James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans (Indians)

James Fenimore Cooper's Defence of the Indian

In his novel, The Last of the Mohicans, James Fenimore Cooper not only provides an example for and American novel, but also provides a minor defence for the humanity of Native Americans. James Fenimore Cooper begins his story during the historic conflict between Britian and France, the French and Indian War, in which Native Americans were used by both sides. Within this conflict, Cooper begins his story from a relatable perspective, in which three of his main characters (Duncan, Cora, and Alice) are to be escorted through an unfamiliar climate by one of the only people who could already know the land, an Indian runner. Cora and Alice are the daughters of the British Officer Munro who at first along with Major Duncan Heyward, distrust the Indian runner, who latter in the story is named Magua.

Although all three of these characters have their doubts about Magua, Cora, the braver of the two sisters, asks a question which begins to bring humanity to Native Americans. Cora asks, "Should we distrust the man because his manners are not our manners, and that his skin is dark?" This single question opens a large amount of argumentation. This statement, not only sarcastically, but also directly, defends Native American humanity. The first point of defence is the clear and dirrect point in which Cooper calls Magua, an Indian runner, a man. In this one word James Fenimore Cooper has used Cora to accept the humanity of the Indian runner. Upon closer inspection, this question can be asked not only to the characters of the story, but also to the reader. Cooper in essence asks the question of whether a man's backround and habitual actions determine his humanity. Can a man be distrusted or lessened by his background as an Indian or his difference. That is the question Cooper asks through his character Cora. The rest of Cooper's story continues with an answer to that question.

Throughout the story, Cooper points out the differences between the Indians and the white men. Cooper specifically points out how the Indians are better than the white men, in warfare. He calls the Indians quick and "quiet footed" in which not only are Indians quick to move and attack but they also are so silent that hundreds of them can move through the woods without anyone noticing. The Indians also have much stronger senses (especially sight and hearing) than the white men, with which they can track each other down as quickly as they can run. Cooper's reasoning for all of this manifest itself in Hawkeye a colonial hunter who lives in the wilderness with two Indians of the Mohican tribe, Chingachgook and Uncas (the son of Chingachgook). Hawkeye, having lived with these two Indians for many years had become like them and through practice he had greatened his senses. In return for the teachings of the Indians, Hawkeye taught Chingachgook and Uncas how to properly use guns and also Chirstianity. By this process, Hawkeye became a "white-Indian", and made himself along with his two friends not only the most important heroes of the story but also an example for Americans of what they can do if they accepted the Indians and human beings and lived with them in peace.

Cooper however also shows the difference between Indians throughout his story. As soon as Hawkeye and his friends meet Duncan, he distrusts Magua, not because of Magua's humanity, but because of his appearance and the alliegence which goes with it. This leads to Magua's choice to run away after which, Hawkeye decides to lead the group to safety, and after much difficulty they arrive at Fort William Henry which is under siege. Eventually Munro (who was leading the defence of William Henry) surrendered and was given the right to march his men unopposed, out of William Henry. The Indian savages helping the French did not accept this very well and attacked the exposed British troops. massacring them due to their lack of morality, but Cooper does claim that the Indians have some morality in the few people who survived walked through the battle untouched. Alice and Cora being defenceless women hide under the angelic character David Gamut who sang throughout the entire battle and whom the Indians could not touch. The second major survivor was Munro who in his love for his daughters moved bravely through the battle, untouchable. The final act of humanity shown in this battle was the act of Magua who saved David, Alice, and Cora from the fight. Magua cared about Cora and her sister despite Cora's judgement of him. Magua could have let this Cora die in the fight but instead he saved her and brought her to safety with him.

Following this tragic massacre, Hawkeye, Duncan, Uncas, Chingachgook, and Munro head after Magua in an attempt to free Cora and Alice. Soon these characters caught up to Magua who was with his own tribe and eventually Heyward manages to free Alice and David from Magua but Cora remained captured. Finally Uncas, Hawkeye, and Heyward led a second tribe of Indians to war against Magua. These Indians are greatly successfull and wipe out Magua's tribe. The final sense of this battle featured Magua on a high cliff giving Cora one last chance to be his wife. Cora again refused but Magua could not kill her because of his love. at this point Uncas charges onto the cliff in a passionate form of love. At this instance not Magua but his fellow Indian stabs Cora, which weakens Uncas to the point where he is also slain by Magua. Magua finally dies after a failed attempt at escape in which he is shot by Hawkeye.

Cooper's answer to his own question is that Indians are men in a similar way to white men. Indians however are trapped in their own free will and although they can have an idea of the truth (Christianity), they can also have an idea of pure evil, in which they speak and act evil things. This comparision parallels to Jonathon Edward's teachings in which John Edwards told people they as well as Indians are actively hanging over a pit in which they can easily turn to and fall in. According to Jonathon Edwards Indians and white men are equal in their free will and also in their fate (of being in the destructive hands of an angry God who enjoys their downfall). Cooper mainly focuses on puting Indians and white men together in a sense of humanity. According to Cooper the Indians may choose to act differently but deep down can easily be human.

Upon reading James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans, one could ask the question: In his story James Fenimore Cooper describes Indians as having the choice of being good or evil, because Indians and white men are both human. Could a white man also have this choice of becoming as evil as an Indian, and if so can this white man redeem himself?