Sir Walter Scott Appreciation discussion

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A big theme of this book seems to be wastefulness. This is especially personified in Richard's character, who is in direct opposition to Natty and, by extension, John and the Native American way. Richard sees no problem in shooting a bunch of pigeons, catching a bunch of fish, and chopping down a bunch of trees. Much of the food will be wasted. Marmaduke, although a white landowner, dislikes the waste and warns that resources are not infinite (I wonder how much of this is due to his own temperament and how much is due to his Quaker roots).

Chingachgook and the Natives, and to some extent, Natty, are forward-looking (and therefore patient), don't show much emotion on the surface, and take only what they need from the environment around them (Natty says he prefers to shoot a smaller bird). Richard is shown as having some of the worst characteristics of whites, in that he is wasteful, impulsive, boastful, and often unreasonable (I'm trying really hard to enjoy the book as it is and not bring contemporary politics or a certain orange politician into this...). Still, Richard is not a bad man overall. He has a heart.

I don't know if Cooper knew how timely this book would remain. Wastefulness is still a problem, and now we see its effects in climate change, general pollution, and wars being fought over finite resources.

I don't understand what the letter was that Marmaduke received. I hope it will be clarified later.

Elizabeth is sorry for the Natives that lost their land, and sometimes questions her right to possess it. She doesn't know how to make things right. This is still a common sentiment today when we're confronted with the wrongs of the past - slavery, displacement and murder of Native Americans, Japanese internment camps, etc. Namely, "It's horrible, but what can we do about it, today?"

So another question is, who really owns the land? In the case of Templeton, Marmaduke believes he does. He bought it. Natty doesn't believe anyone should own the forest and control who can hunt there. Today, there is the controversy over the Dakota pipeline. The Native Americans own that land - it is part of their reservation (a small piece of land compared to what their ancestors had - they are marginalized in a land that was theirs). The oil company believes they have the right to lay a pipeline there and protesters are being arrested. Now, Obama wants the pipeline to be re-routed. Will he succeed in time?

Are Natty, Edwards, and John really mining silver? What are they hiding in their hut?

I have just read Chapter 22, the slaughter of the pigeons. It was disturbingly accurate, except that ridiculous cannon that Richard had. I am glad to see that Marmaduke is a bit more forward thinking.
The passenger pigeons became extinct exactly because of what was depicted in this chapter. In Quebec they were originally used to make tourtiere( pigeon pie), until they were all gone.

Lori, I totally agree with your comment about waste. Their attitude to wasting or conserving resources shows the difference between Judge Temple and the Sheriff. This book was written in 1823, so I think that Cooper was ahead of his time regarding conservation of natural resources.

I wonder what has come up that has made the Judge so worried? It doesn't sound good. I still find Richard an extremely annoying character- I hope he redeems himself before the end of the book.

Hiram Dolittle is a shifty person to have as a magistrate. I do hope that truth will triumph over deceit.

I have just read chapter 21 and found it to be one of the best chapters; in the description of how Judge Temple saw the wilderness for the first time and his struggles to help the people colonize it.
When the party gets home from the ride snow is covering everything. This is amusing to me as just this very day I look out my window and I see the same :)

We are having freakishly warm weather in Toronto, in the teens, but I am not complaining. We will see snow soon enough.