Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2002. Vol. 8. Eger Journal of American Studies.(Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 28)

Studies - András Tarnóc: Violence as Cultural Projection: The Sociological, Psychological, and Epistemological Implications of the Jamestown Massacre

condition, the charismatic determination of Opechancanaugh qualifies him as an inspiring leader, and it is beyond doubt that the hatred of the whites and the rejection of their cultural and religious expansion fired up the participants in the attack on Jamestown. The rational actor model elaborated by Davidson and Lytle (172) holds that historical characters' actions result from weighing several options and subsequently choosing the most effective ones. Consequently, individuals behave rationally and as a result of an internal cost and benefit analysis they select the most effective method to reach their goals with the least possible effort (172). The application of the rational actor model of course in only possible to the individual actions of Opechancanaugh. His goal, as demonstrated by a lifelong determination, is to drive out the settlers seen as foreign invaders. The options at his disposal were a full frontal attack, guerilla warfare, or sporadic violence. The fact that he chose the surprise attack method is one example of the thinking of the rational actor. The Indians used the surprise or ambush method to counterbalance an obvious military and technological inferiority, and to inflict psychological damage in addition to a military strike. The fact that the settlers were attacked in their homes planted the seeds of insecurity and weakened the psychological foundation of the settlement for good. The availability of weapons for the attackers was also limited, as they had to resort to using utensils and tools. The brutality in fact is calculated to strike terror into the hearts of the settlers. Opechancanaugh also had to find an effective answer to the aggressive religious expansionism of the colonists. The available options entailed an array of peaceful and violent solutions including the "re-education" of Indians via the refutation of the teaching of Christian missionaries, negotiations with the colonists to reduce the intensity of the conversion efforts, and using force to eliminate the source of the attacks on Native American spirituality. The effectiveness of the first option, however, was frustrated by the Indians' acceptance of Christianity. Smith reports that the King of the Indians confessed to Master George Thorp that the white settlers' God was "better than theirs" (295), also one could point to Chanco, a converted Indian, whose eventual warning to the settlers helped to avoid a greater loss of human life during the Massacre. Furthermore, Opechancanaugh's 255