The Last of the Mohicans

The Last of the Mohicans is an American historical romance novel written by James Fenimore Cooper in 1826. The book is centered around the French Indian War which was part of the Seven Years’ War between England and France for control of America’s frontiers. The story focuses on the adventures of Hawkeye, a white man adopted by the Mohicans and his two Indian companions, Chingachgook and Uncas. The story also explores the romance between Hawkeye and Cora Munro, daughter of an English colonel.

The book and the movie depict a clash between two opposing cultures at a moment of violent transition on the early American frontier. Both the European and Indian cultures are depicted as in crisis, with their established systems of leadership and conduct disrupted by alcohol, war, and cultural contamination. The hero’s mediation of these opposed cultures is the key paradox of the story.

Throughout the book and movie, the hero struggles to balance the demands of his own identity against those of the people with whom he interacts. In his efforts to preserve order and stability for the people of the village he protects, he frequently places the needs of others ahead of his own. In doing so, he embodies the values of an American romantic hero and demonstrates the heroic nature that is often associated with him.

In his encounters with the Indians of the Mohican tribe, Hawkeye experiences both the best and worst of their behavior. He encounters the loyalty and dedication of Chingachgook and Uncas, but he also sees the treachery of Magua and other Hurons who work against the English. Despite his experience with both sides, he is unable to form a clear opinion of the true character of the Indians.

He tries to understand the differences between the cultures and appreciates their virtues, but he still struggles to bring them into the European world. He attempts to teach the Indians how to read and write, but he also criticizes their excessive materialism and lack of discipline.

In the end, Hawkeye and his companions are forced to leave the Mohican village because they are in danger of being caught in a battle between the English and the French. The girls are kidnapped by the French, and the hero must rescue them before it is too late.

The Last of the Mohicans was an immediate success upon its publication, and it became the most popular of all of Cooper’s novels. After World War I, a number of scholars began to examine the novel for its social ideals. The resulting reevaluation of the book brought it to a new level of popularity and seriousness. This rebirth was marked by the appearance of scholarly works such as Fenimore Cooper: Critic of His Times and Studies in American Fiction. These scholarly works sought to prove that Cooper was more than just an adventure novelist. In the end, despite its episodic adventures and conventional sentimental love, The Last of the Mohicans remains a deeply significant book with a serious central theme.