Preview

Dances With Wolves

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1507 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Dances With Wolves
SUMMARY OF MOVIE:
During a US Civil War battle, Union Army Officer Lieutenant John J. Dunbar learns that his injured leg is to be amputated. Seeing fellow soldiers with amputated legs, he refuses amputation and attempts suicide by riding a horse across the line of fire, between the Union and Confederate. His action has the unexpected effect of uniting his mates, who storm the distracted Confederates and win the battle. After the battle, an experienced general's surgeon saved Dunbar's leg. The commanding officer recognizes Dunbar as a hero and gives him Cisco, the horse who carried him in battle, and offers Dunbar his choice of posting. He was anxious to see the Western frontier before it ended so he requested to transfer west. After a long
…show more content…
The original novel centered around the Comanche of the Southern Plains. However, due to the fact that the film production company secured filming access to a herd of buffalo in South Dakota, a change of tribes occurred. The most significant historical error involves the winter campaign launched by the United States Army in search of Dances With Wolves and Ten Bears' band. The year is supposed to be 1864. No United States Army winter campaigns were launched against any Native Americans until November of 1868. The massacre that took place that month was led by Lt. Col. George A. Custer's 7th Cavalry against Chief Black Kettle's people of the Cheyenne Nation. It occurred at Washita Creek on Thanksgiving Day. The necessity to work more in harmony with our environment is a constant theme of our age, and it is interesting to see how a historical film can also accommodate modern concerns. “Loyalty and Betrayal”: Dunbar is honored by being given a commission early in the plot to take up a post of his own choosing, because of his loyalty to the Union army. We see the deep sense of loyalty within the Dakota people. Dunbar decides to leave the camp at the end of the film because of his feelings towards the Dakota and gives himself up to the …show more content…
The perspective showed both sides of the story-both from the whites and the Native Americans. At the beginning, they showed the whites’ point of view by showing Dunbar’s transformation and rapid-growth of understanding of the ways of the Indian’s lifestyles. The plotline and the part of romance made it more captivating for me. The part about the wild west and the ways and culture of the Native Americans were exposed and recognized. This movie taught me much about the knowledge of the Native Americans and their relationships with the white men. The movie proved that both sides-both the white and “the savages” were even when it came to abuse and misery they created for the opposing side. I would personally recommend it to anyone who has the patience to sit down and learn about the old ways of the wild west between the Native Americans and the whites. Also to all the women that appreciate a plotline with romance. This movie has received 7 Oscars, and has, in addition, been nominated for 5 more; won 3 Golden Globes, and has, in addition, been nominated for 3 more; has won one Grammy. The contribution to my knowledge toward the AP exam has immensely increased by the unbiased view and perspective toward the Native Americans, and visually a story unfold from the west and the separate viewpoints from the whites versus the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    More Than Bows and Arrows

    • 356 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Overall, I found this film very surprising. I never realized how many Native American achievements that have been overlooked in today’s society. Native Americans have done so much to affect the formation of today’s country that it is astonishing. They have made so many contributions that I had never realized prior to this film. I thought that some of the most important contributions were irrigation techniques and medical procedures. Religion also played a vital role in shaping America today. Native Americans literally were involved in the development of nearly all aspects of America including sports and food. This film is an important one because it shines light on the long forgotten Native Americans. They made contributions in architecture, fishing, schools, industry materials, and government to name a few. I enjoyed the film because it is a celebration of Native Americans cultural contributions. I never realized how much has been overlooked. The film is also effective in disproving countless stereotypes that depict the typical Native American as some sort of savage warrior who is illiterate and misinformed. This could not be more far from the truth and must be corrected. Most of these stereotypes have been shaped by Hollywood television. It’s important to eliminate these stereotypes of Native Americans. Today, I believe that when most people think of an Indian they think of a crazy half naked man screaming through the forest with bows and arrows. This is contrary to the truth that many Indian societies were incredibly civilized and organized. This occurred in many different ways many of which have been incorporated into American life today. In the end, this film was very effective in shining light upon the issue. I think it’s great that this video has become so widespread and I hope that this trend will continue. That way, more people can understand the issue at hand. I cannot believe that some individuals can be so naïve and that…

    • 356 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1863, John J. Dunbar was injured in the American Civil War. Rather than having his leg amputated, he takes a horse and rides up to the Confederate front lines, distracting them in the process. The roused Union army then attacks and the battle ends a Confederate rout. After recovering and receiving a citation for bravery, He was awarded Cisco and decided to transfer to the western frontier so he can see its vast terrain before it goes. But when he arrived Fort Sedgwick, his new post was abandoned and in disrepair. He decided to stay, started to rebuild and restock, recorded many of his observations in his journal.…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    It is a film adaptation of the 1988 book of the same name by Michael Blake and tells the story of a Union Army lieutenant who travels to the American frontier to find a military post and his dealings with a group of Lakota Indians. This is a handsomely photographed and well-acted film is a very special cross-cultural resource that explores in sympathetic and salutary ways the ideals of hospitality, empathy, humor, and friendship. Best of all, ‘Dances with Wolves’ shows the paths we all must take to become true human beings. During the start of the film, the main character John Dunbar undergoes a spiritual quest and is transformed. At the beginning of ‘Dances with Wolves’, John Dunbar can be considered an undeveloped spiritual person, yet at the end it is apparent that the Lakota tribe indirectly assisted Dunbar in becoming a spiritually mature individual. John Dunbar was portrayed quite insensitive to the beliefs and culture of the Lakota. Originally, he believed that they were ‘savages’ and that all the Lakota tribe wanted to do was to steal his…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    I would describe the character of John J. Dunbar as an extraordinarily committed man. John Dunbar was committed to staying at Fort Sedgwick although all of the other soldiers had abandoned the Fort in hopes of finding a better life. I would also consider John Dunbar a very committed man because when he invests himself into a relationship, he carries out all that he can to make that relationship flourish. He showed that commitment through his numerous relationships with Stands with a Fist, Cisco, Two Socks, and Kicking Bird. John J. Dunbar can also be described as a receptive individual because of the way he communicated with the Sioux Indians. When he first met the Sioux Indians he was very persistent on initiating their communication.…

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Dances with Wolves

    • 1075 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Dances With Wolves is a fantastic movie! It depicts the American Indians as a loving race, has three very unique Lakota Tribe leaders, shows the life in the Great Plains before American settlers arrived, it really shows the difference between customs and traditions of the whites and Indians, and finally the Sioux and Paunee fighting was very important and showed Dunbar important things that will affect the rest of his life. I really recommend seeing this movie if want to see something that shows Native Americans as loving people instead of savages.…

    • 1075 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Tim O’Brien’s novel In the Lake of the Woods perpetually references the preceding atrocities that blemish American history. Within the chapters titled ‘Evidence’, scattered amongst the evidence accumulated for the fictional investigation into Kathy Wade’s disappearance, quotations from characters both authentic and fake exhibit the catalogue of concealed violence embedded in American history. Quotations reference the brutality in the battles of Lexington and Concord where the colonists were “as deplorable as the Indians for scalping and cutting the dead men’s auditory perceivers and nasal perceivers off” (262). Further references contained in the Evidence chapters regarding the Native Americans reiterate the words “exterminate” (260) and verbalize…

    • 243 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dances With Wolves

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages

    "Dances With Wolves,"� started off in St. David's Field, Tennessee, in 1863. During the Civil War, Lieutenant John J. Dunbar tried to commit suicide by riding right into the path of the Confederate States of America, but instead of being killed, he inspired the rest of the Union to fight, and they won the battle. After the battle, Dunbar was given the choice to any assignment he wanted, and chose to go out West. When he went to his post, he found it empty, but had plenty of provisions for everyone that he thought was there. But, being a true soldier, decided to wait for the other troops. None of them showed up. After a while, he found Indians, who didn't know whether to kill him or make peace with him. Dunbar, however, decided to go make peace, and while riding out to meet them, found an Indian woman trying to commit suicide. He stopped her, and carried her back to the Indian village. The Indians and he both made peace with each other, and became very good friends, giving each other food and clothing. Eventually, the Lieutenant learned the language of the Indians, and also found out that the woman that he saved spoke English, so that they could communicate. The Lieutenant found a friend, which was a wolf, and became friendly with it, letting it eat from his hand. From this knowledge, the Indians named Dunbar, "Dances With Wolves"�. From then on, he helped the Sioux Indians fight against the Pawnee, by giving them guns. During this time, the Indian woman who was actually white but was raised as an Indian and Dances With Wolves fell in love and married. Then, Dances With Wolves told the Indians that more white men were coming, so they moved camp. But Dances With Wolves forgot his journal at his post, and went back to get it, telling the Indians that he would catch up. When he arrived at the post, he found soldiers, who mistook him for an Indian, so they beat him up and chained him.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From time to time, a book of true historical significance is written on a subject that has been written on almost endlessly. The Battle of the Little Big Horn is one of the most written about, speculated on, celebrated, talked about, and glorified events in American History. Popularly known as "Custer's Last Stand", it has been the subject of many films, documentaries, novels, and was even re-enacted at every Wild West Show put on by Buffalo Bill Cody. In the work Killing Custer: The Battle of Little Bighorn and the Fate of the Plains Indians, Welch and Stekler do an excellent job in the subject matter at hand, and come to the correct conclusion that this battle, which was a huge military disaster for the United States, directly resulted in an even greater disaster for the Indian victors who won it: that is, total defeat and total subjugation.…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Already, based off the title, one can assume that a war is in the process of beginning. The second paragraph describes how the Americans have increased the number of Indian scouts by five-hundred men, meaning they are preparing for an Indian outbreak. Further into the article, Indian Commissioner Belt sent the following statement to the agents of the tribes in Dakota: "your attention is invited to the prevailing threatening excitement among the Sioux of North and South Dakota and some other Indian tribes connected with the 'Ghost Dance'... it is very important, in view of the tendency of such excitement to spread and obtain a general hold upon the Indians".2 One key word in the quote above is "threatening", meaning that the Americans felt threatened by the Indians, which is how the New York Times portrays the…

    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    dances with wolves

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages

    After an act of suicidal bravery, Lt. John Dunbar (Kevin Costner), a Union solider fighting in the American Civil War, is given the chance to choose his next post. He wants to see the frontier and so is assigned to a fort built somewhere in the Midwest. When Dunbar arrives there, he finds the place deserted, but soon learns that a band of Sioux are encamped nearby. Having made contact with these people, he quickly becomes infatuated with their way of life and begins to adopt their culture.…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dance Me Outside

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Throughout the film, the Native American’s “take care of their own” from the dilemma of a Native American girl…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the Great Plains, a herd of buffalo peacefully lumbers by, when, suddenly, men wielding spears and bows galloped forward on horses, shouting their war cries. Naturally, the buffalo try to escape from the hunters only to run into another group of bellowing Indians. Within minutes, all of the buffalo are slaughtered, except for the few who got away. The Kiowa Indians were renown for their skills in hunting, their ferocity in battle, and their alliance with the Crow Indians (Ryan 9). The Kiowa tribe was one of the most feared tribes in the Great Plains.…

    • 854 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before this Documentary, I did not know much about Native Americans. I have a few friends that are Native American decent, but they lived their life a lot like I lived mine. I knew what I saw in the movies, and I knew reservations were not the happiest places to live. I just never thought about the reasons…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    By watching the film I have a deep understanding, I know racial distinction is not just by appearance, we don't really know what is race, actually the race is not important, but the race is still bringing great influence on people's lives. This film is about race, not about attitude and behavior of the individual, and in the past in the history of the institutional and policy in the United States is still on the basis of race, through sacrifice others bring interests for groups. The biggest benefit is the white, white we see at the time of life is so happy, but not because of their hard work, but because of their laws, courts, customs, even if the housing is a race.…

    • 1144 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Thousands of films have somehow, directly or indirectly, touched on the subject of native issues. The Reel Injun and Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief are just a couple of examples. After comparing the two films, I believe that the Reel Injun is the better-suited movie to be studied by my grade 9 class. This is true since the film is more interesting to the age group, the timeline is broader, and it addresses native issues in greater detail.…

    • 1065 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays