Sexual and Maternal Instincts in James Fenimore Coopers Last of the Mohicans :: The Last of the Mohicans

Cora Munros Sexual and Maternal Instincts in James Fenimore Coopers The Last of the Mohicans Cora Munros birth with her younger, fairer sister Alice adjoins a distinct mother-daughter pattern that manifests itself in every interaction between the two women. Throughout James Fenimore Coopers The Last of the Mohicans, the share of Cora endlessly hides her sisters face in her bosom as an indication of undying aegis from the ravages of the American frontier. Alice depends on Cora as her champion and defender but, most remarkably as a mother figure. Cora maintains a immutable position of maternal nurture with her sister, however, when interacting with other frontier characters, Cora shifts her style of human interaction towards a conscious understanding of her gender capacity. Though not overtly sexual, Cora does demonstrate a cognizance of female sexuality and feminine influence on various male characters. Cora does not often demonstrate maternal full while practicing the i ndexs of her sex rather, her authority particular to each sphere manifests itself during situations of salient conflict and tension concerning Alice or, separately, the other surrounding male characters. The narrator refers to Coras motherly intuition in many instances, but most especially when Alice demonstrates a case of need or dependence. When Alice shows doubt and fear, Cora immediately rushes to protect and soothe her. Cooper writes, For many moments the elder sister looked upon the younger, with a countenance that wavered with mightily and contending emotions. At length she spoke, though her tones had lost heir rich and tranquillize fulness, in an expression of tenderness, that seemed maternal (109). Cooper writes clearly of the strong get that exists between the sisters while illustrating a power relationship that has Cora playing the purpose of shepherd and Alice as that of a small, helpless lamb. Moreover, Cooper repeatedly shows the character of Alice grasping onto the arm of Duncan Heywardan obvious physical need for refuge and testwhile Cora remains free of an explicit male bond and receives the bewilderment of the remaining men from afar. Alice, the weaker of the two, appeals to her sister for attention while Cora remains distant and confident. Cooper, at many instances, describes Cora with almost beatific characteristics which heighten her esteem and power as a female character. Her motherly feelings towards Alice verge on the set apart Cora often rises above common human sensibility and takes on the place of a martyr in the manner that a mother would for her child.