Squanto Character Analysis in Of Plymouth Plantation

Squanto is one of the most important figures in the history of the Pilgrims’ settlement in New England. A Native American who’d previously been captured by an English captain, Squanto managed to escape from his captors, and later learned English during his time in Newfoundland. He later travels back to America with the help of an English captain, and becomes instrumental in making introductions between the Pilgrim settlers and the Native American chiefs. Squanto later dies of disease, probably as a result of his extended contact with Europeans.

Squanto Character Timeline in Of Plymouth Plantation

The timeline below shows where the character Squanto appears in Of Plymouth Plantation. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...fisherman, from whom he learned the language. Samoset refers the Pilgrims to another Indian, named Squanto, whose English is even better than his own. Squanto greets the Pilgrims and introduces them... (full context)

In addition to making introductions with Massasoyt, Squanto shows the Pilgrims how to plant corn and fish. He’d been carried back to England... (full context)

...in the year, an Indian named Hobbamok comes to live with the Pilgrims. Hobbamok and Squanto later become embroiled in an argument with another Indian named Corbitant, and Hobbamok reports to... (full context)

...send an expedition to the Massachusetts Bay, with Mr. Edward Winslow as the leader and Squanto as the interpreter. Squanto explains that there is a wild tribe of Indians, the Tarantines,... (full context)

Debt and Religious Capitalism Theme Icon

...departure, the Narragansett Indians send a messenger to the Pilgrims bearing a bundle of arrows—which Squanto explains is a threat of war. The Pilgrims respond by sending a pile of bullets.... (full context)

The Pilgrims begin to see that Squanto is manipulating the Indians for his own ends, making them believe that the Pilgrims are... (full context)

...why. He instructs Bradford not to give any supplies to Weston’s men, and to instruct Squanto to spread word that Weston and his men aren’t affiliated with the Pilgrims. (full context)

...the Pilgrims. Bradford consents, and enlists the Massachusetts settlers to sail with him, along with Squanto, in search of more corn. The voyage is thwarted, however, by a storm, and the... (full context)