Cooper's The Last Of The Mohicans

The major theme of Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans in relation to the allegoric nature of the novel's climax and to its denouement is the lesson of revenge. The antagonist of the novel, Magua, was a former soldier in Munro's army. During that time his taste for whisky, or "firewater", causes him to be punished by a brutal horsewhipping and he looses his dignity. This dent to the pride of Magua sets him on the path of the declared vengeance towards Colonel Munro and his bloodline in his two daughters. Cooper brings the reader down the twisted path of revenge with Magua. It will be up to the fortitude of two daughters and two sons to outlast Magua's lust for retribution. The children of Colonel Monro and Chingachgook, the noble Mohican
Each of these characters proved throughout the novel to be brave and loyal to each other. The antagonist, Magua, wishes to capture Munro's daughters and make Cora his wife in order to fulfill his revenge on the man that has previously mistreated him. Unfortunately for Magua, the protagonists had formed their tight nit group and fought off him and the Huron tribe with courage and triumph. Because of the protagonist's efforts and success, Magua's plan of revenge on Colonel Munro is continually ruined, and therefore they too became a mission of Magua's
The parental bond was shown in several different ways through the characters and what they meant to each other. There was the strong and obvious parental bond between Chingachgook and Uncas as well as that between Munro and his daughters. Both of these relationships showed the utmost love and respect towards each other and proved to be a bond that could never be broken. For this reason alone is why Magua knew that he could get his revenge on Munro through his daughters, as well as the reason Magua took such pleasure in taking the life of Uncas. Another parental bond that is shown is that between Cora and Alice as well as through Hawkeye and Uncas. Although both pairs of these characters are siblings in the novel, their love and bond with each other go far beyond the normal sibling bond. It is shown and mentioned on many occasions how Cora exemplified maternal feelings towards Alice. Hawkeye, adopted by Chingachgook and the Mohican tribe, is by default Uncas' brother, but his actions prove his bond with him to be much more that that of a brother. He has taught Uncas many things including how to shoot the white man's gun and has watched him grow into the honorable man that he had become. He would not hesitate to lay his life on the line for the safety of his brother