trust ensures that Samuel is not harmed for his truth-telling and validates his increasingly positive relationship with Captain Smith.

“We watch her as she talks to Captain Smith. She is only a child—Captain Smith says she is about ten years old—but in my mind she has become a goddess.”

Samuel describes his impressions of Pocahontas, the playful daughter of Chief Powhatan. Captain Smith has admired her bravery publicly, and the captain’s praise elevates her in Samuel’s imagination. When he becomes friendly with Pocahontas himself, he too is impressed with her physical and mental strength.

“‘Captain Smith is now my brother, my countryman. My father will send gifts to help.’”

Pocahontas expresses her sympathy for the plight of Captain Smith and the settlers at James Town after the fire has destroyed much of the palisade, all the houses, and the store of food. Thanks to the generosity of the Powhatan people, the settlers rebuild their community and survive the tragic losses they sustained in the fire.

“‘He died as an Englishman, and came back to life as a Powhatan man.’”

Namontack, the servant boy of Chief Powhatan, explains to Samuel that the English settlers have become the chief’s tribesmen because Captain Smith, the leader of the settlers, was adopted by Chief Powhatan. In a theatrical ceremony, Captain Smith died a symbolic death, ridding the captain of his English identity and enabling him to be reborn as a Powhatan man.

“My mind reels when I hear this. Chief Powhatan thinks we are his subjects, and now they want to make Powhatan’s people English subjects? The whole thing tangles my brain in knots.”

Samuel’s confusion foreshadows the difficult political negotiations that await Captain Smith, Captain Newport, and the chief of the Powhatan people. Captain Smith knows that the chief will be unhappy about becoming an English prince under an English king, as he is already a king amongst his own people. The power struggle proves to be violent, and the decision of King James to insist that Chief Powhatan be crowned a prince starts a war between the settlers and the natives.

“As we repair the fishnets we have fun guessing who Miss Ann Burras will pick if she gets permission to wed. I only hope she finds someone who will be kind to her and make sure she gets her full food rations.”

This passage reveals Samuel’s growing capacity for empathy, a part of his personality which is taking over the previously combative and suspicious side to his temperament and making Samuel a kinder, more compassionate person. His wish for Ann comes true when she accepts the marriage proposal of carpenter John Laydon.

“‘Reverend Hunt, thank you for teaching me,’ I say. I force myself to talk past the lump in my throat. ‘Thank you for treating me like I was worth something.’”

Reverend Hunt is on his deathbed when Samuel thanks him and shows his appreciation for the reverend’s kindness and concern for him. Samuel’s hostility toward others at the start of the book has reduced as he gains confidence in himself under the influence of Reverend Hunt and others.

“When our barrels are close to empty, Captain Smith goes to trade with the natives for grain. But he comes back empty-handed. Chief Powhatan has commanded all of his tribes not to trade with us.”

Chief Powhatan is so insulted and angered by the attempt at subjugating him with the crown of a prince of England that he cuts off all support to the settlers at James Town. The settlers are once again isolated in their need and fearful of attack from the natives. All progress that Captain Smith has made to ensure a good relationship with Chief Powhatan has been undone.

“I realize that they have no mealtimes, no rationing of food, and I think that these Powhatan people must be the wealthiest people on the earth.”

When Captain Smith orders that Samuel spend the winter months with the natives at the Warraskoyack village, Samuel sees that their way of life is much more community-minded and practical. Samuel learns a great deal from his time with this tribe, and his friendship with Kainta proves to be very educational as well. Remembering his time living with the Indians gives Samuel confidence and a sense of comfort when he goes to Point Comfort in the last chapters of the novel.

“‘Those savages will understand the power in a musket—that’s all they need to know,’ they say.”

This quote reveals the entitled and violent attitudes of many of the new colonists who believe the New World belongs to England. They have no sensitivity to the experience of the native Indians who have been living in the New World prior to their arrival, and this lack of awareness leads directly to conflict and more violence.

“I have learned something important from Reverend Hunt: When I lose someone, I should not close my heart to everyone, but should find someone else to fill the empty place.”

Samuel is a truly changed young man by the end of the novel. Part of his transformation involves the care and kindness of others, which has healed his old emotional wounds and facilitated his new sense of openness toward relationships. Thanks to Reverend Hunt’s teachings, Samuel now enjoys the feeling of being a part of a family, with Ann and John Laydon.

“Safe. The word settles on me like peace. Ann, John, and Virginia are here with me, and we are safe.”

At Point Comfort, Samuel knows that his friends in the Warraskoyack tribe are just across the river, and he lives in a house with the Laydon family. He feels confident that he can use his hunting skills to feed everyone if needed, which adds to his feeling of wellbeing. Finally, after years of feeling unsafe and uncertain about the future, Samuel can breathe easily.

“Chief Powhatan had tried again to wipe out the ‘tribe’ that came from the Chesapeake, and he had nearly succeeded.”

In the Afterword, the author uses the word “tribe” to refer to the English colonists, making a link between the prophecy that started the novel and the violent interactions that took place between the Powhatan people and the residents of James Town. By withholding food, attacking the fort, and killing anyone who stepped outside the boundaries of James Town, the chief nearly managed to exterminate all the settlers.