Takaki Chapter 2 “The ‘Tempest’ in the Wilderness: The Racialization of Savagery

William Shakespeare’s Tempest was written for understanding American history although few realized this. The English were developing the difference between “civilization” and “savagery.” The Irish were classified as “savages” partially because they lacked good manners or knowledge of God and were thought to be criminals. The new world labeled English over the Irish, thus reinforcing social separation on the Irish. The English believed that, “nothing but fear and force can teach duty and obedience” which lead to cruelty to the Irish in such awful ways as beheading. However, the English did not see their actions as violent and instead they believed they were teaching the Irish their culture. In doing this, the English began comparing the Irish with the Indians and began to wonder if there were different kinds of “savagery.” “Savagery” was originally defined in relation to the Irish while incorporating the Indians into it as well.
According the English, Indians lack everything the English consider to be civilized. The English did some very odd things such as magnetizing a sword to impress the Indians and make then believe the English had some great power. This would make the Indians fear and love the believed power the English had at the time. Although the overall idea is inhumane, I thought this was very intelligent on their part and it allowed them to better achieve their goal. After all, the Indians are far more naïve and did not know any better than what they saw.
Once people found out about the things that were going on, it was soon realized that America wasn’t what they thought it was. The English began raiding Indian territory in Virginia and taking it out from under them. The English did not see is as robbery and decided they want more than just a “part.” These raids in Virginia were based on the fact that “savagery” was cultural.
According to people during this era, “to become 'Indianized' meant to serve the devil.” The devil was dark and represented Indian and to be “Indianized” meant one was decivilzed. Puritans believed that to become an Indian was the most horrible thing. At that time, “Puritan authorities hanged an English woman for worshiping Indian ‘gods’.”
“Perhaps the Indians might be different from the English in kind rather than degree; if so, then the native people of American would be incapable of improvement because of their race.” Therefore, the Indians would never be able to change into what the English were trying to change them into.