John Rolfe

John Rolfe is the deuteragonist in Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World, the sequel to the 1995 film Pocahontas.

Background
John Rolfe is a dashing young English diplomat in service to King James. He is sent to Jamestown with the task of bringing Chief Powhatan back to England for negotiations in order to prevent a war between the natives and the English. His character is based on the historical John Rolfe, who was married to the real life Pocahontas. In the film, he and Pocahontas are initially at odds, but he eventually falls strongly in love with her.

John Rolfe is known for his knowledge of polite society and proficiency in the English rules of etiquette. He is at odds with Pocahontas when they first meet but they make up during the voyage back to England when he guards her from the rough crew, thus earning her respect.

Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
John Rolfe is tasked by King James with bringing Chief Powhatan to London for negotiations in order to avoid another war between the natives and the settlers. He is greeted by the settlers in Jamestown, as well as Pocahontas. However, he dislikes Pocahontas initially when she rebukes him for interfering with an incident between Powhatan warriors and the settlers, who were about to attack one another.

Later, Rolfe overhears two women talking about how Pocahontas stopped a war, and falsely assumes that Pocahontas is the name of the chief, rather than of the young woman he just met. That night, he brings a horse as a gift for the "chief" but is astonished to learn who Pocahontas really is. The real chief, Powhatan, refuses to go to England, and so Rolfe is forced to take Pocahontas so that war can be avoided. Rolfe and Pocahontas clash on the voyage, but soon reach a truce after Rolfe saves Pocahontas from being arrested for keeping stowaways (Flit, Meeko, and Percy) on the ship.

In England, Rolfe is given a proclamation by Governor Ratcliffe on behalf of the king, which states that if King James is not impressed by the Powhatan ambassador, an armada will set sail for Jamestown. After resting at his estate, Rolfe meets with King James. At Ratcliffe's suggestion, both Rolfe and Pocahontas are invited to a ball that night. Pocahontas would have to impress the king by appearing "civilized" in order to prevent the armada from sailing, much to the disgust of John Rolfe.

Pocahontas agrees to the plan, despite Rolfe's doubts, and is tutored in dancing and etiquette. Pocahontas dons a dress, and is powdered white, and is able to impress the king at first. However, Pocahontas offends the king by protesting a bear-baiting, which results in her being arrested and Rolfe's hopes for peace being shattered. That night, Rolfe meets a hooded stranger who assists him in breaking Pocahontas out of prison. At a cabin, the stranger reveals himself to be John Smith, who had been assumed dead after Ratcliffe had tried to arrest him. The fact that John Smith is still alive proves that Ratcliffe had been lying to the king in order to avoid his own crimes. While John Smith wishes for Pocahontas to remain hidden, John Rolfe allows Pocahontas to follow her heart. Smith soon realizes that Rolfe loves her.

Pocahontas goes before the king and queen, and, with the help of John Smith and John Rolfe, is able to reveal Ratcliffe as a traitor and liar. John Rolfe and the others then race to stop the armada, which they do so successfully. For his part in revealing the plot, Rolfe is offered a position as the king's adviser. He chooses to stay and Pocahontas chooses to head home alone. On the ship, Rolfe suddenly appears, revealing that he has actually turned down the king's position in favor of staying with her. John Rolfe and Pocahontas passionately embrace and romantically kiss as the ship sails off in the sunset.

Reception
Despite the fact that John Rolfe's existence in the film respects real events, the character himself is widely panned by majority of audiences - mainly due to the film having him replace the more fan-favorable John Smith as Pocahontas' love interest, thus making John Rolfe one of the most unpopular Disney characters. As the result, the Disney Princess couples place John Smith as Pocahontas' lover instead of John Rolfe.

Trivia

 * In real life, Rolfe came to America in 1610 to give the English settlers tobacco in Virginia by making a tobacco plantation after he lost his first wife, Sarah Hacker in Bermuda. In the movie, Rolfe was sent to Virginia as a diplomat by King James and Queen Anne to accompany Chief Powhatan to London.
 * In real life, he met Pocahontas during her captivity under Sir Thomas Dale and conversion to Christianity through Reverend Alexander Whitaker in July of 1613, in the settlement of Henricus. In the movie, he met Pocahontas in Jamestown.
 * In real life, he married Pocahontas at a church in Virginia on April 5, 1614. The minister of their wedding was Rolfe's long-time friend Richard Buck. A year after their wedding, the couple had a son named Thomas. In the movie, Rolfe and Pocahontas do not get married, though they are shown together at the end.
 * The real John Rolfe returned to Virginia without Pocahontas because of her death on March 21, 1617. She was buried at Saint George's Church in Gravesend, England. Rolfe adopted his two year old son, Thomas, to his family in Heacham. After that, he sailed to Virginia with Uttamatomakkin. The ship's commander was Samuel Argall, who abducted Pocahontas four years earlier.