Last of the Mohicans Chapter 33 Summary

  • Epigraph is a short passage from "Marco Bozzaris" by Halleck.
  • The next day, the Lenape are in mourning, having avenged their quarrel with the Mengwe.
  • The lodges are empty; everyone has formed a circle around six Delaware women who are preparing Cora's corpse. Munro sits at her feet, with David Gamut at his side and Heyward watching from a tree.
  • Opposite from Cora is the seated figure of Uncas, richly decked out. His father stands before him, completely emotionless and obviously pretty messed-up by all the death.
  • Both Cora and Uncas are celebrated.
  • Since the two of them have died so shortly after each other, the Delawares believe it is a sign they are meant to be together in the afterlife. All the funeral rites observe this.
  • Each chief stands and speaks to the corpse of Uncas. It's really sad.
  • Chingachgook sings a farewell.
  • Cora's body is raised up by several Delaware women and taken to a little knoll for burial.
  • Hawkeye compliments the Delawares on their funeral rites, and then asks them to make way for David, who will perform some Christian last rites.
  • David sings a song.
  • Now it's time for Munro to say a few words. He asks Hawkeye to translate a rather short and inclusive eulogy.
  • Hawkeye shakes his head, saying that's not the best idea. He turns to the Delawares and instead conveys some of Munro's gratitude.
  • Everyone slowly disperses. Heyward reminds Hawkeye of a date they've made to meet within the British army.
  • The narrator notes that the Delawares did not easily forget their visitors, but that the tale of Cora and Uncas has remained in their tradition for some years.
  • Hawkeye continues to serve as the link between the Delawares and the white men.
  • The narrator then consciously brings us back to the present of the story. Hawkeye watches Uncas being buried.
  • Chingachgook has not yet spoken. Everyone looks at him expectantly. He speaks of his son and then claims to be alone—a claim disputed by Hawkeye, who emphatically insists that he will never forget Uncas and insists that Chingachgook is not alone in the world.
  • The two men clasp hands and cry over Uncas's grave together.
  • Tamenund lifts his hand, saying that the white men are masters of the earth, and grieving that he has seen Uncas's lineage once happy and strong but has now lived to see "the last warrior of the wise race of the Mohicans."