Foreigner + Native

Lewis and Clark Monument in my hometown.

 "If Iracema is America, Martim is the European military man who takes over the land."  Alencar, Iracema, xviii

        For the U.S., our most famous "Foreigner meets Native" is the story of Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea. Minus the romance, the story of Lewis and Clark is very similar to Iracema's, told from the opposite perspective.

        Alencar tells the story of Iracema from the view of a native. Iracema is naive, misguided, and somewhat of a traitor. Her life is tragic, her love doomed. She changed the course of her nation's history by welcoming a foreigner. Sacajawea's story is told from the perspective of the foreigner. Sacajawea is a hero! A strong woman, both smart and selfless. She changed the course of our nation's history by facilitating the expansion of the U.S.! 

              Martim, while characterized as being civilized, sensitive, and willing to learn the native culture, he is "the military man who takes over the land." Lewis and Clark, however, are the wise, courageous, claimers of new territory. They are brilliant symbols of the American dream, of exploration and discovery. 

               Just as Dr. Mack said that most of the attention is given to Iracema in this book, most of our attention, as Americans, focuses on Lewis and Clark (notice that in the above memorial Sacajawea is not represented). Martim's story is significant because of Iracema. Sacajawea's story is significant because of Lewis and Clark.

         
      The above quote states that Iracema is America, and it is clear that Sacajawea fits the same role. The difference between the stories is that Martim is "the military man who takes over the land, " but Lewis and Clark are the heroes that discovered the land.  

Would the story of Iracema, told with emphasis on Martim's experience become Lewis and Clark + Sacajawea? Does the difference between the way these similar stories are told tell us something about the attitudes and perceptions of their respective nations?

I think so.