Magua

Magua is a fictional character 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. A Huron Indian chief, he is also known by the French alias "Le Renard Subtil" ("The Wily Fox").^[1]

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 returned to the Huron village, 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. 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 Studi^[2]
• 1971 BBC TV serial version - Philip Madoc
• Last of the Redskins - Buster Crabbe
• 1936 film version - Bruce Cabot
• 1932 film serial version - Bob Kortman
• 1920 film version - Wallace Beery

References