The "Tempest" in The Wilderness

Takaki concludes in Chapter 2 that the “white” Europeans were creating a border between civilization and savagery based on their assumptions and views, and that their progress depended on the demise of the Indians.

Europeans came to the New World as a foreign peoples and were viewed by the Indians based on things familiar to them. Dreams of Indians anticipated the arrival of strangers, but the result of their coming could not be seen (25). Social constructions of civilization and savagery were developing in America and identity was becoming based on race. Before sailing to America, the English considered Irish savages and made them targets of violence. The English then thought it their “duty” to educate Irish “brutes,” who were considered different based on their different culture (28). Once the English encountered the Indians they then began thinking there might be an alternate type of savagery. However, Indians were incorporated in the definition of savagery, which was based on the Irish initially (29). The English noticed one distinctive physical characteristic of the Indians, their skin color (31). This characteristic began to identify Indians racially. The English thought that Indians were uncivilized, lacking “Christianity, cities, letters, clothing, and swords,” (31). They believed that it was their “duty” to bring the Indians to “civil and Christian” government (33). Also, they viewed several situations as signs from God, giving them the right to in a sense exterminate the Indians. Columbus had mislead Europeans about the greatness of the New World, resulting in an overpopulation and lack of resources. Indians were then forced to work for the “whites.” The Indians were also forced off of their lands and killed off in order for the progress of the Europeans.

Were the Indians actually savages? Absolutely not. Indians were highly agricultural and had plenty to live from before the Europeans came. They were simply different from the Europeans, and the Europeans did not know how to accept and adjust to this difference. Indians were not stupid either. The means by which they survived were advanced and intelligent even for today. A savage is untamed or brutal. The Indians cannot be classified under this definition. They only fought to keep what was theirs, and actually welcomed the strangers at first.

I feel that the Europeans were savages if anyone was. Their brutality and force toward the Irish and the Indians was inhumane and basically…wrong. I do not believe they had the “right” to take over the New World. I only feel their assumptions and beliefs, along with their fear and change misled them to the conclusions of which were wrong.