The Last of the Mohicans: Similarities between Chingachgook and Colonel Munro

Throughout the novel, The Last of the Mohicans by James Fennimore Cooper, it is shown how two characters can be viewed so similar yet so different. Chingachgook and Colonel Munro are shown to be reoccurring characters in the same side of the French and Indian war. Which displays their unique qualities and how they are able to act quickly in distressing scenes. It shows their leaderships roles, protectiveness of their children but also shows the differences between the two characters.

Colonel Munro was the commander of the British army that was stationed in Fort William Henry and has two daughters named Cora and Alice who he loves greatly. This quote shows how close they are as a family and how much they see him as their father. Although he was a leader for the British many people did not like him because of his stubbornness and personality.

Chingachgook was a Mohican hunter with two sons Uncas and Natty who they looked up to and were seen very loyal towards him, despite Natty not being Chingachgook biological son he still saw him as his father who raised him since he was a child. Chingachgook was seen as a leader to some due to his amicable qualities like devotion, sensibility, and patience. This piece from the novel shows how much pride he had towards his sons and how much they meant to him.
Colonel Munro and Chingachgook were both respectable leaders with loyal friends and family from both sides. Although Cooper made the readers have different feelings towards both characters, they were alike in many ways like being protective over the children, being leaders, having a family, and sadly losing a child of theirs during the battle between Magua and the Hurons. These obstacles lead the characters to rise to their potential in a difficult time creating a understanding between the reader and the characters throughout the novel.

The Last of the Mohicans displays how many characters can have different lives but have a lot in common. Cooper was able to support this concept by giving the audience a chance to have their own opinions about the characters. Both Munro and Chingachgook were seen as prominent leaders that impacted how the novel ended. These unique attributes make the characters stand out from others while also possessing similarities as an important role in the war.