Summary: Chapter V
Magua escapes from Heyward and Hawkeye, but Hawkeye finds blood
on a sumac leaf and realizes that his rifle shot has wounded the
fleeing Indian. Heyward wants to chase Magua, but Hawkeye resists,
upset that he has fired his rifle and perhaps incited the unseen enemy.
Moreover, the others are anxious to reach a safe place as night
approaches. Uncas suggests that they retreat to the Mohicans’ secret
hideout in the forest. Once Heyward promises not to reveal this
location to his English troops, they proceed there. The noise their
horses make poses a danger in the forest. When Gamut’s colt makes
too much noise, the Mohicans kill it and dispose of the body in
the river. Gamut shows great remorse at this violence, and Hawkeye
respects his sorrow. They hide the remaining horses and travel upstream
toward a waterfall, pushing the young women in a canoe. When
they reach the falls, Hawkeye reflects that the horses seemed nervous,
as though they could smell wolves in the night. This suggests that
Indians might be near, since wolves appear to feed on deer killed
by Indians. Gamut sings a sad song in memory of his colt, and the
two Mohicans and Hawkeye vanish, as though disappearing into a rock.
Summary: Chapter VI
Those left behind soon see that the Mohicans have entered
their secret hideout, a cavern in the falls concealed by a blanket.
Hawkeye lights a pine bough, and the light reveals the hideout to
be an island of rock amid the streaming falls. The group eats a
meal of venison. Uncas serves the two Munro sisters, showing more
interest in Cora than in Alice. Hawkeye continues to worry about
Gamut’s mourning and produces a keg to cheer him. The group again
inquires about Gamut’s curious profession. Gamut and the women sing
a religious song that affects Hawkeye powerfully. He nostalgically recalls
his childhood in populated settlements. Amid this sentiment and
calm reflection, a strange cry pierces the night. Uncas slips outside
to investigate, but he sees nothing that could have produced the haunting
sound. Heyward, Cora, and Alice withdraw into an inner cave for
protection during sleep. Suddenly, the strange sound recurs. For
the first time, Cora laments the decision to join her father at
his fort. Hawkeye comes back from investigating the noise, and the
others can see mystification on his face.
Analysis: Chapters V–VI
The Last of the Mohicans was one of the
first novels to portray both the romance and the adventure of frontier
life. These novels, eventually called frontier romances, became
very popular in the nineteenth century. The Last of the
Mohicans can be classified as a sentimental novel because
it explores the themes of doomed love and tragic death. It is also
a novel of adventure, for it portrays the exploits of frontier life.
The French and Indian War frames a plot in which warfare and romance
struggle for narrative attention. Sometimes the two plotlines converge,
as they do when Cora and Uncas’s romance begins to bud in the context
of war and danger.
As early as the first chapter, Cooper foreshadows Cora’s
sympathy with the Indians by writing of her interest in Magua and
her raven-black hair. Now Cora begins to feel attracted to Uncas.
The secret cavern, an island of safety amid the perils of the forest,
symbolizes the secret interracial attraction the couple feels for
one another. Like the cavern, their attraction provides a comforting haven
for Cora and Uncas. The physical dangers of the forest
symbolize the larger cultural forces that prohibit love between
an Indian man and a white woman. Just as the cavern would become dangerous
if the outside world were to discover it, any relationship between
Cora and Uncas would shock the world at large if it were discovered.
The secret cavern also suggests the collaboration that
is possible between whites and Indians. Chapter VI makes it clear
that the Mohicans rule the forest. Only they can navigate it safely.
Only they know of secret hiding places that will save the lives
of both Indians and white men. The white Hawkeye is able to help
them, despite the fact that their knowledge of the land outweighs
his; Hawkeye holds the lit branch that leads the way to safety.
This fire symbolizes the collaborative friendship between the Mohicans
and the white man. Hawkeye’s fire has no value without the knowledge
of the Mohicans. Hawkeye’s fire lights the way to the hideout. Although
Cooper points to the possibilities of interracial friendship, he
also suggests that society will not embrace all interracial relationships.
The acceptable friendship of Hawkeye and Chingachgook contrasts with
the objectionable relationship that seems natural to Cora and Uncas.
Hawkeye and Gamut clash humorously. Hawkeye respects Gamut’s
grief over his dead colt. However, Hawkeye’s pragmatism prevents
him from abiding Gamut’s religious singing. Rules of hunting make
singing impractical. Hawkeye continually teases the psalmodist and
encourages him to find a more practical weapon than his pitch pipe.
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