The Last of the Mohicans and American Idealism

By Matthew Cox

James Fenimore Cooper expressed both American idealism and sentiment in his series called The Leatherstocking Tales. The ideals shown in the books, particularily in The Last of the Mohicans, included independence, patriotism, democracy, and hard work among others. Natty Bumpo, the protagonist, showed sentiment, the goodness of people, by helping those in need. Literary critics pointed out that the action-based plots and idealized character were a little unrealitic. However, such action and suspense in the novels have been an elements good storytelling. Bumpo and other characters have tragic flaws to help connect them with the reader. The other four books in the Leatherstocking Tales explored similar themes. Later writers modeled their characters including Sam Spade from Natty Bumpo. James Fennimore Cooper’s stories showed idealism and sentiment to demonstrate American virtues in the Last of the Mohicans.

Sentiment has described the expression of emotion which implied the goodness of a character or humankind (Stevenson, p. 188). It was found in many literacry generas and served manu purposes. In early American literature, it was used as a way to teach the American virtues of honesty, democracy, hard work, and the like. Writers in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s used stories of real or imaginary characters to set examples of decent living. Ideaism has been similar to ideology in which attitudes, values and beliefs are shaped by political interests (10). The main difference was that idealism reflected the belief that people can improve society. Such concepts were enshrined in the founding beliefs of the U.S. that free people had the opprotunity to improve themselves. As Americans moved west of the Appalachian Mountains, they followed the dream of improving their lives in the frontier. Books including the Leatherstocking Tales reflected this drive. The main character, Natty Bumpo, was the hero of the stories. His most popular adventure was the Last of the Mohicans. James Fenimore Cooper used senitmenal appeal to show Americans about the value of riteous living in his stories.

The basic plot of the Last of the Mohicans concerned a massacre during the French and Indian War (Wikipedia). Between 500 and 1500 people at Ft. Henry Williams were killed by the French Algonquins. Those killed included unarmed soldiers, their wives, and servants. The two daughters of the British commander, Cora and Alice, were kidnapped. Natty Bumpo, nicknamed Hawk-Eye, and two Mohicans, Uncas and Chingachgook went behind enemy lines to rescue the two girls. The title of the book came from the quote by Tamanend, “I have seen th last warrior of the wise race of Mohicans.” Uncas was the last Mohican.

Literary critics have argued that Natty Bumpo was a thinly disguised person that Cooper new. Such a person had three dimesnions to his character: mimetic, thematic and synthetic (Davey). The mimetic aspects made him a plausable person. Thematic dimensions represented certain ideals including hard work, integrity, and independent. Synthetic qualities have apperared artificial in context to the plot and story progression. Such dimesnions have been abstract as to blend Natty Bumpo into the setting of the novel. Giving the protagonist realistic, but exagerated qualities allowed the reader to identify with him. The story islef was slightly unrealistic as with most adventure tales. Literature critic James Phelan argued that the mimetic viewpoint was stronger than the other two. That was Cooper’s way of letting readers see both Hawk-Eyes tragic flaw of foolhardy bravery. It let people see Bumpo’s positives sides including compassion and understanding the frontier. Also, using a historical setting let people see the patriotic aspects of Last of the Mohicans.

Peter Rabinowitz, another literary scholar, described the writing as appealing only to a small group of people who agreed with Cooper’s patriotism. However, this was not the case because Last of the Mohicans has survived the test of time. Also, the work has appealed to a wide variety of individuals. It touched on themes or ideals including heroism, individuality, and the innate goodness of people such as Natty Bumpo. The French and Algonquins represented an evil, controlling force due to the massacre at Ft. William Henry. Using the frontier setting also reflected the enterprising spirit of the U.S. by exploring new territory.

The other four books had similar themes of idealism and sentiment. For example, The Deerslayer involved Bumpo, nicknamed Deerslayer, as a frontiersman (Walker, p. 32-36). He was a friend of Native Americans and stopped two other men in the wilderness from capturing Indians for scalping. Idealistic themes in The Deerslayer included a respect for nature and the Native Americans. Book No. 3 was called the Pathfinder. The plot involved Bumpo rescuing people travelling to Ft. Oswego from hostile Native Americans. It differed slightly from the first two books because Bumpo falls in love with Mabel Duncan, another character. Fourth in the series, The Pioneers dealt with Natty’s arguement with Judge Marmaduke Temple over who killed a deer. Themes explored in the book included how people must care for nature and use their freedoms to help one another. The Prairie concerned Bumpo saving the family of Ishmael Bush from their own inexperience in the wilderness. Natty showed how people on the frontier needed to help each other by teaching them how to live off of the land. This story strongly expressed Cooper’s sentiment about human goodness.
The image of Natty Bumpo has become an American icon (Praxis p. 58). Many writers have used him as a model for their own characters. For example, Sam Spade was modeled after Hawk-Eye. Instead of living in the frontier and helping pioneers, Spade was streetwise and helped crime victims. Cooper helped America define many types of genaras.

James Fennimore Cooper’s stories showed idealism and sentiment to demonstrate American virtues in the Last of the Mohicans. In general, all five books in The Leatherstocking Tales explored similar themes including free thought, initiative, good citizenship, and the like. Natty Bumpo’s character embraced sentiment by helping needy people. Literature scholars concidered Bumpo’s strengths to be just as important as his weaknesses. For example, Deerslayer’s foolisness went along with his compassion. They also pointed out that the fast-paced action in the books engaged the reader. Other literary characters including detective Sam Spade were modeled after Natty Bumpo.


Works Cited


Davey, Michael. “Convention and the Limits of Biography for Literary
Criticism: Fathers, Daughters, and Sentiment in Cooper’s Last of the
Mohicans.” James Fenimore Cooper Society. 36 aragraphs. August 2001.
http://external.oneonta.edu/cooper/journal.html#prairie

“Last of the Mohicans.” Wikipedia. 15 paragraphs. 31 August 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_of_the_Mohicans

Walker, Warren. James Fennimore Cooper: An Introduction and
Interpritation. New York: Holt, 1962.

Praxis Study Guide, English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge. Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 2004.