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The "myth of the noble savage", as it's been referred to, is a literary concept that came about in romantic writings long ago, during the 17th and 18th centuries. Some say earlier, in fact. Some pin the idea on Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Swiss-born philosopher and writer. In fact, Rousseau was so influential, his writings and ideas are credited for marking the end of the Age of Reason. Others say he is not to blame for painting an ideological picture of natives that is far from reality.
So what, exactly, is this ideology of the "Noble Savage"? It is the presupposition that native peoples left alone in a primitive state are basically good, as long as civilization doesn't come along and corrupt them. It paints a picture of natives that is romanticized, idealized, and sentimentalized. The Noble Savage concept for Americans is the notion that most Native Americans would have lived forever in peace and harmony had European invaders not turned their culture on its head by inciting greed, lust, corruption, and so on.
Of course, I would disagree with this philosophy. All mankind is in a sin-fallen state, and we are easily given to "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (I John 2:16) regardless of outside influence. Be that as it may, the concept of the Indian in an unsullied society supposedly would not struggle with those things. Don't we all know better?
Nevertheless, it causes me to wonder about how we, as writers and readers of romantic or historical literature, view some of the heroes and heroines of Native American culture. Do we write them honestly? Do we understand them to be fully human, capable of all the goodness and the evil that lurks within the heart of every man and woman?
History bears out the brutality of all civilizations and cultures on the globe, if we choose to look at it. Men and women of all colors: red, yellow, black, and white, have murdered, robbed, pillaged, and done every form of evil to their fellow human beings. They have also offered love, compassion, and mercy. I only bring this up because, even now, as I am working on upcoming books, I want to do so with an honest view of mankind in all his states.
God did the same in His Word. Some of Scripture relates stories fraught with horrors told very plainly. Through them, we get a greater understanding of God's overwhelming and undeserved Grace.
Whenever I sit down to write a story or read someone else's, I want to enjoy my heroes and heroines in light of truth. Everyone is broken. We're all a little or a lot messed up. I love a dashing hero as much as the next reader, be he warrior, highlander, farmer, cowboy, soldier, or tailor, but I like him even more when he's also written as a conflicted sinner coming to terms with a God greater than himself.
Don't you?
Naomi
https://naomimusch.com/I am thrilled to announce the conclusion of my Echoes of the Heart series. The Brightest Hope, a post WWI romance, releases on August 1st. I hope you'll enjoy this story of an anti-hero whose complexity, personal demons, hopes and triumphs--I believe--are some of the best I've written. I think you'll enjoy a few surprises also.
The Brightest Hope is available for $2.99 pre-order and the first two novels in the series are also on special sale (ebook) during July for just $2.99 each. Say what? 1000 pages of historical romance for under $10!
Very true! I know of no group of people that doesn't have a baser nature that will reveal itself somehow. Good points, good post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Connie. Glad you appreciated it!
DeleteGreat post, Naomi. And too often history is rewritten to endorse modern ideologies.
ReplyDeleteSo much so! I find that even some people who were taught history in a straight-forward manner have changed their views and taken on a romanticized vision of the past--not just with Native Americans, of course, but many peoples.
DeleteYou're spot-on Naomi. The "Noble Savage" idea sounds great, but we know that the different tribes were continually at war with each other, they didn't live is peace and harmony even before the Europeans arrived. Because, just as you pointed out, the Europeans didn't invent and spread greed. It's a condition of the human spirit. For the "Noble Savage" to be free of it, they'd have had to be non-human. And they aren't.
ReplyDeleteExellently said. People often overlook the wars, slavery, and human depravity that was occurring centuries before the European cultural influences.
DeleteThank you for sharing. Right on.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lucy.
DeleteAbsolutely true words here. Man has mistreated and enslaved their fellow-man since Cain killed Abel. Some the the Native American tribes were blood-thirsty and others practiced peace. Europe had the same turmoil through its history as well. The world is full of sin and needs a Savior.
ReplyDeleteAnd part of that sin in the world is that it wants us to believe differently, to hide the truth or confuse it.
DeleteHere's another take. My lit agent recently came back from the NYC Book Expo, and this is what she said the current prevailing thought is: "Diverse Voices and Own Voices is big right now. Editors are very mindful of own voices. If you are not Hispanic, you cannot write a novel from a Hispanic POV. etc." This is, I think, the newest form of political correctness. If you are not African American, you (supposedly) can't write from the viewpoint of one. There was a bog discussion about this on one of the FB groups the other day. Apparently, you CAN do it if it's not the main character. Just think aout that.
ReplyDeleteThat's really sad.
DeleteI have heard that whispered about, but can't believe that it has gotten to that level. How sad! How misguided! And yet, we are supposed to be all-inclusive. Seems to me this just causes more separation, as though we aren't allowed to "get into somebody else's shoes"--or skin in this case.
DeleteThat an important perspective that you illuminated, Naomi. I just went to a lecture about the French and Indian Wars in early anew England and the author/speaker spoke of this very issue.
ReplyDeleteThat's really neat that they did that! Glad to hear it.
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