The Last of the Mohicans

The French and Indian war lasted from 1754 to 1763. It opposed the colonies of British America, located in the northeastern part of America, to those of New France, situated in Canada. Both sides, helped by some Native Americans tribes, fought to conquer more land and the disputed areas were Acadia and the Great Lakes Region (Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario and Lake Superior).

In the book, Cooper organised Indians into two well-defined camps:

• pro-Anglo-American Algonquin speakers (Delawares, Mohicans, etc.)
• and pro-French Iroquoian speakers (Huron, Iroquois, etc.).

When the story begins, Major Duncan Heyward is asked to escort Colonel Munro’s two daughters, Cora and Alice, from Albany to Fort William Henry in the Adirondack Mountains, where their father is waiting for them. Heyward is in love with Cora, whose mother was part black.

Their guide is a Huron Indian (pro-French), Magua, who soon leads the party into an ambush. But the trap fails as a group of Mohicans led by chief Chingachgook, Uncas (Chingachgook’s son) and Hawkeye (Chingachgook’s adopted son) rescues them and finally escorts them to Fort William Henry, besieged by the French and their Huron allies. During the attack, all the traitors are killed, except Magua who manages to escape.

Soon after, Cora falls in love with Uncas and explains to major Heyward that she will not marry him. Though the situation is desperate, they manage to enter the fort. However they will have to leave it with honor a few days later after French general Joseph-Louis de Montcalm tells them that no soldiers will come and help them. Magua is furious at this decision and decides to kill the British soldiers with the help of his own tribe.

During the battle of Fort William Henry, Munro is killed by Magua but Heyward, Alice and Cora are saved by Chingachgook, Uncas and Hawkeye. But not for long. Indeed, Magua will capture the major and the women. Back to his settlement, it is decided that Heyward can leave but Cora must be burned alive. As far as she is concerned, Alice will have to marry Magua. Hawkeye arrives at the settlement and offers to take Cora’s place. Heyward says he will take Cora’s place and while he is at the stake, Hawkeye shoots him to end his suffering. Then, he and Cora leave the settlement to free Alice.

Another battle starts. Uncas, Chingachgook’s son is killed by Magua whereas Cora decides to commit suicide by stepping off a cliff rather than stay with Magua. Eventually Chingachgook kills Magua and avenges his son, the last of the Mohicans.

Of course, Uncas was not the last of the Mohicans since some Mohicans still exist today.