Marcus Whitman chose a site among the Cayuse, far from the Nez Perce who requested his services. Analyze how Marcus Whitman's selection of the Waiilatpu mission site revealed something of his character and future work.
To analyze how Marcus Whitman's selection of the Waiilatpu mission site revealed something about his character and future work, we need to explore the historical context and understand his motivations.
Marcus Whitman was a pioneer missionary who, along with his wife Narcissa, traveled to the Oregon Country in the 1830s to provide medical and spiritual assistance to Native American tribes. The Whitmans initially aimed to establish a mission station among the Nez Perce tribe, who had expressed interest in having a missionary presence.
However, when Marcus Whitman arrived in the Oregon Country, he encountered the Cayuse tribe near the Walla Walla River. Despite the Nez Perce's desire for his services, Whitman decided to establish his mission among the Cayuse instead. This decision can be seen as indicative of Whitman's character and future work in a few ways:
1. A determined and independent nature: Whitman was known for his strong-willed personality and desire to make a lasting impact. By choosing a site among the Cayuse, even though they were not the tribe he initially intended to work with, he demonstrated his willingness to adapt and pursue his goals regardless of the challenges.
2. A pragmatic approach: The Cayuse were more accessible and closer to existing settlements, making it logistically easier for Whitman to establish and maintain his mission. This decision showed that Whitman had a practical mindset and was willing to make strategic choices to ensure the success of his work.
3. A missionary zeal: Whitman's decision to establish a mission among the Cayuse rather than the Nez Perce could also be seen as a manifestation of his determination to bring Christianity and Western ideals to as many Native American tribes as possible. It revealed his zeal and commitment to spreading his beliefs, even if it meant deviating from his original plan.
In the long run, Whitman's choice of the Waiilatpu mission site proved to have both positive and negative consequences. The mission's location facilitated trade and communication with nearby settlements, enabling the growth of Waiilatpu into a prosperous community. However, tensions between the Cayuse and the increasing number of settlers eventually escalated into the Whitman Massacre in 1847, resulting in the deaths of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and several others.
Overall, Marcus Whitman's selection of the Waiilatpu mission site revealed aspects of his character such as determination, pragmatism, and missionary zeal, while also foreshadowing the challenges and conflicts that would unfold in his future work.