The Last Of The Deerslayer Character Analysis

Savanna Ruiz
Mrs. Andriano
AP English 3-5
05 November 2014
The Frontier’s Hero “In this scene of confusion and dismay, however, nothing could surpass the discretion and coolness of Deerslayer.” (Cooper 125). Deerslayer, Nathaniel Poe, Pathfinder, Hawkeye, and Natty Bumppo are just some of the names associated with James Fenimore Cooper’s heroic main character in stories such as The Deerslayer, and The Last of the Mohicans. Cooper introduces the American public to his character who embodies everything they strived to be in their new surroundings and in their ever-changing culture. Bumppo has many admirable morals compared to the men of his time, is unafraid of the many precarious situations he is thrown into, and prevails against any foe he
Natty Bumppo is no exception to this quality, and displays it in each of his tales. In his adventure, The Last of the Mohicans Bumppo travels through the woods with members of his party in attempt to rescue Cora from Magua, a revenge seeking Huron Indian who has kidnapped her. This is an incredibly dangerous journey, because these woods belong to an enemy tribe who wouldn’t hesitate to kill Bumppo and his party. Despite all the odds stacked against them, Bumppo continues on the long and arduous journey because he knows in his heart it is the right thing to do. Now some may argue that Bumppo is only doing this as a favor to Uncas, his best friend who happens to be in love with Cora. This argument is untrue, due to the words of Cooper who says “But Hawkeye, whose duty led him foremost in the adventure,” (Cooper). Undoubtedly, this shows that Hawkeye’s moral beliefs alone led him when pursuing the Cora’s captor. Furthermore, in “A Rescue” from The Deerslayer, Bumppo shows morality by refusing to disrespect the Hurons even as they jeer at him and torture him. Why though? Bumppo believes, “… by his peculiar notions of the duty of a white man; and he had stoutly made up his mind to endure everything, in preference to disgracing his color” (Cooper 120). He knows the Natives already despise the white race for everything that they have done, thus by choosing not to belittle the Hurons Bumppo establishes a slight amount of respect back towards the white race and shows respect to the Hurons as well. Bumppo shows outstanding examples of morality throughout each story and by doing so reveals an aspect of American culture that the people of the time responded to the strongest. The fact that Bumppo is respectful to people of all races and tries to bring honor to his own is a stark contrast to the way whites of the frontier era acted towards others that were of a different race. Americans viewed the