Deerslayer
James Fenimore Cooper was born on September 15, 1789 in Burlington, New Jersey. He was the son of William and Elizabeth (Fenimore) Cooper, the twelfth of thirteen children (Long, p. 9). Cooper is known as one of the first great American novelists, in many ways because he was the first American writer to gain international followers of his writing. In addition, he was perhaps the first novelist to "demonstrate...that native materials could inspire significant imaginative writing" (p. 13). In addition his writing, specifically The Deerslayer, present a unique view of the Native American's experiences and situation. Many critics, for example, argue that The Deerslayer presents a moral opinion about what occurred in the lives of the American Indians. Marius Bewley has said that the book shows moral values throughout the context of it. He says that from the very beginning, this is symbolically made clear. The plot is a platform for the development of moral themes. The first contact the reader has with people in the book is in the passage in which the two hunters find each other. "The calls were in different tones, evidently proceeding from two men who had lost their way, and were searching in different directions for their path" (
Cooper contrasts these two characters early in the story so that it is evident that they will provide examples of contrasting behavior as well. It is made clear early on that the later actions of both Hurry and the Deerslayer will contrast in such a way that the moral issues with which Cooper was concerned would come to light. In other words, Hurry is stating the obvious fact that everything will eventually be taken away from the Native Americans. Any land that they might value and care for today will be confiscated and fought for by the white men tomorrow. But the exclamation point at the end of the sentence suggests that, rather than a sad comment accepting the inevitable, Hurry says this with glee and excitement. To him it is like a joke, that the Indians will be allowed to keep the name for the land but lose the land itself. In this, Cooper is clearly presenting a view about the worth of Indians within the society of this time. Natty's view that killing other men should be avoided is the correct and "right" view. He sets Natty up as a moral character, specifically in comparison to Hurry to which he compares Natty often. Hurry, then, blatantly states that he thinks that there is nothing which separates the killing of a deer from the killing of a man. Cooper presents this view in order to show what he feels is the correct way. It is obvious that Cooper wants Natty to present Cooper's view of the Native Americans. Natty's inability to look at them as mere animals shows that he believes that they are good people, just the same as anyone else. In fact, Hurry is depicted more as the villain, while Natty is presented as the hero. on those who had leisure to examine it, and to yield to the feelings of confidence it created. This expression was simply that of guileless truth, sustained by an earnestness of purpose, and a sincerity of feeling" (p. 6). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hurry, however, responds in a different way. He tells Natty that the Indian name for it is "Glimmerglass." Then he goes on to state that the white men decided to keep this name, at least unofficially. "I am glad they've been compelled to keep the redmen's name, for it would be too hard to rob them of both land and name!" (p. 30). All throughout the book The Deerslayer, Cooper contrasts the characters of Hurry and Natty in order to present his views of Native Americans. With Hurry as the one who has a racist attitude, believing that the deaths of Indians are deaths which do not matter, Natty is the moral one. The contrast between these two characters allows Cooper to show the contrast between morality and immorality. Hurry goes around killing Indians, believing that their deaths are insignificant. Natty, killing his first Indian in a matter of self-defense, holds the man in his arms as he dies feeling a sense of bonding and brotherhood with the dying Indian. Throughout the book, Natty is shown learning many different things, such as woodcraft, and increasing in moral stature. Hurry, on the other hand, is presented as becoming more and more selfish, until his comments by themselves reveal his ignorance and he loses credibility as a character.
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Approximate Word count = 2239
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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