The United States developed a powerful Thanksgiving narrative in which Pilgrims represented faith and perseverance, Native people represented welcome and assistance, and the harvest meal represented peaceful cooperation.

Tisquantum fit perfectly into that structure.

He could speak English.

He taught useful skills.

He seemed to appear at exactly the right moment.

He allowed the story to personalize Native assistance through one recognizable figure.

The complexity of his life was inconvenient.

Kidnapping made the English look less innocent.

Patuxet’s destruction made Plymouth’s location morally complicated.

His manipulation of Ousamequin made him less saintly.