Wauntheet Monnitoow

Introduction

I finally finished my version of Last Of The Mohicans.

This is told mainly from Alice's point of view using the book, script and movie as aids.

The title is actually a Mohican word meaning "Shining Spirit" I thought this suited Alice, for at her last moments she is just that.

I always loved Alice, from when I first saw the movie upon its release I felt she was a very flawed and therefore human character.

I don't agree with people who say she is weak and useless, she just hasn't got the same personality as Cora, who has probably had to face various hardships and gossips from being born out of wedlock and her mother being of none European origin. I believe Cora had to toughen up quickly and is therefore very head on with how she deals with situations.

Alice on the other hand, was born into a wealthy family, her father and mother of noble birth and has been coddled from a very early age, her life chosen for her, every part the English gentlewomen. To throw someone such as Alice into a life threatening situation, where everything she ever knew and felt safe with is gleefully ripped from under her…I'd like to see the person that wouldn't start to show cracks under that kind of pressure.

Although I would have liked to write more from Uncas' point of view I felt it didn't serve his character. I always saw Uncas as a very stoic man, quiet with all his words in his eyes. I wanted to keep him like that, silent unless he has something to say and mysterious.

I also kept away from romance in its sappiest form, I wanted their encounters to feel real and rough. Their eyes don't meet and they instantly fall in love, it's very complicated from both sides.

Alice feels she is betraying everything she feels is right for having any kind of feelings towards him.

Uncas seems to completely lose his head over Alice, racing to save her like a man possessed, not waiting for help he charges head long into battle which leads him to his ruin.

I wanted to leave the fact of actual love to you, you can decide if there was anything more there. We certainly know Uncas cares for Alice, but is he just obsessed with this pretty English girl?

And Alice, I personally don't know if she loved him, she had feelings for him but who knows how far they went.

In my opinion if they had survived she would not have stayed with Uncas, not because she didn't love him but because I don't feel Alice could freely leave the life she had before, she'd feel almost obligated to go back to England and forget him, probably living a happy life with an English husband.

I think this makes their story all the more bitter sweet, they certainly could have loved each other dearly but unfortunately love does not make everything fall into place.

I do however believe in their last moments they did love each other, when you are about to die you having nothing left to lose and your feelings can do as they wish. I believe it would be nicer to depart and perhaps to leave this world of your own free will if you have someone's, and your own love for them, to believe in.