Blog 1 - Naomi Goldman

A common theme in James Fenimore Cooper’s Pioneer is law and property rights. This is especially apparent in the relationships between the English settlers (or villagers) and the Native American characters. Richard tells Marmaduke that he would have “tried law for the saddle, before I would have given it to the fellow” and continues to state that the judge own the woods that Leatherstocking and Oliver Edwards were shooting in, without his permission (Cooper 90-91). In this passage Richards is espousing the view that the Judge owns the land and even though Oliver was shot accidently by the Judge it was his own fault for being on his Marmadukes land in the first place. Richards is of the belief that the pioneers who have purchased the land are the legitimate owners despite the presence of indigenous people who inhabited its woods first. This was probably the prevailing view of the time for settlers in regards to Native Americans, whom are often referred to as “savages.”

The reverend remarks that the youth’s fiery speech about the judge is the result of “hereditary violence of a native’s passions…he is mixed with the blood of Indians…neither the refinements of education, nor the advantages of our excellent liturgy, have been able to entirely eradicate this evil.”  (Cooper 155) These negative comments about a supposed natural violence in indigenous people show the settlers demonize the Indian culture and way of life.

Despite these negative sentiments, there are attempts to assimilate the indigenous culture with that of the settlers; Indian John and Oliver Edwards have been Christianized by the settlers (the youth tells the Rev. grant that he has been baptized by the church and Leatherstocking says Indian John has been christinized by the Moravians) and attend the Christmas services at the “Academy.”) Rev. Grant is frequently seen trying to convince Oliver Edwards to give up his vengeful ways, which the reverend associates with Oliver being of Native American descent.

It is interesting the dynamic between the Native American and the settlers is generally friendly and not combative (despite some tensions over land rights). The settlers recognize Leatherstockings skill as a hunter and as a woodsman. Perhaps it is the French and Indian war, which allowed for alliances between settlers and Indians that contributes to the cordial relationship. In fighting together they established a certain amount of brotherhood, in addition there is the shared experience of living on the frontier that allows the settlers to be on friendly terms with the Native American characters.