Mohicans Gender Roles Essay
Many years have passed since women were given the right to vote, yet more years have passed since the slaves were emancipated. Despite the change intended by laws that have been put into action, social norms are much slower to catch up with the times. In The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper, the author draws attention to the many issues in a specific community, despite all the progress made over time throughout the world. There are racist inclinations between whites and Indians, gender roles prescribed to both men and women, and other various intolerances. James Fenimore Cooper uses gender roles, racial stereotypes, and other prejudices to highlight the flaws in society during the time of the Mohicans. The Last of the Mohicans is crafted around the fact that men are superior to women. This is
…show more content…
shown not only through the story line, but also through the fact that there are only two important women in the book, Alice and Cora, the daughters of Colonel Munro.
In the novel, men are described to be so powerful and mighty that they, “called to each other in the bowels of the Earth” (Cooper 74). Here, the Earth is a God-given creation. To compare the men to the movements of the Earth is to make them God-like creatures. By comparing the men to God and his creations, men are raised, in society, far above women. Another manly aspect is that the setting of the book is distinctly war based. In addition to the book as a whole lacking women, if it wasn’t for Magua’s plan, there would’ve been no women in the war zone at all. In Nina Baym’s essay,"Putting Women in Their Place: The Last of the Mohicans and Other Indian Stories" she writes that men are “overcome by blood lust, and desperate for scalps to demonstrate their manhood” (Baym “Putting Women in Their Place: The Last of the Mohicans and Other Indian Stories”). She describes that men exhibit their power through cruel and violent actions. As far as the book and the gender roles created inside of it are concerned,
men are made for war, to kill and to fight. A weak man, therefore, would not fill his prescribed gender role. In another passage, “How Men and Women Wrote Indian Stories”, Nina Baym writes, “Thus, the Indian story depended for its morality on gender distinctions between it’s white characters, casting men as active defenders, women as passive representations of that which was defended” (Baym, “How Men and Women Wrote Indian Stories”). Men, in this book, are depicted as strong, unforgiving creatures. In contrast, the women are made to be gentle and seemingly useless. These gender roles were strict and unforgiving. However, despite their low social caste, and strict roles, the women were still valued members of society.
Magua shows the reader the gender roles of women during the time of the book. When Cora and Alice are captured, Magua raises the opportunity for Cora to escape her capture by marrying him. When she asks why he replies, “When the blows scorched the back of the Huron, he would know where to find a woman to feel the smart. The daughter of Munro would draw his water, hoe his corn, and cook his venison” (Cooper 160). In other words, Magua would view Cora as a trophy, a way of knowing that he defeated his enemy, Colonel Munro. In Terence Martin’s literary criticism “From the Ruins of History: The Last of the Mohicans” he writes, “Attracted by her dark beauty, aware too that she is contemptuous of him, he is motivated to possess her primarily by his desire for revenge against Major Munro” (Martin). Where women functioned mainly as objects, possessing another man’s woman was the ultimate defeat. Although women were looked upon as lower in society, they were still valued by men. For Munro, he valued the girls because they were his daughters. Other men may value their women because they cook or clean. To possess someone else’s woman was a masculine defeat. In Nina Baym’s essay, "Putting Women in Their Place: The Last of the Mohicans and Other Indian Stories." she writes, “Men could produce realism because they faced reality directly; women could produce only schoolgirl romance because they were protected - by men - from the ceaseless through which civilization is instituted and maintained as well as from the savagery that made and makes such struggle necessary” (Baym “Putting Women in Their Place: The Last of the Mohicans and Other Indian Stories”). Gender discrimination is a crucial aspect throughout the book. This quote helps to show that although most men thought women were useless, it was simply because of the role they were put in by society and the lack of ability they had to learn and grow. However, the reader can see that women, objects, as they were, stood as quite important belongings. Magua summoned Alice and Cora overseas as a plan to defeat his enemy, their father. By using the girls as the bait for winning the war, Magua incidentally shows how important females are to their respective families. Despite their importance in terms of use, they were of no value in terms of intelligence. The gender roles forced onto women during the time of the book made them weak and seemingly useless, only objects to be had and won.
James Cooper uses the Indian tribe to represent racial stereotypes. After Cooper writes about an Indian killing and scalping a Frenchman, Hawkeye says, “Twould have been a cruel and unhuman act for a white skin; but 'tis the gift of natur' of an Indian, and suppose it should not be denied” (Cooper 213). Hawkeye condones violent Indian actions, while simultaneously recognizing that the same action would never be accepted from the white-skinned. Nina Baym writes in the passage from New Essays on The Last of the Mohicans, “The narratives alleged that Indian brutality - above all the slaughtering of women and children - was compelling proof of inherent Indian viciousness” (Baym “How Men and Women Wrote Indian Stories”). Although Hawkeye is purely white, genetically, he was raised by Indians, so he understands this behavior and it’s nature instead of frowning upon it. Terence Martin writes in his essay “From the Ruins of History: The Last of the Mohicans” that, “There is no ground for a reprimand; there is no hope of change” (Martin). It is due to different rules of society followed by the Indians that this action is acceptable. It was simply their nature to commit such violent acts. Despite trying to be accepting, Hawkeye doesn't realize that giving the Indians another set of rules is also a form of racism, against whites. To defeat racism, all parties must be held to the same standards. In Mitzi McFarland's literary criticism, “Without a Cross': The Carnivalization of Sex, Race, and Culture in Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans” he writes, “The credibility of his racial disclaimer is again undermined by the mask, this time by Gamut's own disguise as a grotesquely shabby Indian. Natty's claim to have... little cross' as Gamut collapses the lines between red and white, affirming however covertly, that which he is denying the racial impurity or miscegenation” (McFarland). Despite Hawkeye’s ability to see the clear differences between the Indians and the Whites, he does not register that it is racism, because he believes he is giving the lesser race the advantage. Hawkeye’s mixed background causes confusion among his loyalties and values, however he mainly identifies as an Indian. Hawkeye frequently denies the racism and other prejudice remarks from the Indian tribe, leaving no room for improvement as far as breaking racial stereotypes.
Racism, as a theme, is consistent throughout the book. At the very end of the book Tamenund says, “The pale-faces are masters of the Earth, and the time of the red-men has not yet come again” (Cooper 564). The pale-faces, quite literally are the white men, and this indian is accepting that they are currently the superior race. The repetition of the race issue prompts Shirley Samuels to write in "Generations Through Violence: Cooper and the Making of Americans." that “Discriminations that the novel repeatedly transgresses and reasserts, transgressions and reassertions that in their very restlessness raise the question of what recognition is being enforced” (Samuels). More or less, the same issues, racism, as well as gender, are constantly repeated throughout the novel. The ever-present reminder of racism raises the question “why is this issue not being fixed?” The unfixed problem is the core of Cooper’s novel. Mitzi McFarland writes in his article, “Without a Cross’ : The Carnivalization of Sex, Race, and Culture in Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans” that the dominant culture in society often “represses the minority, pointing to a strategy of disorientation and comic assault on cultural hegemonies rooted in social and racial domination” (McFarland). Cooper focuses on racial and gender discrimination in a different time period to show that it is still an issue in today’s society. The repetition of the issue causes the reader to spark a desire for change.
To further highlight Hawkeye’s racism, Cora does not believe in racism. Although Hawkeye is purely white, he is mixed in the sense that he identifies as Indian. Differently, Cora has mixed blood, but does not identify either way or take part in racist beliefs. In contrast to the judgment shown by Hawkeye, she represents the small community that does not judge. She asks, “Should we distrust the man because his manners are not our manners and his skin is dark?” (Cooper 22). Cora is truly the only character in the book that doesn’t show racist tendencies. Leslie A. Fiedler explains in his essay, "Natty Bumppo and Chingachgook." that Cooper believed in a dream. Fiedler writes, “Through the long story it took him nearly twenty years to tell, to the good dream which it is complement and antidote: the dream of primeval innocence and the companionship of red man and white” (Fiedler). Therefore, Cora and her non-racist tendencies represent the dream that James Fenimore Cooper wanted to draw attention to. By implementing Cora in the story, as well as giving her good nature plenty of contrast, in Hawkeye and the other men in the story, Cooper draws attention to the racial and gender discrimination that was and continues to be prevalent.
Finally, age discrimination plays a part in the Indian society. Hawkeye tells Cora, “Wisdom is sometimes given to the young, as well as to the old,” he said; “and what you have spoken is wise, not to call it by a better word” (Cooper 118). Hawkeye is attempting to console Cora, who is a fairly meager character, and younger than most the men in the book. An issue that still stands un-fixed to the present day, most adults believe to be, by nature, smarter than children or teenagers. When an adult chooses to not give a younger person the chance to speak their mind, it is a form of discrimination, the same as not letting someone vote because of their race. Shirley Samuels writes in her essay, "Generations Through Violence: Cooper and the Making of Americans." that “Genealogy also shows again how comments on generation and questions of descent and origin are almost reflectively affiliated with questions of identity” (Samuels). In other words, lineage, or where a person comes from, as well as age and background all define who a person is and how they are treated. This quote, by assessing the issue of age as a factor in identity, proves that discrimination by age is present in the time period of the novel.
In conclusion, age, gender, and racial prejudices are used throughout the book to demonstrate James Fenimore Cooper’s personal views on the lasting effects of discrimination. This book is relevant to high school aged students in the present day because our society encounters the same social issues as were addressed in the book, proving that they have a lasting effect. Many actions have been made against discrimination, but it is not yet at rest, therefore it is the responsibility of the current generation to fix it.
shown not only through the story line, but also through the fact that there are only two important women in the book, Alice and Cora, the daughters of Colonel Munro.
In the novel, men are described to be so powerful and mighty that they, “called to each other in the bowels of the Earth” (Cooper 74). Here, the Earth is a God-given creation. To compare the men to the movements of the Earth is to make them God-like creatures. By comparing the men to God and his creations, men are raised, in society, far above women. Another manly aspect is that the setting of the book is distinctly war based. In addition to the book as a whole lacking women, if it wasn’t for Magua’s plan, there would’ve been no women in the war zone at all. In Nina Baym’s essay,"Putting Women in Their Place: The Last of the Mohicans and Other Indian Stories" she writes that men are “overcome by blood lust, and desperate for scalps to demonstrate their manhood” (Baym “Putting Women in Their Place: The Last of the Mohicans and Other Indian Stories”). She describes that men exhibit their power through cruel and violent actions. As far as the book and the gender roles created inside of it are concerned,
men are made for war, to kill and to fight. A weak man, therefore, would not fill his prescribed gender role. In another passage, “How Men and Women Wrote Indian Stories”, Nina Baym writes, “Thus, the Indian story depended for its morality on gender distinctions between it’s white characters, casting men as active defenders, women as passive representations of that which was defended” (Baym, “How Men and Women Wrote Indian Stories”). Men, in this book, are depicted as strong, unforgiving creatures. In contrast, the women are made to be gentle and seemingly useless. These gender roles were strict and unforgiving. However, despite their low social caste, and strict roles, the women were still valued members of society.
Magua shows the reader the gender roles of women during the time of the book. When Cora and Alice are captured, Magua raises the opportunity for Cora to escape her capture by marrying him. When she asks why he replies, “When the blows scorched the back of the Huron, he would know where to find a woman to feel the smart. The daughter of Munro would draw his water, hoe his corn, and cook his venison” (Cooper 160). In other words, Magua would view Cora as a trophy, a way of knowing that he defeated his enemy, Colonel Munro. In Terence Martin’s literary criticism “From the Ruins of History: The Last of the Mohicans” he writes, “Attracted by her dark beauty, aware too that she is contemptuous of him, he is motivated to possess her primarily by his desire for revenge against Major Munro” (Martin). Where women functioned mainly as objects, possessing another man’s woman was the ultimate defeat. Although women were looked upon as lower in society, they were still valued by men. For Munro, he valued the girls because they were his daughters. Other men may value their women because they cook or clean. To possess someone else’s woman was a masculine defeat. In Nina Baym’s essay, "Putting Women in Their Place: The Last of the Mohicans and Other Indian Stories." she writes, “Men could produce realism because they faced reality directly; women could produce only schoolgirl romance because they were protected - by men - from the ceaseless through which civilization is instituted and maintained as well as from the savagery that made and makes such struggle necessary” (Baym “Putting Women in Their Place: The Last of the Mohicans and Other Indian Stories”). Gender discrimination is a crucial aspect throughout the book. This quote helps to show that although most men thought women were useless, it was simply because of the role they were put in by society and the lack of ability they had to learn and grow. However, the reader can see that women, objects, as they were, stood as quite important belongings. Magua summoned Alice and Cora overseas as a plan to defeat his enemy, their father. By using the girls as the bait for winning the war, Magua incidentally shows how important females are to their respective families. Despite their importance in terms of use, they were of no value in terms of intelligence. The gender roles forced onto women during the time of the book made them weak and seemingly useless, only objects to be had and won.
James Cooper uses the Indian tribe to represent racial stereotypes. After Cooper writes about an Indian killing and scalping a Frenchman, Hawkeye says, “Twould have been a cruel and unhuman act for a white skin; but 'tis the gift of natur' of an Indian, and suppose it should not be denied” (Cooper 213). Hawkeye condones violent Indian actions, while simultaneously recognizing that the same action would never be accepted from the white-skinned. Nina Baym writes in the passage from New Essays on The Last of the Mohicans, “The narratives alleged that Indian brutality - above all the slaughtering of women and children - was compelling proof of inherent Indian viciousness” (Baym “How Men and Women Wrote Indian Stories”). Although Hawkeye is purely white, genetically, he was raised by Indians, so he understands this behavior and it’s nature instead of frowning upon it. Terence Martin writes in his essay “From the Ruins of History: The Last of the Mohicans” that, “There is no ground for a reprimand; there is no hope of change” (Martin). It is due to different rules of society followed by the Indians that this action is acceptable. It was simply their nature to commit such violent acts. Despite trying to be accepting, Hawkeye doesn't realize that giving the Indians another set of rules is also a form of racism, against whites. To defeat racism, all parties must be held to the same standards. In Mitzi McFarland's literary criticism, “Without a Cross': The Carnivalization of Sex, Race, and Culture in Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans” he writes, “The credibility of his racial disclaimer is again undermined by the mask, this time by Gamut's own disguise as a grotesquely shabby Indian. Natty's claim to have... little cross' as Gamut collapses the lines between red and white, affirming however covertly, that which he is denying the racial impurity or miscegenation” (McFarland). Despite Hawkeye’s ability to see the clear differences between the Indians and the Whites, he does not register that it is racism, because he believes he is giving the lesser race the advantage. Hawkeye’s mixed background causes confusion among his loyalties and values, however he mainly identifies as an Indian. Hawkeye frequently denies the racism and other prejudice remarks from the Indian tribe, leaving no room for improvement as far as breaking racial stereotypes.
Racism, as a theme, is consistent throughout the book. At the very end of the book Tamenund says, “The pale-faces are masters of the Earth, and the time of the red-men has not yet come again” (Cooper 564). The pale-faces, quite literally are the white men, and this indian is accepting that they are currently the superior race. The repetition of the race issue prompts Shirley Samuels to write in "Generations Through Violence: Cooper and the Making of Americans." that “Discriminations that the novel repeatedly transgresses and reasserts, transgressions and reassertions that in their very restlessness raise the question of what recognition is being enforced” (Samuels). More or less, the same issues, racism, as well as gender, are constantly repeated throughout the novel. The ever-present reminder of racism raises the question “why is this issue not being fixed?” The unfixed problem is the core of Cooper’s novel. Mitzi McFarland writes in his article, “Without a Cross’ : The Carnivalization of Sex, Race, and Culture in Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans” that the dominant culture in society often “represses the minority, pointing to a strategy of disorientation and comic assault on cultural hegemonies rooted in social and racial domination” (McFarland). Cooper focuses on racial and gender discrimination in a different time period to show that it is still an issue in today’s society. The repetition of the issue causes the reader to spark a desire for change.
To further highlight Hawkeye’s racism, Cora does not believe in racism. Although Hawkeye is purely white, he is mixed in the sense that he identifies as Indian. Differently, Cora has mixed blood, but does not identify either way or take part in racist beliefs. In contrast to the judgment shown by Hawkeye, she represents the small community that does not judge. She asks, “Should we distrust the man because his manners are not our manners and his skin is dark?” (Cooper 22). Cora is truly the only character in the book that doesn’t show racist tendencies. Leslie A. Fiedler explains in his essay, "Natty Bumppo and Chingachgook." that Cooper believed in a dream. Fiedler writes, “Through the long story it took him nearly twenty years to tell, to the good dream which it is complement and antidote: the dream of primeval innocence and the companionship of red man and white” (Fiedler). Therefore, Cora and her non-racist tendencies represent the dream that James Fenimore Cooper wanted to draw attention to. By implementing Cora in the story, as well as giving her good nature plenty of contrast, in Hawkeye and the other men in the story, Cooper draws attention to the racial and gender discrimination that was and continues to be prevalent.
Finally, age discrimination plays a part in the Indian society. Hawkeye tells Cora, “Wisdom is sometimes given to the young, as well as to the old,” he said; “and what you have spoken is wise, not to call it by a better word” (Cooper 118). Hawkeye is attempting to console Cora, who is a fairly meager character, and younger than most the men in the book. An issue that still stands un-fixed to the present day, most adults believe to be, by nature, smarter than children or teenagers. When an adult chooses to not give a younger person the chance to speak their mind, it is a form of discrimination, the same as not letting someone vote because of their race. Shirley Samuels writes in her essay, "Generations Through Violence: Cooper and the Making of Americans." that “Genealogy also shows again how comments on generation and questions of descent and origin are almost reflectively affiliated with questions of identity” (Samuels). In other words, lineage, or where a person comes from, as well as age and background all define who a person is and how they are treated. This quote, by assessing the issue of age as a factor in identity, proves that discrimination by age is present in the time period of the novel.
In conclusion, age, gender, and racial prejudices are used throughout the book to demonstrate James Fenimore Cooper’s personal views on the lasting effects of discrimination. This book is relevant to high school aged students in the present day because our society encounters the same social issues as were addressed in the book, proving that they have a lasting effect. Many actions have been made against discrimination, but it is not yet at rest, therefore it is the responsibility of the current generation to fix it.