Analysis of Literary Features of The Last of The Mohicans

Introduction

One could read Cooper's novel “The Last of the Mohicans” and find it exceedingly difficult to get through. Granted, it is by no means a modern novel, but if the reader is a fan of the modern-day 20th-century theatrical depiction as well as other literary works of the late 18th and early 19th centuries such as “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen or “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, it can be quite enjoyable. As a literary form, the novel was still in its infancy when Cooper wrote “The Last of the Mohicans.” For its time, Cooper's book achieved quite a lot and set a higher standard for novels that followed.

Literary Features in The Last of the Mohicans

To begin, this story was written almost 200 years ago and describes an era about 50 years previous to the publication date. As such, the style of writing is meticulous, meaning that there is a lot of time and carefully placed words used when describing the physical surroundings. For example, instead of describing the meeting between a Mohican (Chingachgook) and a European (Hawk-eye) in the forest as a beautiful afternoon in July, Cooper writes, “On that day, two men might be observed, lingering on the banks of a small but rapid stream, within an hour’s journey of the encampment of Web, like those who awaited the appearance of an absent person, or the approach of some expected event. The vast canopy of woods spread itself to the margin of the river, overhanging the water, and shadowing its dark glassy current with a deeper hue. The rays of the sun were beginning to grow less fierce, and the intense heat of the day was lessened, as the cooler vapours of the springs and fountains rose above their leafy beds, and rested in the atmosphere.” Such vivid descriptions not only paint a picture but also immerse the reader into the atmospheric setting of the time. Unfortunately, this also means that the story can drag a bit at times while the reader digests the exact coloration of the trees or the rush of water in the streams. However, it is a very compelling story nonetheless. If the reader embraces the storyline and the characters, he/she should not have problems getting through the book. Others who don't have the ability to concentrate on the story at hand and/or the character struggles, so eloquently and carefully written like an artist with paint to the canvas, might have more difficulties.

Racial and Cultural Portrayals

Some comment about the 'racial overtones' of the story which one could postulate is merely a retelling of 'the way things were' at the time. When Cooper writes, “Leaving the unsuspecting Heyward, and his confiding companions, to penetrate still deeper into a forest that contained such treacherous inmates,” he isn’t being racist or demeaning in kind, he is simply using the vocabulary of the day to paint a picture. Less pointed vocabulary would undoubtedly water down and diminish the authenticity of the story. The reader should find no legitimate problems with the portrayals of the various non-white characters since at the time the story is set, this is actually how they were characterized in society. The non-whites are portrayed as savages at times, but only at the behest of the whites that have deluded them with empty promises, otherwise they are shown to be reasonable, human, and yes 'noble'. This complex portrayal challenges the reader to reflect on the historical context and to understand the nuanced relationships between the characters.

Reflection on Historical Context

Lastly, one must refrain from trying to apply today's morals, beliefs, and social standards when they read “The Last of the Mohicans.” Literature is meant to both enlighten and entertain and the “Last of the Mohicans” does both, but in order to fully absorb this, the reader must first both suspend their own prejudices and beliefs by accepting the basic premise and concepts as one would in any story. Cooper does often use stereotypes, which in modern society would come across as not only disrespectful and inaccurate but outright racist and sexist. However, this is often the case with novels of the time and it does accurately reflect the ongoing differences between the settler populations and native tribes, not to mention the ever-present view that women are utterly helpless and need men-folk to save them from everything. That being said, Cooper's use of overly detailed descriptions, while sometimes seeming a little laborious, does help recreate the cultural and social fallacies of the era and for the most part brings to life every aspect of the time, possibly even a little too much. This attention to detail allows modern readers to gain insight into the historical era and its prevailing attitudes.

References

Cooper, J. F. (1826). The Last of the Mohicans. Carey & Lea.

Austen, J. (1813). Pride and Prejudice. T. Egerton.

Alcott, L. M. (1868). Little Women. Roberts Brothers.