Pocahontas (Disney Character)

Pocahontas is a member of the Powhatan Indian tribe that makes their home in Virginia. She is the 18-year old daughter of Chief Powhatan. It is stated that Pocahontas' mother had died, and that Pocahontas had inherited her strong will and free spirit. She is the only member of her tribe that is not xenophobic towards the white settlers, instead forming a relationship with John Smith. By the time of the second film, she is respected enough that she is sent as an ambassador to England on behalf of her people. Pocahontas' name means "Little Mischief." She is based on the real historical figure, and was born into a highly sophisticated Native American culture that had some knowledge of Europeans. Her speaking voice was provided by Irene Berdard and her singing voice was provided by Judy Kuhn.

## Role In The Film

Pocahontas is first seen atop a cliff by a waterfall when she is summoned by her best friend, Nakoma, that her beloved father, Chief Powhatan, has returned. It is revealed that she has been having an unusual dream, and she does not understand what it means. Nakoma asks if she's figured it out and, when Pocahontas answers in the negative, she counsels her to speak with Powhatan, who has recently returned from war. At the village, she meets with him and learns that Kocoum, one of his finest and fiercest warriors, has asked to marry her. As a gift, he gives her her late mother's necklace, which her mother had worn at their wedding. She doesn't feel that this is the right path for her, but Powhatan feels that Kocoum would be a fine husband for her, as he is steady and serious, as well as brave, loyal, strong and protective.

After hearing this, Pocahontas travels to Grandmother Willow in order to gain some advice. After telling Grandmother Willow about her dream and Powhatan's plans for her arranged marriage to Kocoum, Grandmother Willow tells her that her dream is pointing her down her path. When she asks how to find her path, Grandmother Willow teaches her to listen to the spirits of the Earth, by listening with her heart. She does so, and after hearing the wind tell her about the arrival of "strange clouds", is able to spot the ship carrying the Europeans. To her, its sails resemble clouds.

Pocahontas later encounters one of the settlers, John Smith. At first, she can't understand him, but somehow, after possibly listening with her heart, she is able to. Over time, they get to know each other, asking all sorts of questions about each other's people, lives, and different worlds. However, the conversation goes sour when he unintentionally reveals his prejudices toward Native Americans. She explains the beauty and importance of nature and respecting the Earth through the song "Colors of the Wind". This causes him to see the ill of his thoughts and change his ways, and they begin to strongly fall romantically in love with each other. However, after hearing drums, she is forced to return to the village.

Later, while picking corn with Nakoma, Pocahontas meets Smith again. After swearing Nakoma to secrecy, she takes him out to the woods to meet Grandmother Willow. When he reveals that the settlers had come looking for gold, Pocahontas reveals that there is none in the area. When other settlers come looking for him, he is forced to leave, but he and Pocahontas agree to meet that night at Grandmother Willow's glade. After he leaves, she worries about her actions. Grandmother Willow reminds her of her dream, and she begins to suspect that it is pointing her toward Smith.

Upon returning to the village, Pocahontas discovers that warriors from neighboring villages have arrived and are planning to fight the settlers. That night, despite Nakoma's protests, Pocahontas sneaks off to meet Smith. They reveal that their respective people are planning for war. She asks him to come to her village and speak with her father in an attempt to avoid fighting. He is reluctant at first but agrees after some advice from Grandmother Willow. When Kocoum, who had been warned about Pocahontas by Nakoma, suddenly stumbles upon her and Smith kissing in Grandmother Willow's glade, he becomes enraged and attacks him. Before she can break them up, Thomas, who had been sent to find John, shoots and kills Kocoum to protect him. As Kocoum falls, he grabs hold of Pocahontas' necklace and it shatters into pieces in the process. Enraged, she charges at Thomas, but Smith stops her, saying it won't help. He takes the blame, is taken prisoner by the Powhatan men who were alerted by the shot from Thomas' gun, and sentenced to die at sunrise. When Kocoum's corpse is carried back to the village, Powhatan scolds Pocahontas for disobeying his orders not to leave it, shaming him and her foolishness leading to Kocoum being killed. As John is taken away, Nakoma approaches her, and she tells her that Kocoum was only trying to protect himself. Nakoma apologizes to her for her actions, and she was worried, that she was trying to do the right thing by admitting that she sent Kocoum after her. She brings Pocahontas to the tent where Smith is held, she tells the two warriors guarding it that Pocahontas wants to see the eyes of Smith, and they agree, telling her to be quick and let her in. She apologizes to Smith before leaving, while he vows to "be with her forever".

Meanwhile, after Meeko gives Pocahontas Smith's compass, which she recognizes as the spinning arrow from her dream all along, she realizes that she must stop the execution that will lead to war between the Native Americans and the settlers. She runs to where it will take place, calling out to the forces of nature to help her reach them in time. She reaches Smith just in time to throw herself over him and save him from being killed by Powhatan, who was going to be his executioner and murderer, and also tells off everyone on how they have been led by the path of hatred. She tells her father that *this* is the path *she* chooses and what would *his* be if they choose to fight. Touched by Pocahontas' love and wisdom, Powhatan then comes to his senses, puts a ceasefire on their fight and releases John.

When the enraged Governor Ratcliffe rejects the offer of peace Powhatan offers by sparing and releasing Smith, he shoots at him, only for Smith to push him out of the way and take the bullet himself. Soon after, Thomas then personally tells Pocahontas that John must return to England for medical treatment, or he will die, to which Pocahontas responds by gently putting a hand on his shoulder, indicating that she has forgiven him for killing Kocoum, knowing he had tried to save John's life. A wounded John asks Pocahontas to come with him to England, but she explains that her place is in Virginia, with her people. To comfort him, she tells him that "no matter what happens, I'll always be with you, forever." They passionately kiss, and the men carry him onto the ship.

As it is leaving, she runs as fast as she can to a cliff overlooking the ocean. Smith waves goodbye in the Powhatan fashion, and she does so the same way, as she showed to him earlier when they first met, as the ship sails away.

## Gallery

Pocahontas examining John Smith's helmet.Pocahontas trying on John Smith's helmet."You have the most unusual name too. John Smith."Pocahontas watching John Smith trying to greet Meeko with a handshake.Pocahontas and Meeko confused on how a handshake works.Pocahontas being taught by Smith how to greet with a handshake.Pocahontas amazed by a handshake."This is how we say hello. Winggapo.""And how we say goodbye. Anah."Pocahontas and John touching their hands together."Flit just doesn't like strangers."Pocahontas and John seeing Meeko steal a compass from John's satchel.Pocahontas and John watching Meeko fiddle with the compass."What was that?"Being told it was a compass, Pocahontas listens to John describe what a compass is and how it works.Pocahontas listening in fascination as John describes his home, London, England."I'd like to see those one day."-Pocahontas after John says London has buildings.Pocahontas being told by John that he and his men will teach her people how to use their land "properly."Pocahontas angry when John unintentionally reveals his prejudice against Native Americans.Pocahontas being offended by John.Pocahontas about to storm off in anger.Pocahontas is stopped by John from leaving.Pocahontas angry when John unintentionally refers to her people as savages."Just my people."Pocahontas not being allowed by John to leave.Pocahontas having jumped up into a tree."Like me."Pocahontas and John out of the tree after the latter falls off a branch."What you mean is...not like you.""*You think I'm an ignorant savage. And you've been so many places, I guess it must be so*.""*But still I cannot see if the savage one is me. How can there be so much that you don't know*?""*You don't know*.""*You think you own whatever land you land on. The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim*.""*But I know every rock and tree and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name*.""*You think the only people who are people*...""*Are the people who look and think like you*.""*But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew you never knew*.""*Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon? Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned*?""*Can you paint with all the colors of the wind*?""*Can you paint with all the colors of the wind*?"Pocahontas and John with silhouettes of deer in the sky.Pocahontas and John jumping down a waterfall."*Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest*.""*Come roll in all the riches all around you and for once, never wonder what they're worth*.""*The rainstorm and the river are my brothers*.""*And we are all connected to each other, in a circle, in a hoop that never ends*.""*How high does the sycamore grow*?""*If you cut it down, then you'll never know*.""*And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon*.""*For whether we are white or copper skinned, we need to sing with all the voices of the mountains*.""*You can own the Earth and still all you'll own is earth until*...""*You can paint with all the colors of the wind*."Pocahontas and John hearing her people beat drums.Pocahontas and John in each other's arms before Pocahontas leaves to go back to her village.Sometime later, Pocahontas and Nakoma pick out corn from the fields.Pocahontas and Nakoma founded by Chief Powhatan as her best friend explains what they're doing.Pocahontas ordered by her father to not to go far away from the village.Pocahontas looking at her necklace when her father says she looks like her mother.After revealing she misses her mother, Pocahontas is reassured by her father that her mother's presence is still with her through the wind.Pocahontas telling her father she is honored to one day lead their people using strength and wisdom.Pocahontas watching her father leave as he decides to have Kocoum watch over her.When Nakoma confronts her, believe she's keeping a secret, Pocahontas denies she's hiding anything.Pocahontas being assured by Nakoma that she can tell her anything.Pocahontas surprised to see Smith emerge from the cornfield.Pocahontas smiling when John says he wanted to see her again."Please don't say anything!"Pocahontas holding John's hand as they leave together.At Grandmother Willow's tree, Pocahontas and Meeko hear John explain he and the settlers came to their home in search of gold.Having mistaken an earl of corn as gold, Pocahontas watches John go to show what gold actually looks like."There's nothing like that around here."-Pocahontas seeing a gold coin.Pocahontas and John sitting next to each other in the tree.When Pocahontas asks if the settlers would leave, John tells her some might leave while others might stay.Pocahontas asking John if he would go home back to his country.Pocahontas hearing John reveal he feels like he doesn't belong anywhere.Pocahontas noticing John hears Grandmother Willow's singing.Pocahontas smiling when John catches a glimpse of Grandmother Willow."Look closer."(John: "What do you say to a tree?) "Anything."Pocahontas happy that John and Grandmother Willow like each other.Pocahontas and John hearing voices approaching them.Pocahontas being shielded by John as Ben and Lon come closer to their hiding spot.Pocahontas and John see Ben and Lon run off after Grandmother Willow scares them.After asking John when she can see him again, Pocahontas is told to meet him here tonight.Pocahontas watching John leave to go back to his camp."What am I doing? I shouldn't be seeing him again. I mean, I want to see him again.""But, still, something inside is telling me it's the right thing."When Grandmother Willow says her dream could be pointing to John, Pocahontas thinks Grandmother Willow is right.Returning to her village, Pocahontas is surprised to see warriors from neighboring villages arrive.Pocahontas being confronted by Nakoma for being with John before Kocoum shows up.Pocahontas, Nakoma, and Kocoum see that the warriors have arrived to fight the settlers."Father, I need to talk to you."Pocahontas begging her father to make peace with the settlers.Pocahontas asking her father if he would talk to one of the settlers if he wanted to speak on peaceful terms."Wouldn't you?"Though her father agrees to speak to a settler to negotiate peace, Pocahontas is disappointed when her father sees no point in talking to the settlers.Later that night, Pocahontas runs to meet John again.Before she can leave, Pocahontas is confronted by Nakoma.Pocahontas trying to convince Nakoma that John is not dangerous.Pocahontas tells Nakoma that she intends to help her peopleWhen Nakoma begs her not to see John again, Pocahontas's reassures she knows what she is doing before she leaves.Pocahontas telling Grandmother Willow that the warriors have arrived to fight the settlers.Reuniting with John, Pocahontas is told that the settlers plan to attack her people as well.Believing it's not too late to prevent a war, Pocahontas decides to have John to speak to her father in the hopes of creating a peace treaty.Pocahontas and John suddenly hear a loud, spooky bark.Pocahontas and John seeing Meeko getting into a fight with a dog named Percy.Pocahontas trying to break up the fight between Meeko and Percy before Grandmother Willow ends it.Pocahontas noticing Grandmother Willow demonstrate how war can start by using ripples in the water.Pocahontas and John look at each other as Grandmother Willow says they can only be together if they do something to stop the fighting.Pocahontas smiling at John.Pocahontas embracing John after he agrees to talk to her father.Pocahontas and John share their first kiss.Pocahontas and John embracing and sharing a kiss.Pocahontas embracing John as she kisses him.After kissing, Pocahontas and John are surprised when Kocoum suddenly reveals himself."Kocoum! No!"Pocahontas seeing John getting attacked by an angry and jealous Kocoum.Pocahontas trying to stop Kocoum from killing John Smith.Pocahontas having been knocked away by Kocoum.After recovering, Pocahontas again tries to stop Kocum from killing John.Pocahontas horrified when Kocoum gets killed by Thomas as Kocoum breaks her necklace.Pocahontas next to Kocoum's dead body."You killed him."Pocahontas angrily trying to attack Thomas, only to be held back by John."He killed him!"Hearing Indians approaching, Pocahontas watches John ordering Thomas to run away.Pocahontas watching John getting apprehended and captured by some warriors.Pocahontas helping the warriors pick up Kocoum's body from the river.Pocahontas watching the warriors carry Kocoum's body away before she follows them back to the village.Returning to her village, Pocahontas is accused by her father for shaming him.Pocahontas after being harshly blamed for Kocoum's death.Pocahontas approached by Nakoma who confesses she sent Kocoum after her.Pocahontas being comforted by Nakoma who apologizes for not trusting her.Pocahontas being brought to John Smith's prison tent.Pocahontas entering the tent where she finds John tied up against a wooden beam.