Natty Bumppo is an old woodsman who has lived in the wild for his whole life. He came across Judge Marmaduke Temple, who had witnessed him shoot a deer out of hunting season. The judge tried to impose civil laws on him, but he those laws should not apply to the wilderness in which he lived. He was even put in jail, until Elizabeth aided in his escape. She saw him as a hero since Natty save her twice, from the dangerous cat and the fire. Her father tried to pay him off with $200, but he refused the money.
As the novel progressed, he developed a sense for the wastefulness of the civilized people; he noticed their waste of resources and the negative effect on the environment. By the end of the novel, he burns his own hut instead of the village taking it over. It was more of an act of protest than anything else. He would not comply with regulations set by people who were less knowledgeable about the wilderness. The novel ends with him disappearing into the sunset; He paused at the edge of the forest to wave a sentimental, final goodbye to Edward and Elizabeth Effingham. I thought this ending scene was very dramatic and was a great conclusion to the story.
The forest fire is a great example of the dangers of wasteful practices. While some sought to blame Natty, in actuality it was caused by the dry leaves and branches left by settlers. The actions of men like Kirby, while appearing insignificant at the moment, could have a greater impact on the environment in the future. I think Cooper is very unique in this sense because very few Americans concerned themselves with the long-term sustainability of their surroundings.
I feel like Bumppo’s departure indicated a progressive development of the civilians they took over this place, and they would take control of other regions later. Therefore, Bumppo had to keep heading towards the West, which indicated a inevitable development of civilization at the expense of nature.
There is no doubt that Natty is shown to be the epidemy of a resourceful frontiersmen, and therefore in the context of this novel, a hero. He represents the type of people who are able to live without the comforts of civilization, and therefore establish a foothold for subsequent pioneers who need people like Natty.
I like how you say Bumppo’s burning of his hut is an act of protest. It makes me think that Bumppo is kind of the rebellion of the Frontier. People are trying to implement rules upon him even though he knows better and should be teaching them. Him burning down his hut was him being pushed out because others feared he could outdo them.
Natty Bumppo shooting the deer out of season really makes for good discussion. I mention in another comment about how I believe Judge Temple represents nature and a young America. At this time in America, regulations and punishments were not as stern and severe as they are today. Because Natty also saved Temple’s daughter, is torn between letting Natty off the hook and facing the consequences for shooting the deer out of season.
Natty Bumppo is an ideal frontiersman. In this novel it is apparent that Natty’s lifestyle of living by God’s laws places him in opposition to civilization. Natty’s character shows an environmental perspective that highlights the negative affects of wastefulness in civilization. In my eyes Natty is a hero because of his free spirit and resistance to controlling laws.
Yes, he had a whole different idea of morality in the wilderness. As someone who lived there his whole life, he followed gods laws to establish a sense of right or wrong. I agree that he should be teaching the civilized people because he had important first-hand experiences with nature.
Natty Bumppo should’ve never been put in jail for killing a deer out of hunting season. This altercation symbolized the clash between pioneer settlers and Indians in the early 1800s in America. America was growing and civilization was expanding into the wilderness of the west. The fact that Bumppo was still arrested after saving Judge Marmaduke’s daughter twice showed how unfair the invasion of the Indians was.