Last of the Mohicans Principles

There are military principles, religious principles, Native American principles and European principles at play in The Last of the Mohicans. And all of 'em are at odds with one another.

European principles are shown as upstanding, but also kind of dim. Native American principles are portrayed as sensible, but also pretty bloodthirsty. Our main man Hawkeye is shown as combining the best of European and Native American principles when it comes to both military tactics and moral centeredness.

Questions About Principles

1. Which principles prove most successful at enabling survival?
2. Should Hawkeye have killed both the conjurer and Magua when he had the chance?
3. What principles do Indians adhere to? Do all Indians obey these principles?

Chew on This

Heyward's military principles are useless on the frontier.

Hawkeye pretends to mock the principles of the white man, but his actions demonstrate that he adheres to them as well.