The Ideology of Manhood in James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book The Ideology of Manhood in James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans by Kai Mühlenhoff, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Kai Mühlenhoff ISBN: 9783638286114
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: June 27, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Kai Mühlenhoff
ISBN: 9783638286114
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: June 27, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0 (B), University of Münster (English Seminar), course: Inventing American History: The Beginnings of the American Historical Novel, language: English, abstract: My research paper is designed to clarify the aspects central to the issue of manhood negotiated in James Fenimore Cooper's novel The Last of the Mohicans (1826). In the Victorian era, manhood had been positively attributed to the white race exclusively. In novels and illustrations, the ideal man fit the 'Victorian ideals of manhood' (Rotundo 37-40) with fixed traits and attributes, such as courage, sexual self-restraint, a powerful will, and a strong character. As we will see, no male in the novel fits such a formula completely. I will then postulate what drives Cooper to bestow such an image on his male heroes. The 'Victorian ideals' did not apply to all male people. 'Savage' men, as Uncas and his father in the novel, were not considered to possess the distinct traits attributed chiefly to non-savage men, i.e. the white-male. Manliness was clearly linked to white-male supremacy and civilization; a long-held belief in American culture for centuries. The encounter between the 'uncivilized brutish' and the whites is a dominant theme in the novel. We will see that the combining issue of race, gender, culture and civilization is inextricable and fundamental for the study of the subject and therefore will be elaborated on in detail. Many historians have falsely assumed that manhood has a strict, self-evident set of traits, unchanging over time. Other historians have emphasized the fact that the set of traits attributed to manhood varies from period to period, from class to class. This lead to a continual need for redefining male character traits at any historical moment, which often problematically presented itself in coexisting but contradictory views on manhood at a special period. Cooper, of course, was deeply familiar with the period's masculine ideal of manhood, and understood that Victorian readers expected to find these qualities of manliness assigned to his male characters. Indeed, these attributes are present in the white male figures in the novel, but more importantly, Cooper does not hesitate to display an image of white men that portrays male deficiency in various aspects and situations. In chapter III. and IV., this issue is discussed in detail.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0 (B), University of Münster (English Seminar), course: Inventing American History: The Beginnings of the American Historical Novel, language: English, abstract: My research paper is designed to clarify the aspects central to the issue of manhood negotiated in James Fenimore Cooper's novel The Last of the Mohicans (1826). In the Victorian era, manhood had been positively attributed to the white race exclusively. In novels and illustrations, the ideal man fit the 'Victorian ideals of manhood' (Rotundo 37-40) with fixed traits and attributes, such as courage, sexual self-restraint, a powerful will, and a strong character. As we will see, no male in the novel fits such a formula completely. I will then postulate what drives Cooper to bestow such an image on his male heroes. The 'Victorian ideals' did not apply to all male people. 'Savage' men, as Uncas and his father in the novel, were not considered to possess the distinct traits attributed chiefly to non-savage men, i.e. the white-male. Manliness was clearly linked to white-male supremacy and civilization; a long-held belief in American culture for centuries. The encounter between the 'uncivilized brutish' and the whites is a dominant theme in the novel. We will see that the combining issue of race, gender, culture and civilization is inextricable and fundamental for the study of the subject and therefore will be elaborated on in detail. Many historians have falsely assumed that manhood has a strict, self-evident set of traits, unchanging over time. Other historians have emphasized the fact that the set of traits attributed to manhood varies from period to period, from class to class. This lead to a continual need for redefining male character traits at any historical moment, which often problematically presented itself in coexisting but contradictory views on manhood at a special period. Cooper, of course, was deeply familiar with the period's masculine ideal of manhood, and understood that Victorian readers expected to find these qualities of manliness assigned to his male characters. Indeed, these attributes are present in the white male figures in the novel, but more importantly, Cooper does not hesitate to display an image of white men that portrays male deficiency in various aspects and situations. In chapter III. and IV., this issue is discussed in detail.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book 'Patrones de descubrimiento' de N. R. Hanson - Un resumen crítico by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book Customer centric product development by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book To what extent does Europeanization affect national political parties? by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book The Bush Doctrine of Preemptive Strike. Significance and Consequences by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book Netcare Management Analysis by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book Siemens. Political, economical, socio-cultural, technological, environmental and legal analysis by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book Magwitch as victim of society by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book The Different Implications of the Name 'Middlesex' in the Novel of the Same Name by Jeffrey Eugenides by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book Universality of Selkirk's theory by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book Are the 4 P's of international marketing of equal importance to all firms? What factors might cause some to more or less important than others? by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book Thomas Hobbes: philosophy's bad boy reassessed by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book Stock repurchase and abnormal returns in den USA and Germany by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book The relationship between writing, gender relations and sexuality in modernist fiction with reference to 'Mrs. Dalloway' and 'Ulysses' by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book You speak German very well - Integration of immigrants in Western countries by Kai Mühlenhoff
Cover of the book The German-Jewish Relationship Question In The Light Of Human Cultural Evolution by Kai Mühlenhoff
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy