A Noble Savage in The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

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“Chingachgook told me, don't try to understand them; and don't try to make them understand you. For they are a breed apart and make no sense”, explains the first American hero in The Last of the Mohicans. James Fenimore Cooper's objective during this novel was to portray the first American hero to the English man. To do so he created a white man by the name of Hawkeye; adopted by the last of the Mohican Indian tribe, Hawkeye was very resourceful and intelligent. His sharp mind was eventually needed to rescue two ladies by the names of Alice and Cora. These young women had found themselves in a dangerous situation during the French and Indian war. As the war played out, Hawkeye and his Indian brother and father guided these girls to the safety of their father; all the while a love story takes place between Hawkeye and one of the ladies. Hawkeye, in The Last of the Mohicans is a great illustration of an ideal hero and noble savage because of the way that he speaks and acts throughout this unique adventure.
The ideal hero is one that does the right thing during a situation no matter the consequence. Doing what is moral when it comes down to it even though the result may be against a certain regulation is of noble savages characteristics. The simple goodness that comes from the uncivilized being of one when not encompassed in civilization also illustrates the traits of a gentle barbarian. A noble savage is one of various attributes. Some of these qualities being a killer and a peacemaker, a loner and a lover, and a barbaric man of his word. Hawkeye embodies all of these uncanny but yet atrocious traits.
Every hero has a fierce side, almost savage like. Hawkeye shows this trait through his voice and actions when he demands that the Br...

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...e barbarian one more heroic trait.
Love is a very powerful word. One who puts himself in danger, one who does everything for the one woman he cares about is unquestionably one who loves. Everything that Cooper portrays Hawkeye to be essentially proves him to be a lover. Rescuing Cora numerous times from different risky conditions, leaving her in order to save her, offering himself to be killed rather than her. Hawkeye and Cora are to Romeo and Juliet; an unconditional love.
James Fenimore Cooper assumed we would infer Hawkeye an ideal hero and noble savage because of his heroic actions and all the attributes he holds. He can be a savage and a gentleman, a killer and a peacemaker, a loner and a lover through everything he is and does. Every living being needs a hero like Hawkeye, something to believe in; and without this superman or superwoman we can only survive

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