Familial Relationships In The Last Of The Mohicans

The last of the Mohicans follows three trappers as they protect a British Colonel’s daughters in the midst of the French and Indian War. The novel focuses on many important themes, among which are familial relationships.

The relationship between Chingachgook and Uncas shows the strength and love unique to the bond of a father and son. Chingachgook truly beliefs in the potential of his son and his ability to one-day rule the Mohican people as he declares that “when Uncas follows in my footsteps, there will no longer be any blood of the sagamores, for my boy is the last of the Mohicans.” He shows incredible faith in his son, believing him to have the capacity to lead his family and continue the tribe’s traditions. Uncas ability to progress as a character is due greatly to the confident personality …show more content…
In the scene taking place at the middle of the novel, Munro shows how little he “understands his daughters”(chapter 7), as he leaves them to their own devices with the three trappers. He wants to distance himself from his family by leaving them to three trappers as her pursues his own career in the war. For example, he finds his mixed race daughter, Cora, to be shameful and something to both physically and figuratively distance himself from. Unlike Uncas, Cora feels isolated by her own father, perhaps pushing her even further into Uncas’ arms. In contrast to Chingachgook who encourages his son to lead and find personal growth, Munro would rather not deal with his family.

The relationship between Chingachgook and Uncas was filled with respect and reverence where as the relationship between Munro and his daughters was more strict and disciplined. While the father son relationship is very family oriented, the father daughter relationship is more similar to a general and his