JAMES FENIMORE COOPER

1789-1851

James Fenimore Cooper was one of the first popular American novelists. He came to the history of the literature as a founder of American social and historical novel. He wrote over thirty books.

The son of a rich landowner, Fenimore Cooper was born in 1789 in Burlington, New Jersey, the eleventh of twelve children, and brought up on the family estate, Cooperstown, New York. His father was a judge and member of Congress. James was sent to school at Albany and at New Haven. When he was only 13, he entered Yale University. In his third year he failed in his examinations and had to leave the University.

At the age of 17 he went to sea and spent six years as a sailor and later on as an officer. In 1809, Cooper inherited his father’s wealth. Two years later he married Susan DeLancey and left the ship. For some years he lived on his estate and there he started writing novels. Cooper began writing almost by accident. When reading a popular English novel aloud to his wife one day, Cooper suddenly tossed the book aside and said, “I could write you a better book myself!” His first novel was about an English family, living in England. It was not a great novel, but it was good enough to be published.

Fenimore Cooper’s second novel “The Spy” (1821) was a historical novel about the days of the American War of Independence. Its hero is a common soldier who loved America. Cooper showed how the victory of the American Revolution was made possible by the patriotic courage and enthusiasm of the ordinary American toilers. The book was successful.

Giving up his life as a farmer, Cooper moved to New York City to continue his career as a writer. After writing many successful sea tales, he published the frontier adventure, The Pioneers (1823).

In 1826 Fenimore Cooper went to Europe. He wanted to give his children a good European education and he placed them in foreign schools. Together with his wife he travelled much and visited many countries. He wrote many books about his travels. While in Paris he wrote three historical novels set in medieval Europe, as well as books about democracy, politics and society.

In 1833 Cooper returned to America, and immediately published “A Letter to my Countrymen”.

Cooper spent the last years of his life in Cooperstown (named for his father). He died of dropsy[18] on the 14^th of September 1851 and a statue was later erected in his honor.

The main theme of Indian novels or the Leather-Stocking novels is the theme of the struggle of Indian tribes against colonizers.

The main character in all these novels is Leather-Stocking, as he was called by the Indians. He was a white man, a hunter named Natty Bumppo. He was just and kind, and though he was an ordinary man with very little education, he knew much about forest life. He is an extremely practical, sensible and brave individual. An excellent trapper[19], trailer[20], hunter, and fighter, he has an almost legendary reputation with the Indians. He is an upright and idealistic individual who is a combination of both worlds; Indian and European. He would say that all men – white, black, yellow or red – were brothers. He was against civilization because he thought it spoilt nature and people. He himself preferred to live in the woods far from cities. The Indians, with whom he was very friendly, were closer to him than the white civilized Americans. When he became old, he joined on e of the Indian tribes and died there.

In the image of Natty Bumppo the author embodied the ideal of a true man, grown up in the links with nature, aspired to peace and friendship between people of different nationalities, with the different colour of skin. His vocation is hunting and making new ways. He doesn’t aspire to the wealth or career. His main feature is a heart-kindness. He saves people risking with his life. He combined in himself the best features of white men and Indians.

“THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS”

It is the second of Cooper’s books about Leather Stocking. Europeans came to live in the best part of the North-East and drove the Indians, the first inhabitants of the country, from their land. The book tells much about the life and traditions of the Indians. The author shows that Indians, like white men, could be both good and bad. The title of the novel gives the readers quite a definite understanding about the fate of the North-American Indians. The coming of the white men brought death to them.

Major Theme

Heroism is the main theme of this book. In the native, wild, virginal country of America, where life is uncertain at all times, the characters stand out for their inherent bravery. Nearly all of the members of the group display astonishing levels of bravery in spite of all the hardships that they face.

Duncan Heyward acts as the protector of the women in their journey to meet their father. When he is urged by Cora to leave after the gunpowder has run out, he refuses and stays back with her and Alice. When the Hurons later trap him, he fights like a caged animal. When Uncas is trapped, he rushes to help him without giving any thought to his own life.

Hawkeye is more practical but nonetheless brave. He offers to lead the girls to their father and stays on till the very end to protect their lives. He stays calm when their gunpowder runs out, even though he knows that the Hurons will soon attack. At Cora's request, he leaves, not to flee but to get more gunpowder and possibly help. At every turn of the book, when Magua kidnaps some member of the group, Hawkeye immediately rushes to help.

Cora shines through as brave and courageous. She continually defies Magua and acts cool-headedly throughout the novel. She is admired for her actions by both Hawkeye and Uncas. While Alice often seems to have little to do but faint and be rescued, she does deal with her circumstances as best as she can within the confines of her role.

David Gamut displays bravery too, although for much of the book he is an object of ridicule. He takes the place of Uncas when the latter is being held prisoner and later takes part in the battle against the Hurons.

Chingachgook, though old, supports Hawkeye throughout the book. He too displays courage through the various clashes with the Hurons. But his heroism stands out especially in the last chapter of the book. Although he loses his son Uncas, he bears the loss with dignity and courage.

Uncas displays extreme courage throughout the novel, whether in battle or in rescuing the women. He looses his life trying to save Cora, but does so with such courage that the reader cannot help but marvel at his heroism.

In the hard frontier life that Cooper depicts, bravery appears as a matter of course. Men such as Hawkeye stand out as superheroes, and women such as Cora can boast of being made of the same mettle and strength. We may say that Cooper, having showed the pictures of American everyday life, having depicted the characteristic habits and customs of his country, having told its history, discovered America to the Europeans.

DISCUSSION:

1. Analyze the character of Magua.
2. Describe the historical background of “The Last of the Mohicans”.
3. Discuss Cooper's depiction of Indians in the book. Analyze the character of Hawkeye.
4. The Native Americans in Cooper’s novel seem either entirely good (Uncas and Chingachgook) or entirely evil (Magua and most of the Hurons). Are there any believable Indian characters in the novel?
5. Compare and contrast the father-son relationship of Chingachgook and Uncas with the father-daughter relationship of Munro and his daughters.
6. In what way is Hawkeye the hero of the book? As the hero, why isn’t Hawkeye involved in either of the novel’s love stories?
7. Discuss three examples of the clash between races or cultures. What do the three examples show about Cooper’s views on racism?

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1387