Colonial America

Type : Journal

Author : Jan Olesen

Title : Mercyfull Warres against These Naked People : The Discourse of Violence in the Early Americas

Citation : 39 (3 ) Canadian Review of American Studies 253 (2009

ABSTRACT

This paper essentially concerns itself with the construction of Indigenous peoples by early modern propagandists . The author has looked at stereotypical characteristics into which the indigenous people are often put so as to enable a particular trait to be brought about regarding them using a logical argumentation

The author essentially looks at the works of two scholars , namely

Eden and Hakyult , the kind of traits brought out by them and the specific action that they prescribed based on those traits . The author notes that the works are quite contrasting with each other and even criticizes the latter 's work for taking a view that is too extreme on one end of the spectrum

The author then turns his attention to look at the specific action prescribed by these scholars in their works . Again , the author criticizes the simplistic approach taken in this regard by Eden and Hakyult . In fact , the author specifically points out that if the indigenous are termed as violent , they are considered suitable for extermination , and if they are considered docile , then they are appropriate for conversion . The author argues that if such a simplistic approach is taken , then a strong case is made out for a universal colonial project

Finally , the author criticizes that Hakyult 's work criticized is complex and contradictory , and the case...