Romanticism in The Last Of The Mohicans Essay

"The Last Of The Mohicans;" The Last American Romantic

A loud crack pierces the still silence of the forest as Magua, a Huron guide, plunges his tomahawk into the body of a British soldier. Gunshots erupt from the darkness of the forest all around Cora and Alice cutting down the company of soldiers assigned to protect them. As if appearing from thin air two Mohicans and a white man come to their rescue, killing all of the Hurons. This white man was named Hawkeye, and was the main character of the movie The Last of The Mohicans. The romantic theme of this movie is revealed by Hawkeyes romantic character, shown by his desire for individual freedom, love of nature, and his use of emotion and sentiment over logic and reason.

Hawkeye was a man that lived life on his own terms. He never allowed people to push him into making a decision that he did not want to make. When some British soldiers came to Hawkeyes small settlement trying to recruit men for war he did not sign up. Instead he decided to fight the war by his own means. When he arrived at the fort, he notified the colonel in charge, which happened to be Cora and Alices father, about the murders that had occurred back at his small settlement. The colonel did not allow the militia men to go back and defend their homesteads. He also stated that anyone who deserted the fort, or helped someone desert the fort would be shot. This did not stop Hawkeye from doing what he knew was right. He helped them escape and was shackled for it.

Hawkeye had a love for nature and its wilderness. He was born in it as a child, and was raised in it, by Mohawks, into a man. He learned how to live in the wilderness. It nurtured him and gave him life. He respected that, and demonstrates it when he thanks the deer that he had just killed for providing him life.

Hawkeye was a logical man, but many times he used emotion and sentiment over logic and reason. When he was young he was told not to try to understand the white man. However he makes an exception for Cora because he is attracted to her. For example, during the battle in the field when they are marching from the fort he stayed and did not run. Logically, to save his life he should have left. However he loved Cora enough to stay there and protect her. Another instance would be in the end when he offered to give his life in place of Coras to be burned.

Hawkeye is a romantic hero because of his desire for individual freedom, love for nature, and use of emotion and sentiment over logic and reason.