After reading James Fenimore Cooper’s The Pioneers, I found myself getting more and more intrigued with this book. Figuring out who the character are and how they interact with one another was interesting because this is a time period where a lot of things are new and being experienced for the first time. Which is why experienced characters such as Indian John and Natty play an important role. Both of these characters have been though a lot in their lifetimes so far. The other characters such as Richard and Marmaduke are not experienced as the older characters in the book. I think having older and wiser characters in this book is important because they are the ones who know about the land and help with the expansion that is going on in this time period.

      Natty is the woodsman. He is the person the other characters would want to go to if they needed help traveling or have any questions about survival. Natty said,” I have lived in the woods for forty long years, and have spent five at a time without seeing the light of a clearing bigger than a windrow in the trees” (193). This man has been though many long cold winters outside foraging for food and struggling to survive (197). Natty’s personality is very direct. He doesn’t mess around much, he kind of lets you give your answer and then comes in with the correct one. For example with Richard and Marmaduke. He is trustworthy and knowledgeable.  I think it was smart of Cooper to include this character in this novel because he is directing us and the other character through the changes of the new land.

       Indian John is the old, wise man who as well has been through a lot. He keeps to himself most of the time because he has lost everything. He is the “sole representative of his once renowned family” (80). He has lived on the land for years and has seen all the changes happening over the time. It must be hard for him to watch Marmaduke claim the land and having to follow the new laws that are beginning to form. Indian John has been though wars and held a high rank, he speaks the “language of the Delawares” (81), and he is now accustom to the “European fashions”.  He even changed his religion and his name. Indian John is like the grandfather of the group. His eyes have seen a lot and his heart has lost a lot as well.

          I like the comparison of the new townspeople mixed with the older townspeople or tribe members. It shows us the growth of the new land and how far the colonies are growing. Also the townspeople need to work with the elders if they want to expand or survive on the land. So without have experienced characters, the plot would turn out differently.