The Problem of Racial Inequality in James Cooper's Novel The Last of the Mohicans

The Last of the Mohicans, written by James Fenimore Cooper, was published around the time of the first “Indian Removal” debates, where the government was deciding on whether or not remove Native Americans from their land and use it for the expansion of the United States. This whole debate shows that Native Americans did not have equal rights during this era (Goss, 2011).

The novel seems to give insight into how Cooper feels about of the whole ordeal. Cooper believes that anyone of any race is human, but all races are not equal. The theme of racial inequality between Native Americans and white settlers in The Last of the Mohicans is discussed through the actions and dialogue of Hawkeye, Magua, and Colonel Munro.

The novel’s main protagonist, Hawkeye, is a prime character to showcase this particular stance on racial interactions. Hawkeye is friends with two Mohicans, Chingachgook and Uncas, whom he feels closer to than any other people in his life. Yet, constantly throughout the book he reminds them and other characters that he is “…genuine white.” (Cooper, 21). Another point of relevance is after the funeral at the end of the book. Colonel Munro wants to thank the girls who helped in the funeral with saying and tell them their kindness will be remembered when everyone is united in heaven by God. Hawkeye scoffs at this idea and replies, “to tell them this, would be tell them the snows come not in the winter…” (Cooper, 325). These two situations give insight that Hawkeye believes that races aren’t equal, especially when he emphasizes that he is white, as if he has some kind of dominance over others. Also, since races aren’t equal on Earth, then to Hawkeye’s belief they won’t share a single heaven either. Hawkeye is written in a way that shows Cooper does not mind interracial friendships, however, when the topic of unity or desegregation between races in heaven comes up, he writes it off as a ridiculous idea that shouldn’t be suggested. Cooper also promotes “whiteness” as a great honor, through Hawkeye’s pride.

The main antagonist, Magua, thinks in a similar manner but tends to focus on the positions of each race and what weaknesses they carry. Magua starts off by saying, “’Some are blacker than the sluggish bear; These He (the Great Spirit) said would be slaves. And He ordered them to work forever…’” (Cooper, 280). This line represents the enslaved Africans, who are just used as mere working tools for any project that is given to them. During this same scene, he continues on with, “’Some He made with faces paler than the ermine of the forests and these he ordered to be traders… and appetites to devour the earth….God gave them enough, and yet he wants all,’” which describes the white colonists (Cooper, 281). Magua says they are born to trade and travel but have greedy personalities that made them conquerors. Finally, he ends by talking about his own race: “’…Made with skins brighter and redder than yonder sun. And these did He fashion to his own mind. He gave him this island…If they fought… it was to prove that they were men. They were brave…they were happy.’” (Cooper, 281) The Native Americans were made to be the chosen people in Magua’s story and are the most content with their livelihood. Although, Magua is written to be a pro-red character, Cooper uses him to establish the separate racial roles he considers to be true. All three races are human, but they are divided into the unequal roles of workers, traders, and the “warriors”.

Another way Cooper shows that races will never truly be equal is through the life of Colonel Munro. Magua’s vengeance is fueled by the past wrongs Col. Munro has done to him; including his whipping for drinking alcohol. Magua states that he, “’the Huron chief was tied up before all the pale-faced warriors, and whipped like a dog’” (Cooper, 92). Munro made a law outlawing Native Americans from drinking alcohol, but if Magua were white he wouldn’t have gotten so harsh a punishment. The colonel also suffered the tragic loss of his daughter Cora, the child of his interracial marriage, as well as her mother a long time ago. These troubles the colonel has faced is Cooper’s justification that pursuing interracial relationships is unnatural and will most likely end in disaster; interracial relationships would be moving towards racial equality.

In closing, Cooper uses his characters in The Last of the Mohicans as a way to convey his thoughts on racial inequality and to justify that although all races are human, they will never be equal at any point of existence. Hawkeye’s “white” pride and his disbelief of the desegregation of heaven shows that Cooper doesn’t believe in a unification that doesn’t take race into account. Magua’s speech about each race and what their roles are confirms that Cooper thinks every human being has their job assigned to them because of the race God chose for them, which makes them separate from each other. Colonel Munro’s character was written to show how people who went against the system of racial equality would have consequences, including people who were in favor of romantic interracial relationships. Cooper acknowledges everyone as their own separate person, but if undesirable events occur, such as Indian removal, then it was bound to happen, as Native Americans will never be considered to be on the same equal footing as whites.