John Smith wrote a General History of Virginia because he wanted to make himself look like a hero.

For example, he wrote the paper in third person to make it more dramatic, as well as make himself seem more heroic, as shown in the following quote: “…Captain Smith, who, by his own example, good words and fair promises… himself always bearing the greatest task for his own share, so that in short time he provided most of them lodgings, neglecting any for himself.” If Smith had written the paper in his point of view, he would seem much more boastful when talking about what a wonderful, hard-working person he was. In addition, Smith wrote of being “beset with 200 savages” which may be a bit over-exaggerated, considering he came out of the situation alive. After being taken to their village to be killed, Pocahontas, who was just ten years old (a bit different from the Disney version) “got his head in her arms and laid her own upon his to save him from death.” For some reason that is still up for debate, Pocahontas didn’t hate this man and so Smith was allowed his life. And thus Smith’s relationship with the savages continued, trading things and helping the other group survive. Smith speaks of how he was almost put to death because of Robinson and Emry, the president “…pretending the fault was his that had led them to their ends…” The third person point of view is very important again, because it heavily implies that he was not, in fact, guilty. It would be less believable if he had denied his guiltiness outright. These quotes made him appear innocent, and just someone who was trying to make the colonies a better place.