Racism in Disguise

I just finished reading The Last of the Mohicans. The author's treatment of Indians is terribly confusing. Uncas and Chingachgook (pronounce 'Chicago' I think, to quote Mark Twain) behave in ways that ought to be totally unacceptable, killing and scalping people unecessarily, etc. but Hawkeye (and seemingly the author) persists in talking about how they worship the same God as 'the white man' does and how they must be going to heaven...but it must be a different heaven because they don't like 'the white man's' ideas about heaven or something.

Apparently the same standards cannot be held for white men and red men. Apparently, salvation is not by Christ alone, 'red men' can come to God another way. Or is it that they, unlike us cannot understand the way? It is implied from time to time that it is beyond their understanding...and that they cannot but live the way they had been living. They cannot abandon their sinful ways (true of everyone outside of Grace) . Are Indians incapable of receiving Grace? They can't come to God? They can't stop acting like animals...but white men can? Lower standards must be had for them because they can't do as much as white men? Have they no souls?

James Fenimore Cooper didn't know it, but he didn't think much of the Indians. Then again, most people don't like logical conclusions and only go halfway with their beliefs so maybe I'm being unfair. Seems to me that his Indians are pathetic creatures. I'll let you in on a little secret: James Fenimore Cooper had a very small understanding on human nature and I don't think much of his writing. Yeah, I read too deeply into it. The Last of the Mohicans was fun but it isn't great literature.