What is noble savage? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of noble savage

noble savagenoun
người man rợ cao quý
/ˌnəʊbl ˈsævɪdʒ//ˌnəʊbl ˈsævɪdʒ/

Where does the word noble savage come from?

The term "noble savage" originated in the 17th century as a literary concept popularized by British philosopher John Locke and French writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The concept eulogized indigenous peoples as inherently moral, virtuous, and closer to nature than European civilizations. The term "savage" itself had pejorative connotations, as it was commonly employed by Europeans to describe any non-European people they encounters. The use of "noble" in the phrase was intended to soften this negative image and instead cast native populations in a more favorable light. However, while the notion of the "noble savage" served as a romantic ideal for some, it also perpetuated inaccurate and stereotypical notions about indigenous peoples and masked the realities of European exploitation and violence against them. The concept of the "noble savage" fell out of favor in the late 19th century as anthropologists and ethnologists provided more accurate and nuanced depictions of indigenous cultures, but it continues to be a topic of discussion in contemporary debates about indigenous rights and representation.

Example of vocabulary noble savagenamespace

The famous painter, Eugène Delacroix, depicted the noble savage in his painting "Liberty Leading the People," which showcased a muscular, bare-chested man as a symbol of revolutionary spirit.
In the novel "Robinson Crusoe," by Daniel Defoe, the protagonist idolizes the noble savage, Friday, whom he rescues after a shipwreck, and learns valuable lessons about simplicity and survival from him.
The Romantic poets of the 19th century, such as William Wordsworth and Percy Bysshe Shelley, romanticized the notion of the noble savage, viewing nature as pure and untainted, and seeing the indigenous peoples as embodiments of its original spirit.
The French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau famously coined the term "noble savage" in his novel "Emile," presenting a thought experiment in which an unspoiled, innocent person would be purer and more virtuous than someone affected by society's corruption.
The American writer Thomas Jefferson saw the Native Americans as a noble savage race in his "Notes on the State of Virginia," highlighting their supposed freedom, simplicity, and rejection of materialism.