Last of the Mohicans: Chapter 3 Reflection

Cooper opens chapter three with a quote from a William Cullen Bryant poem. It's an American work and it projects the idea the this book is of a high statute and respect. I think that readers (especially back then) could interpret that quote to reflect the tensions between the expand white culture and the shrinking Native American one. The country was divided on the removal polices in the early 1800s. So I liked that this spoke of the Native American spirit. I think this book is unique because it changes the idea of the wild savage in the minds of Americans.
As to the conversation between Hawkeye and the old man, I found it very interesting. Hawkeye talks of how he is white and yet kind of an Indian. His part kind of confused me to be honest. He would talk about how he is like an Indian and repects them and then feels like Indians are inferior to whites. But then he goes on to talk about how skilled Indians are at making weapons. It was just kind of contradictory I felt like. Maybe these contradictions are an example of tolerance of racism in a way. I liked the part that talked about genetics. When Chingachgook asks about how white men know of Indians, Hawkeye has this genetic speech thing that illustrates he has struggles with racism. He threatens any man who would challenge his pure whiteness. I think Hawkeye is trying to evolve a little bit here but its a struggle. He is more open minded than most I'll give him that.