âThe Problem of Pocahontasâ: Colonialism, Stereotypes, and Personal Identity in Janet Campbell Haleâs Bloodlines: Odyssey of a Native Daughter
Abstract
As a genre, traditional autobiography has historically been an exclusive domain, most accessible to the male writer. In contrast, the memoir genre has broadened the field of life writing and has granted a voice to members of marginalized groups. As acknowledged by various literary critics, the memoir form, which is less ego-focused, has been especially important to female writers who often express personal identity in relation to their surrounding communities. However, this link between the self and the communal can be damaging, especially in a dominant culture that perpetuates stereotypes about minorities. In this research paper, I analyze the manifestation of racial stereotypes in Janet Campbell Haleâs memoir Bloodlines: Odyssey of a Native Daughter (1993) and explore the ways in which the author, who comes from a mixed blood family, attempts to discover a strong sense of personal identity in a culture dominated by images of the Indian Princess and her reviled, darker twin, The Squaw.
