Hawkeye’s Character Profile Essay, Research Paper
Natty Bumppo is the main protagonist in James Fenimore Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans. Natty Bumppo is a well known “palefaced” woodsmen among the Tribes and European armies throughout the colonial state of New York. Hawkeye, as his friends call him, is also known as The Scout and La Long Carabine by his enemies. He is extremely skilled with his rifle and has profuse knowledge of the wildness, but is still aspiring to reach the Indian plateau of oneness with nature. He and the Mohicans help a small British party navigate through the wilderness to deliver two daughters to a General at Forth William Henry, a few days journey from their starting point. Hawkeye is friends with the Mohicans, and finds himself at home among the intrinsic knowledge of nature that the Mohicans hold.
Hawkeye is a woodsman who is physically hardened by years of living in rough, rugged conditions, yet still is muscular and better advantaged bodily than disadvantaged. ” judging by such parts as were not concealed by his clothes, was like that of one who had known hardships and exertion from his earliest youth. His person, though muscular, was rather attenuated than full; but every nerve and muscle appeared strung and indurated by unremitted exposure and toil.” He has no cross in his heart, and does not believe in a Christian God proved when he shoots at the Huron Indians and bellows “Come on ye bloody-minded hellhounds! Ye meet a man without a cross. Bumppo is dressed in a divergent way, wearing an old frontiersman hunting shirt, which contrasts his natively fashioned moccasins, knife in a girdle of wampum, and buckskin leggings that laced at the side. His subconscious attentiveness gained by living in the wild causes his eyes to appear keen and dexterous, constantly scanning for any unknown object. Bumppo’s mastery of his rifle “killdeer” has given him fame and infamy, due to his elite ability to shoot, and the sheer number of enemy tribesmen he has downed.
Hawkeye’s friendship with the Mohicans is limited to the fact that only two remain; Chingachgook, and his son Uncas. This is somewhat of an advantage though, because it allows Bumppo to become closer to them. His deep friendship with them is first shown when they are freely conversing among the babbling creek and crashing waterfall, expressing different views and discussing the heritage of the Mohicans, they are at peace and enjoying themselves, before the British party shows up. After this point, the conversing done between Hawkeye and the Mohicans is primarily based upon decisions, which are made to better help the British party they are aiding. Not much truly deep and full friendship conversing occurs; however, trust is strongly shown between them, as they fight multiple battles with the Hurons. Again it is shown much later as they smoke a peace pipe talk in low full tones around the fire, and consider their options of departure from the demolished Fort William Henry. The strongest bond of something even deeper than friendship is revealed when the last Mohican warrior, Uncas dies, and is set to rest. Uncas’s father Chingachgook exclaims “I am alone-,” followed by Hawkeye saying “No, No,” “No Sagamore, not alone. The gifts of our colors may be different, but God has so placed us as to journey in the same path. I have no kin, and I may also say, like you, no people. He was your son, and a redskin by nature; and it may be that your blood was nearer-but if I ever forget the lad who has so often fought my side in war, and slept at my side in peace, may He who made us al, whatever may be our color or our gifts, forget me! The boy has left us for a time; but, Sagamore, you are not alone.” This quote is both powerful and intriguing because for once, Hawkeye’s nature hardened logic personality is peeled away by his beloved friend Uncas death, revealing true wanting and raw emotions to be more than any type of love, object, or act can show, to be one with the Mohicans.
The grave understanding of nature is seen in Hawkeye, yet he still does not have all of the natural talents that are born into someone with Indian blood. His sense of hearing is great in comparison with a typical British soldier, yet it is not at the level of grander that the Mohicans have. “We must give a call to Uncas. The boy has Indian sense, and may hear what is hid from us; for being a whiteskin, I will not deny my nature.” Hawkeye’s entire reason for choosing to be a frontier’s man derives from his ardor for outdoor ambience. His friendship with the wise Mohicans, only pushes him further into this love for the untainted, unbridled natural surroundings.
Natty Bumppo is the very closest a man can come to nature, without being a true Indian in blood. His heroic deeds, emotion more intimate than the deepest love, and talent, that has far exceeded that of any other whiteman. The deeper than love bond Hawkeye shares with the Mohicans, and unrelenting fondness for the wilderness puts him where he belongs.