Two Worlds meeting, The New World- Emily McGovern

The New World by Terrance Malik is a beautiful commentary on the love story of Pocahontas and John Smith. It shows the early English settlers discovering a new world and setting up the Jamestown colony. The world that the settlers are used to is completely different from the world they have entered. As is human nature, the colonists try to avoid the ways of the unfamiliar world and set up a life as close as possible to the one they had in England. The natives, in this film called the Naturals, also avoid the colonist unfamiliar world. However there are two people that go against human nature and embrace the unknown. Pocahontas and John Smith each step out of the world they know and meet each other in the middle. At first neither of them embrace the other’s world. Rather they meet outside of both societies like in empty fields or on the beach. Then John Smith, who is held captive by the Naturals fully starts to embrace their world. Soon he adapts the culture and some of the language. He changes his dress and engages in games that the Naturals play. He becomes more carefree and lively when he is with them. However he never quite lets go of his past and even starts to teach Pocahontas English. Although he has started to accept their way of life, the Naturals banish him from their world and force him to return to his people. They soon do the same to Pocahontas, as she has assimilated too much to John Smith's ways. When she exits her own world she fully enters the world of the colonies. It takes time but she even travels back to England. The more western she becomes the more she loses her old world. Eventually changing her dress and hair style. She even loses her playful spirit and becomes more proper. Her playful spirit does not return until the scene after her death. After her death she is truly herself again.