The Last of the MohicansThe book The Last of the Mohicans is based on a novel by James Fenimore Cooper and revolves around a clan of Native Americans called the Mohicans. The main characters are Hawkeye, his adoptive father Chingachgook and his adoptive brother Uncas. Chingachgook and his son Uncas are the last of the Mohican tribe or lineage. The film is also based on these three characters. The time in which both stories are set is the 18th century, during the Seven Years' War between Britain and France. The film is a romance torn between war and race. The Mohicans and Hawkeye attempt to rescue the daughters of a British colonel, but conflict erupts when Magua of the Hurons attempts to kill the Mohicans and kidnap the two girls. There is also conflict between all the characters' relationships. The villain in both stories is the same and his name is Magua, who belongs to the Huron tribe. In the book, Magua wants revenge on Colonel Munro, by trying to marry one of his daughters and hurting his pride, but in the film he wants to kill Munro and does so. Magua also begins to feel sympathy for Cora, the colonel's daughter, but in the film he has no compassion or feelings for her, but remains brutal until the end. It is revealed in the book that Cora Munro, the Colonel's daughter had a black mother and so was tempted to become involved with the Mohican Uncas. However, there is no reference to this in the film and you are left to guess why they became affectionate towards each other. The book explores many racial issues involving the white race and the Indian race at a time when racism was probably at its peak. The book shows that Hawkeye may not have the expertise of his forest counterparts, but in the film he is just as competent as Uncas and his father. The book also seems to make the enemy, who are the Hurons, seem almost stupid and foolish as Heywood poses as a French doctor to fool them. The book is full of historical events, which makes it less romantic than the film. In the opening scene of the film, Hawkeye and his Mohican friends are seen hunting an elk, which is killed by Hawkeye and his long rifle, but in the book they do not want the gunshots to be heard, then the elk is shot with an arrow.