Monday, February 20, 2012
Native American stereotypes in LOM
he Native Americans in Cooper’s novel seem either entirely good (Uncas and Chingachgook) or entirely evil (Magua and most of the Hurons). Are there any believable Indian characters in the novel? Is Cooper guilty of invoking racial stereotypes in his portrayal of India
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Yes, the fact that they were good at knowing their environment and that they knew how to survive in harsh events, but that can be said for anyone in familur grounds. Cooper did almost make it look like they were uneducated in matters like the time Hawkey was tring to explain water movment and the Indian new what he was talking about, the whole scene almost made it look like the Indians couldn't think things through by themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe author separates the Indians in the book by being good and evil. The Indians are not identical, but vary through beliefs. One group is very bloodthirsty and the other side has a heart. Conflict rises from stereotyping and beliefs. Some of the challenges include the relationship between white and Indian. The Indians have a variety of history that can cause tension between Hurons and Mohicans. There is a complexity and variety of Native American cultures and beliefs. The challenges of the beliefs bring out the personality, good, or evil. The stereotyping of the Indian characters is what the reader sees, but what if the author Cooper is also stereotyping the white race and how they see the Indians.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Is this book read differently now that it was when written regarding those stereotypes??
ReplyDeleteYes, I think back then they believed all Indians were evil or at least up to know good. There was little tolerence back then.
DeleteYes I believe that Cooper has no believable Native characters because no one is entirely good or evil. I believe he should have had someone in between. I've seen all the stereotypes and these are it, they are nasty men who want to kill to get to their goals, then there are those who are so pure that it can't be real.
ReplyDeleteIn examining the “good versus evil” consideration I did not extract from Coopers account that the Huron’s were entirely bad or that the Mohicans were entirely good. First of all both the Mohicans and the Huron’s were faced with malice and warfare from the British and French, they were both being manipulated and used for the benefit of these soldiers for warfare. The Mohicans were willing to help Cora, Alice, and Duncan because they had a better relationship with the British. The Huron’s would have aided French allies in a similar situation if Magua ordered them to so as to preserve the relationship with the French. The Huron’s were also using the French to gain control over other Indian tribes as were the Mohicans to flush out the Huron’s. The Huron’s desired to scalp the Mohicans to rid their bloodline while the Mohicans desired to scalp the Huron’s to lessen their control. The Huron’s were more of a threat because there were more of them and could dominate the movement of the Mohicans. The Huron’s also fell fate to the ways of the white man in hopes of trade and were essentially trying to survive in the new world that was created by the presence of the whites in America where as the Mohicans refused to subscribe to their methods and found sacred their ties to their native traditions. I do not find that Cooper described one band to be more good or evil than the other; I instead think he does an excellent job at explaining why they acted in the manner in which they did to survive amongst the whites.
ReplyDeleteVery True! I agree with you and felt your explanation to be very good to the question.
DeleteIt is taking me a little longer to read this than you guys, apparently--I am doing a very "close reading" looking for specific clues. Ive read it before, obviously, but I'm reading it with a different focus this time. Up to where I am I can't find anything Hawkeye has said that is complimentary or even "fair" in description of the "Bad" indians. They don't cook their meat, they are "Varlets," they are "Brute beasts instead of human men," they are "Knaves," --he also uses "monster," "Beast," etc. I think Cooper is definitely delineating the Indians into two types--Good and evil. And Cooper speaks through Hawkeye
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that through out the book that Indians seem to want white women all the time, like Magua and Uncas. One uses fource the other just plainly wants Cora and does care about her.
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