What is the origin of the natives are getting restless and the meaning?

Answer 1

Oh, dude, so back in the day when colonizers were taking over lands left and right, they would say "the natives are getting restless" to basically mean that the indigenous people were getting a bit fed up with their shenanigans. It's like when you keep poking a bear with a stick and then act surprised when it growls at you. So yeah, it's basically a not-so-subtle way of saying, "Uh oh, we might have pushed these folks too far."

Answer 2

I heard this line in a play in 1953 but do not know the name of the play. Any ideas?

According to TVtropes.org this comes from a 1933 film of the H.G. Wells book "The Island of Doctor Moreau." It implies that the indigenous population is about to rise up and attack the people who don't belong there. Harkens back to racism, Imperialism and Anglo-Saxons going into the lands of others and trying to exploit/oppress the native people.

^^

It is indeed from "The Island of Lost Souls (1933)," uttered in several forms by Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau. However, as the 'natives' in question are not natives at all but the human/animal hybrid results of Moreau's experiments. As such, the above claims of racism, imperalism and exploitation are erroneous.

Answer 3

The phrase "the natives are getting restless" likely originates from colonial times when indigenous peoples were seen as rebellious or troublesome. It is now used figuratively to suggest growing impatience or dissatisfaction within a group.