The Last of the Mohicans Essay -- Native Americans James Fenimore Coop

The Last of the Mohicans James Fenimore Cooper’s the Last of the Mohicans is a gripping novel that depicts the travel of 7 people through the dangerous woods of western New York in the late 18th century. The story takes place during the French and Indian war at the height of conflict. Major Duncan Heyward is accompanying singer David Gamut and the two daughters of the English colonel Munro from Fort Edward to Fort William Henry. Along the way, the four travelers discover that their Indian guide Magua has purposely lead them in the wrong direction. Their only chance of making it to Fort William Henry now rests in the hands of Hawk Eye (a man who knows the way of the Indians but continuously asserts that he has no Indian blood) and Uncas and Chingachgook (the only two living members of the once great tribe known as Mohican). Together, the group sneaks through the woods avoiding the French troops as well as the dangerous Huron’s who have formed an alliance with the French. The book is full of adventure. Earlier in the book, the travelers stop to spend the night in a cave near a waterfall, but they are attacked by Magua’s allies the Huron’s. Hawkeye and the Mohicans managed to escape down the river but Heyward, Gamut, and the Munro sisters are all taken as prisoners by the Huron’s. Magua then tells the group that he seeks revenge on colonel Munro. But before he had the chance to act, Hawkeye and the Mohicans attacked the Huron’s and killed all but Magua who managed to escape. Although the book had a fictitious spin, a little research shows me that the events and certain characters are more or less historically accurate. One occasion was the Massacre of William Henry. Once the travelers arrived at their destination, they learned that the fort was receiving no more troops and would be forced the surrender to General Montcalm and the French. Montcalm told Fort William Henry that he would allow them to leave with all their belongings, without a fight. However, once the party left the fort, they were surrounded and almost everyone was killed. The Munro sisters and David were once again captured by Magua. The book also discusses the alliances between Europeans and Indians. The French and English were quick to make friends with the Indians because they knew they would need their help. The Indians knew the woods and how to liv... ... to see their enimie’s. They also were very careful not to leave tracks. They used the river whenever possible so their footprints could not be followed. The Indians could even tell when someone had tried to cover their tracks by the way branches had been broken and other things like that. I found the way Indians communicate to be very interesting. The Mohicans spoke about how the Indians have one word for everything and they change how they want to express that word with the pitch of there voice. The Mohicans stressed how much the tone of voice mattered to them. This book has enticed me to learn more about the Indians and their customs. They seemed to kill animals for no reason but after they were questioned by the Europeans they gave good answers. At one point in the book they killed a deer and then told Cora and Alice that the deer would have given them away and by killing the young deer it wouldn’t face any hardship that might have come its way. I also found their shouts of war interesting and I would like to learn more about them. The story itself is what really kept me reading though. It was suspenseful and exciting. In closing, I’m glad I read this book.