Magua
Encyclopedia
Magua is a fictional Huron Indian
chief
and the main villain
in the novel The Last of the Mohicans
by James Fenimore Cooper
. This historical novel is set at the time of the French and Indian War
. He is also known by the French alias "Le Renard Subtil" ("The Wily Fox").
Magua is the enemy of Colonel Munro
, the commandant of Fort William Henry
, and attempts on several occasions to abduct the colonel's daughters, Cora and Alice. He also assists the French leader, the Marquis de Montcalm, in his attack on the fort
.
Magua reveals how his life was shattered by being abducted himself by the Mohawks, the traditional enemies of the Huron. His life was spared and he was adopted into the tribe. During his time with the Mohawks, Magua met up with Colonel Munro, who punished him by tying him to a whipping-post for drinking whiskey, which he calls fire-water. Later, when he was free to return to his own home, he found that his wife had married another.
In the novel, his attempts to force Munro's daughter Cora to become his wife and his hatred of the English lead to his downfall and death. He captures both daughters, but is pursued by their father, David Gamut, Hawkeye
, Chingachgook
, and Uncas. Magua kills Uncas during his attempt to free Cora, and one of Magua's companions stabs Cora, causing her death. Hawkeye soon shoots Magua, who falls from a cliff shouting his defiance to the end.
In the most recent film version of this novel in 1992, Magua blames all his past misfortunes on Colonel Munro and swears to kill both Munro and his two daughters. He captures Munro during an ambush of the British evacuation of the fort, then cuts out his heart after telling his enemy his motives and plans. Later he kills Uncas after which Alice, one of Munro's daughters, commits suicide. He himself is then killed by Chingachgook, the father of Uncas. Other film versions similarly alter the final outcome of the novel.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
chief
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
and the main villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
in the novel The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 is a historical novel by James Fenimore Cooper, first published in February 1826. It is the second book of the Leatherstocking Tales pentalogy and the best known...
by James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
. This historical novel is set at the time of the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
. He is also known by the French alias "Le Renard Subtil" ("The Wily Fox").
Magua is the enemy of Colonel Munro
Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro
Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro was a Scottish-Irish soldier. He was an officer in the British Army best remembered for his resolute but ultimately unsuccessful defence of Fort William Henry in 1757 during the Seven Years' War / French and Indian War and the subsequent massacre of his garrison at...
, the commandant of Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry was a British fort at the southern end of Lake George in the province of New York. It is best known as the site of notorious atrocities committed by Indians against the surrendered British and provincial troops following a successful French siege in 1757, an event which is the...
, and attempts on several occasions to abduct the colonel's daughters, Cora and Alice. He also assists the French leader, the Marquis de Montcalm, in his attack on the fort
Battle of Fort William Henry
The Siege of Fort William Henry was conducted in August 1757 by French General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm against the British-held Fort William Henry...
.
Magua reveals how his life was shattered by being abducted himself by the Mohawks, the traditional enemies of the Huron. His life was spared and he was adopted into the tribe. During his time with the Mohawks, Magua met up with Colonel Munro, who punished him by tying him to a whipping-post for drinking whiskey, which he calls fire-water. Later, when he was free to return to his own home, he found that his wife had married another.
In the novel, his attempts to force Munro's daughter Cora to become his wife and his hatred of the English lead to his downfall and death. He captures both daughters, but is pursued by their father, David Gamut, Hawkeye
Natty Bumppo
Nathaniel "Natty" Bumppo is the protagonist of James Fenimore Cooper's pentalogy of novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales.- Fictional biography :...
, Chingachgook
Chingachgook
Chingachgook was a fictional character in four of James Fenimore Cooper's five Leatherstocking Tales, a lone Mohican chief and companion of the series' hero Natty Bumppo. Chingachgook married Wah-ta-Wah who bore him a son Uncas, but she died young. Uncas, at his birth "last of the Mohicans" grew...
, and Uncas. Magua kills Uncas during his attempt to free Cora, and one of Magua's companions stabs Cora, causing her death. Hawkeye soon shoots Magua, who falls from a cliff shouting his defiance to the end.
In the most recent film version of this novel in 1992, Magua blames all his past misfortunes on Colonel Munro and swears to kill both Munro and his two daughters. He captures Munro during an ambush of the British evacuation of the fort, then cuts out his heart after telling his enemy his motives and plans. Later he kills Uncas after which Alice, one of Munro's daughters, commits suicide. He himself is then killed by Chingachgook, the father of Uncas. Other film versions similarly alter the final outcome of the novel.
Portrayals
- 1992 film version - Wes StudiWes StudiWesley "Wes" Studi is a Cherokee actor, who has earned notability for his portrayal of Native Americans in film. He has appeared in well-received Academy Award-winning films, such as Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves, Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans, the award-winning Geronimo: An...
- 1971 BBC TV serial versionThe Last of the Mohicans (1971 series)The Last of the Mohicans is a 1971 BBC serial, based on James Fenimore Cooper's novel The Last of the Mohicans.It was shown during the Sunday tea-time slot on BBC1, which at that time often put on faithful adaptations of classic novels aimed at a family audience...
- Philip MadocPhilip MadocPhilip Madoc is a Welsh actor who has had many television and film roles.One prominent role was the title character in the BBC Wales drama The Life and Times of David Lloyd George... - 1936 film versionThe Last of the Mohicans (1936 film)The Last of the Mohicans is a 1936 adventure film adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's novel of the same name starring Randolph Scott, Binnie Barnes, Henry Wilcoxon and Bruce Cabot....
- Bruce CabotBruce CabotBruce Cabot was an American film actor, best remembered as Jack Driscoll in King Kong . He is also known for his roles in films such as the sixth version of Last of the Mohicans, Fritz Lang's Fury and the western Dodge City.-Early life:Cabot was born Etienne Pelissier Jacques de Bujac in Carlsbad,... - 1932 film serial version - Bob KortmanBob KortmanBob Kortman was an American film actor mostly associated with westerns, though he also appeared in a number of Laurel and Hardy comedies...
- 1920 film version - Wallace BeeryWallace BeeryWallace Fitzgerald Beery was an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in Min and Bill opposite Marie Dressler, as Long John Silver in Treasure Island, as Pancho Villa in Viva Villa!, and his titular role in The Champ, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...