Last of the Mohicans Man and the Natural World

The Last of the Mohicans has a man in a bear costume and a man in a beaver costume. 'Nuff said.

Oh, okay. There is actually more to say on this theme. The novel takes place in the wild, woodland frontier of upstate New York. And you have to be tough to make it in these beautiful but terrifying forests. It's made abundantly clear that the Native American characters possess the skills necessary to hack it in the wilderness, and most of the white guys (with the exception of Hawkeye, who is the coolest) just… don't. Those red coats just don't blend in with the foliage, for example.

Questions About Man and the Natural World

1. Why is Hawkeye so capable in the wilderness? What are his limitations in navigation?
2. Who is the most ineffectual in the forest?
3. How would you characterize the relationship between man and nature in this novel?
4. We are warned in the first sentence of the novel that the forest carries many dangers. Is this true, given the rest of the novel? If so, what kinds of perils do people have to watch out for in the forest?

Chew on This

Hawkeye is capable because he straddles the worlds of the European settlers and the Native Americans.

Hawkeye's capability comes from his survival skills; it has nothing to do with his cultural affiliations.