Captain Smith to Queen Ann (1617): A Rhetorical Analysis

Running head: CAPTAIN SMITH TO QUEEN ANN1
Captain Smith to Queen Ann (1617): A Rhetorical Analysis
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Captain Smith to Queen Ann (1617): A Rhetorical Analysis
The "Captain Smith to Queen Ann (1617)" Smith (1907) is an excerpt of a letter addressed from a captured Captain John Smith to Queen Ann of England. This excerpt follows letter-writing style, conventions, and courtesies expected from a subject, Captain John Smith, to a Queen, Queen Ann. Stylistically, Captain Smith reports, in narrative form, his capture by Powhatan, a Native American chief. This is evident in coherence markers signaling changes in the featured narrative such as "So it is, That some ten yeeres ago," "After some six weeks fatting," and "and during the time of two or three yeeres." The excerpt, reported over an extended period of over 2-3 years, is, in short, an account in written narrative format addressed from a Crown subject, Captain Smith, to Crown, Queen Ann. For conventions, the current excerpt offers a detailed account, recorded in writing form, and addressed from one party (sender) to a second party (receiver). The identity of an addressed, yet unnamed, the receiver is uncovered by a courtesy mode of address, "most gracious Queene," expected in communications from a subject to Crown.
To put matters into more context, I CARE system of rhetorical analysis is used. The components of I CARE are as follows and are each addressed and applied to the current excerpt: I = Text Critic; C = Choice of Text; A = Analysis; R = Research; and E = Evaluation.
The current excerpt is a historical piece documenting an important part and early of American history. Though one among many pieces suggested for analysis, "Captain Smith to Queen Ann (1617)" is considered, I strongly believe, a succinct yet powerful account of a subject in captivity addressed to Queen Ann. The details of captivity, survival strategies used by Captain Smith and, for that matter, unlimited gratitude to Pocahontas, Powhatan's daughter, offer invaluable insights about ways Native Americans and (early) Americans/British subjects used to
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interact in ways unexpected by "civilized" people from "savages." The excerpt also uncovers the underlying motivations of involved individuals to commit acts of violence, offer compassion, show gratitude and, of course, seek support. The potential of violence inflicted upon Captain Smith by Powhatan, particularly if Pocahontas's support was discovered, underscores eloquently common human connections and sympathies to overcome wrath, revenge, and/or violence. The act of compassion is epitomized in and by Pocahontas who, gaining no benefit whatsoever from offering support (and food) to an alien – and, for that matter, his company – chooses to act at her own discretion and at gre...