-JPLast+of+The+Mohicans

Native Americans and Colonists in “The Last of the Mohicans”

In the historical novel “The Last of the Mohicans” there are many and constant interactions between Native Americans and French and British Colonists. In most situations the Native Americans that accompany the main party of characters is treated with respect, however in the first chapters of the novel the Native American character called Magua is often referred to as “the savage”. This shows that although they can be treated unfairly, they are also treated with decency and moderate respect. In the opening chapters of the novel a guide is assigned to help the Munro sister’s in travelling throughout the forests of Upper New York near the border of Canada. His name is Magua and he in a Huron Native American. Upon seeing his presence the narrator explains Cora’s thoughts and actions. “In the surprise her veil also was allowed to open its folds, and betrayed an indescribable look of pity, admiration and horror, as her dark eye followed the easy motions of the savage” (Cooper 11). The group, including Heyward, David, and the two Munro sisters often joke or taunt Magua when he finds that he is lost. In all they do not treat him well, but he is a criminal in the minds of the Colonists and so it may not be just to assume that they were treating him poorly because of his heritage or skin color. Throughout the rest of the book the party, and also characters that encounter the Mohicans Uncas and Chingachcook, are treated very fairly by the white Colonists. The Colonists even view the Native Americans as friends, fight side by side with them, and most of the characters either go separate ways or die next to them. Cora is even buried next to Uncas due to a small and undeveloped relationship that they shared. This is of massive importance, since Mr. Munro approved. A part in the text where a friendship between the Native Americans and the Colonists is observed is in chapter twenty-five when Uncas dresses up in the bear skin/suit and helps to distract the enemy Native Americans when Duncan is in the process of rescuing Alice from their grasps. In this attempt to distract the other Native Americans Uncas risks his life to help his friend locate and obtain his love interest, and only a great friend would do that in my opinion. Some people may not see the Native Americans and Colonists friends, even though in my opinion it is very obvious. The argument to friendship is that they are merely business partners. It could also be said that they only tolerated each other, just as a sibling might tolerate another sibling’s love interest. In some dialogue the Native Americans get frustrated with the lack of woodland skills that the Colonists possess, but often they are just shrugged off. Throughout the novel “The Last of the Mohicans” the Native Americans are treated in many ways. These include being treated badly, and being called savages and animals, and also include being admitted into a very diverse group of friends that. Some opinions may also find that the Native Americans in the novel are merely being tolerated because without them the Munro sisters would have never had a chance of rescue or reaching their main destination.
 * 1)  What did you feel was the most important event in the novel?
 * 2) Why did you feel that the author needed to describe the gore of the battles?
 * 3)  Who was your favorite character and why?

"A Young African Boy is Taken Into Slavery" a. The most disconcerting things about Smith's removal from Africa are the animalistic qualities that the opposing and capturing army showed, and the idea of human beings sold and persecuted merely for the color of their skin. b.The factors that helped Venture Smith adjust to life in a new world were his young age at the time of capture and having a "fair master". He was only a young child when thrown into the shackles of slavery, and so he barely had any time under his own culture, and so the transformation to being a slave was "easy". He also had a fair master that was nice compared to some of the other slave owners at the time.

"The Intolerant Act of Toleration" a. The specific protection mentioned for Catholics is that if they believe in Jesus Christ then they "shall henceforth be in any ways troubled, molested or doscountenanced..." (Kennedy, Bailey 39). This is basically saying that if a settler merely believed in Jesus Christ then they would not be troubled in any way shape or form. b. If this law had been strictly enforced Jews and Atheists would have been punished by death and would have had all of their land/good/wealth forfeited to the Lord Propriety. Anyone not believing in Jesus Christ or demeaning anyone of that faith would have to pay a hefty fine, most of which would go straight to the Lord, in this case Lord Baltimore.

"Framing the Mayflower Compact" a. In my opinion the Mayflower Compact stated some very basic laws and rules, but it was not enough to be considered the first American Constitution. There are absolutely no major laws or restrictions being put into place with the signing and agreement of this document, making it non-constitutional. b. This document foreshadowed the developement of democratic institutions, as we now know our government today, in that it allowed this specific group of men to "enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices...for the general good of the colony" (Kennedy, Bailey 43).

"Anne Hutchinson is Banished" a. This record shows that the Puritan way of thinking and living is very narrow-minded and they will persecute anybody with different views or of a different faith that threatened Puritanism. These proceedings were an injustice to religion as a whole because now people have the exact freedom to choose their own.