Character motivations in new orleans by joy harjo

Answer with Explanation:

The character in Joy Harjo's "New Orlean" is motivated by her desire to remember the happenings in her hometown, the South and the people (the Creeks) who happen to have lived there. She wanted to show how the people in her area where affected by President Andrew Jackson's command of removing the Creeks because of their violent resistance to the white settlers. Many of them were removed and taken to New Orleans and towards Oklahoma.

It also shows the hardships that the Creeks encountered such as enduring the extreme cold on their travel. On their way along the Mississippi river, one of the steamboats collided with another ship and caused the death of 300 Creeks. Thus, the poem also shows sadness of those who have perished, but will never be forgotten.

The poem also shows the "greediness" of Desoto when he was looking for gold but ended up dying. He's described as being foolish for his quest ("He should have stayed at home.").