Indians James Fenimore Cooper example essay topic

James Fenimore Cooper was one of the pioneers in American novel writing. Cooper used the life and things he had experienced and turned them into best-selling novels that have held up throughout the years. He became famous with the publication of the wilderness adventures. Along with the success these books brought, so to came some criticism. To truly understand Coopers books you have to delve deeply into them and know from where he got the ideas for the stories. James Fenimore Cooper was born in Burlington, New Jersey on September 15th 1789 ("James Fenimore Cooper", American Eras, n. p.

). He was the eleventh child of William Cooper and Elizabeth Fenimore Cooper, whom he would later adopt part of his name from. His father was a land speculator, judge and Federalist politician ("James Fenimore Cooper", DISCovering Biography, n. p. ). In the early years of Fenimore Cooper's life the family relocated from Burlington to the wilderness of Ostego Lake, New York. There, William Cooper built Ostego hall and developed the surrounding area as Cooperstown ("JFC", DISCovering Biography, n. p.

). In 1803 James Fenimore Cooper entered Yale at the tender age of thirteen years. However his immaturity proved to be consequential as he was expelled for blowing up a classmate's door with gunpowder ("JFC", DISCovering Biography, n. p. ). After his expulsion, presumably as a consequence for his actions, Cooper joined the Navy and sailed aboard the Stirling. On the ship he was witness to many adventures such as pursuit by pirates and British impressments of U.S. sailors (JFC, DISCovering Biography, n. p.

). In December of 1809 William Cooper died. However upon his death, he left James Cooper a large sum of money ($50,000). This money did not all go into Cooper's pocket as he had to use some of it to care for his siblings (JFC, DISCovering Biography, n. p. ). In May of the next year James would request a twelve-month break from the Navy to tend to family business.

In his time from the Navy, Cooper met Susan Augusta DeLancey, the daughter of a country squire. They would marry on January 1, 1811 (JFC, DISCovering Biography, n. p. ). Cooper was an avid reader in his early adulthood. After reading a few pages of Jane Austen's Precaution, he threw the book down in disgust and is claimed to have said, "I could write you a better book than that myself". Cooper's wife, Susan, challenged him to do so (JFC, DISCovering Biography, n. p.

). The result was Cooper's first book, a book on manners and proper etiquette. A book of this type was very common for the time and not noteworthy aside from being the book that brought him into the literary world. Cooper's first book of import was The Spy, published in 1821. There were quickly three editions of the book and it was adapted for the New York stage.

Critics referred to Cooper as "The first who deserved the appellation of a distinguished American Novel writer (JFC, DISCovering Biography, n. p. )". In 1822, Cooper published The Pioneers, which was the first of the Leatherstocking Tales. The book sold 3,000 copies on the day of release (for the time, a lot of copies) (JFC, DISCovering Biography, n. p. ). Cooper was challenged by Sir Walter Scott to write something better than his book, The Pirate, after Cooper had criticized it.

The result was his first nautical novel, The Pilot. All of his publications led to Cooper becoming more and more of a household name (JFC, DISCovering Biography, n. p. ). Coopers popularity led to his appointment in 1824 as committee member to welcome Marquis de Lafayette. In that same year he was given an honorary master of the Arts by Columbia University.

Two years later, The Last of the Mohicans was published and was commended by critics (JFC, DISCovering Biography, n. p). This would go down in history as Coopers most famous and oft read book (JFC, DISCovering Biography, n. p. ). Cooper would later travel to Europe to try to arrange for international publications of some of his novels ("James Fenimore Cooper, DISCovering Authors, n. p. ). In Europe, Cooper met with Lafayette who urged him to dispel misconceptions of Americans.

The result was Notions of Americans. Back in his homeland, people criticized Cooper for intervening in French political affairs. Furthermore, Cooper's European novels were not received well. Upon his return in November of 1883 he was not nearly the hero he was when he left seven years earlier ("James Fenimore Cooper, DISCovering Authors, n. p. ).

Cooper came to see that America had changed in his absence after he wrote two books (Homeward Bound and Home as Found) that were disliked ("James Fenimore Cooper", American Eras, n. p. ). Cooper would then return to the Leatherstocking Tales which had brought him to fame with The Pathfinder (1840) and The Deerslayer (1841) ("JFC", American Eras). Cooper would lead an uneventful last ten years of his life before he died September 14, 1851 at his home in Cooperstown, New York ("JFC", DISCovering Authors, n. p. ). Coopers series, the Leatherstocking Tales, played a major part in his growing fame.

The most famous of the series was The Last of the Mohicans. This book is set in the summer of 1757 during the French and Indian War in the New York wilderness (where Cooper grew up) (James Fenimore Cooper, Novels for Students, 133). The characters of The Last of the Mohicans can be divided into Indians and Non-Indians. Magua is the antagonist.

He was once the chief of his tribe but was driven from it due to his drinking habits. Chingachgook is a wise old Indian and is one of the last two Mohicans, the other being his son, Uncas. Uncas is one of the heroes of the book and is fairly young and able-bodied (JFC, Novels for Students, 135). Hawkeye is the protagonist of the story.

He is not an Indian in genetics but understands them and is essentially Indian in character. Alice and Cora Munro are the eventually kidnapped daughters of a colonel in the British military. Cora has some level of ethnic background. Major Heyward is a brave man under the command of Colonel Munro who accompanies the girls when they venture into the wilderness. He is out of his element as he is not a woodsman. Gamut is trying to spread religion to the frontier and is further out of place than Heyward (JFC, Novels for Students, 136).

The action of the story starts with Magua leading the Munro daughters along with Major Heyward through a shortcut to visit Colonel Munro at Fort William Henry. The group encounters Hawkeye, Uncas and Chingachgook. The three newcomers reveal to the travelers that Magua is leading them into an attack (JFC, Novels for Students, 134). Magua flees into the woods. The new group of Alice, Cora, Major Heyward, Gamut, Hawkeye, Uncas, and Chingachgook find safety in a cave. The next morning the Hurons, who are allies of Magua, attack the travelers.

Alice, Cora, Heyward and Gamut are caught as the others escape. Next, Magua reveals his motive for kidnapping the girls. In the past Colonel Munro had humiliated him by publicizing Magua's drinking habits. Magua offers the girls a deal; if Cora marries him, Alice may leave unharmed (JFC, Novels for Students, 134).

As he proposes marriage to the unwilling Cora, Hawkeye and the Mohicans save the day, rescue the travelers and kill every Huron except for Magua who escapes. The group finally makes their way to Fort William Henry and Colonel Munro (Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans, a. p. ). At Fort William Henry the French and Indians attack retreating British soldiers and massacre them. Among the Indians is Magua who again escapes with Cora, Alice and Gamut (JFC, Novels for Students, 134). Major Heyward, Hawkeye, Colonel Munro and the Mohicans all find Magua trail and pursue him.

Alice is rescued from a Huron camp while Gamut is set free. However, Magua still holds Cora captive even after a confrontation with the travelers (Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans, a. p. ). A battle starts between Magua and Hurons with the travelers. Cora is killed by a Huron, Uncas then tries to kill that Huron but is then killed by Magua.

Magua is left hanging from a cliff in the climactic moment of the story when Hawkeye shoots him and he plummets to his death (Cooper, The Last ofthe Mohicans, a. p. ). The next day Cora and Uncas are buried amidst much mourning. Chingachgook is now the last of the Mohicans. (JFC, Novels for Students, 135).

The Deerslayer, another historical romance novel, takes place in Glimmer glass New York near a lake and the Hudson River. Although a date is never specified, it can be assumed to be around 1750. The Deerslayer is a precursor to The Last of the Mohicans. The first character is Deerslayer (Natty Bumppo) who will become Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans. Deerslayer is, as before, a white man who is familiar with the ways of the Indians. Hurry Harry is an immoral mountain man who often hunts for Indians (James Fenimore Cooper, Deerslayer, a. p.

). Judith and Hetty Hutter are the daughters of Thomas Hutter. They live on the lake and are motherless. Judith is beautiful, honest and somewhat intelligent.

Her sister, Hetty, is very plain and simple minded. Chingachgook is the son of a chief and is again a brave Indian. Hist is Chingachgook's Indian love (Cooper, Deerslayer, a. p. ). The book begins with Hurry and Deerslayer going to the lake to meet with Judith and Chingachgook, respectively.

Upon arrival Hurry and Thomas Hutter decide to go hunting for Indians, which Deerslayer does not approve of. Their destructive behavior is soon punished as the Iroquois whom they were hunting capture them both (Cooper, Deerslayer, a. p. ). Deerslayer also finds out that his romantic interest, Hist, was taking captive by the Iroquois. Hurry and Hutter are freed through trading items from Thomas Hutter chest. Consistent with the wanton nature of the European settlers in America, after Hutter and Hurry are freed they go Indian hunting again.

This time they both don't make it out alive; Tom Hutter is scalped by the Iroquois and dies soon after. Deerslayer and Chingachgook attempt to free Hist forcefully and end up just making a trade as Deerslayer is then in captivity, but the two do accomplish their goal of freeing Hist (Cooper, Deerslayer, a. p. ). The Iroquois offer Deerslayer a deal. If he agrees to marry the widow of an Iroquois whom he had killed in the past and take care of the children they would spare his life. He rejects on moral grounds and over his love for Hist.

The widow's brother, insulted by his decision, throws a tomahawk at Deerslayer but misses (Cooper, Deerslayer, a. p. ). When Deerslayer returns the throw, he kills the man and the Indians call for Deerslayer death. As the Iroquois are going to kill Deerslayer, one by one allies of Deerslayer come and interrupt the proceedings as they have seen the approaching English army. Chingachgook and the troops burst on the scene and save the day (Cooper, Deerslayer, a. p.

). The Iroquois are massacred at the hands of the ruthless English captain. Deerslayer is freed and most of the Indians are killed with the exception of a few who are taken hostage. One casualty of the fighting the fighting was Hetty Hutter, who was shot and dies the next day.

After burying her, Chingachgook, Hist and Deerslayer go back to the Delaware tribe from which they came. Judith proposes marriage to Deerslayer, but he rejects (Cooper, Deerslayer, a. p. ). In The Last of the Mohicans Cooper develops distinct style that sets him apart from other authors. First, we see point of view changes. For instance, the book starts with the Focus on Heyward and the girls but then shifts to Hawkeye and the Mohicans.

The perspective is still third person but the focus of the story has changed. Coopers writing style is known as "Historical Romance". This is when one would take actual historical events, elaborate them and create a story within a story. For example, the Fort William Henry massacre happened in reality but the kidnapping of the commanding colonel's daughters did not. In both Deerslayer and The Last of the Mohicans the religious characters are portrayed as somewhat useless but end up saving themselves or others. For example, Gamut who is just kind of the taga long in the adventures of The Last of the Mohicans has his life spared because the Indians assume him to be crazy while he is singing his prayers.

A final element of style in Coopers books is that he gives women a diminished, "rescued" role. The women never are the actual heroes themselves. In both books the people who land the groups in trouble are women. In the Last of the Mohicans, Alice and Cora wish to visit their father but are captured. Also, in Deerslayer, Deerslayer is captured in his attempt to save Hist which creates the dilemma in the story. The female significance (or insignificance) may be a product of the era in which Cooper lived.

Tabitha Mcintosh-Byrd writes in Novels for Students (144), "Cooper extensively blends fact with fiction". This is the essence of the historical romanticism in which Cooper writes. Essentially he takes history and makes it fit into his novels. In the same evaluation, Byrd speaks of Cooper writing stories marked by movement between hostile civilizations (Byrd, 145).

For example there is the constant struggle between the European immigrants and the Native Americans, the French and the British (Byrd, 145). The story is enhanced through the oppositions. I see the opposition adding a dimension to the story. With so many conflicting sides the reader is left almost choosing sides, which makes the book more interesting (Byrd, 144-47). John Miller writes in Novels for Students (149) that the in depth depiction and understanding of the Indian lifestyle was crucial to Coopers novels. His level of understanding of the Indian culture is definitely made greater by the fact that he grew up near the wilderness and probably had contact with Indians.

Later in the review, Miller talks about the simplicity of Cooper's plot lines (Miller, 149). The Last of the Mohicans is not a complex book to follow. It tells of the damsel in distress but keeps the reader interested with elements of horror, suspense and danger. It seems that there are several sub climaxes throughout the book that add to the excitement. Miller goes on to write that Cooper creates particularly well developed characters that are easy to relate (Miller, 149). The previous two evaluations of Coopers work look upon it favorably.

However, Mark Twain disagrees with the greatness of Cooper's novels. Twain claims that Cooper fails to accomplish or arrive at anything in Deerslayer (Mark Twain, Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism, 208). Furthermore, Twain feels that Cooper created meaningless, unrealistic dialogue that added no further dimension to the story being told. The final shot Twain takes at Cooper is that Cooper allegedly broke 114 out of 115 literary rules in two thirds of a page (Twain, NCLC, 208).

What exact two thirds of a page is never specified. Twain is very harsh in his assessment of Cooper, however Twain probably knows literature better than anyone. Sometimes other authors can be the biggest critics of each other's work (Twain, NCLC, 208-210). D.L. Maulsby offers retaliation to Twains thoughts on Cooper's Deerslayer in Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism (210). Maulsby disagrees that the story fails to arrive at a conclusion. To him, Deerslayer is the account of a mission undertaken by a hero and the mission is completed in the end. It was good to see someone defend against Twains critical attacks on Coopers style (Maulsby, 210-211).

In all of Coopers books there is a very vivid depiction of the surroundings writes W.C. Brownell in Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism (214). The setting really becomes part of the stories that wouldn't be the same if there were a remotely different setting. Cooper had extensive exposure in the two types of settings he wrote in, wilderness and nautical, which probably facilitated the process of describing the surroundings. To think that James Fenimore Cooper was an always cheerful, always upbeat man who wrote well received novels would be incorrect. He managed to insult people on both sides of the Atlantic and still achieve stardom.

Cooper was disliked by the common person and the author alike; despite the way people disliked Cooper the man, they could not attack his novels as he was considered the first great American Novelist.