Ananalysisofthesecondarycharacter—DavidintheLastoftheMohicans.doc

An analysis of the secondary characterDavid in the Last of the Mohicans from the perspective of archetypal criticismAbstract: James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851), one of the founders of American literature, is privileged as “Father of American Novels”. The Last of the Mohicans as the most extraordinary work in the “Leatherstocking Tales” which makes a vivid description of the tripartite forces of Britain, France and Indians based on the background of the colonial melee. It is no doubt that the accurate and vivid shape to the figures makes this work have a long-term vitality. This paper chose the secondary character, David, to make a detailed analysis, for David in The Last of the Mohicans is not as described timid, weak, but brave and kind-hearted, pure and simple, rich sense of responsibility. This article use the archetypal criticism to find out the similar characteristics between the David in the Bible and the secondary characterDavid to make the image of David become more clear and make people pull a more comprehensive and profound understanding of the role of David.Key words: The Last of the Mohicans; David; archetypal criticism; secondary character摘要：一个作为摆脱英国文学的附体，开创美国民族文学的奠基人之一，詹姆斯费尼莫库伯被称为“美国小说之父”。最后的莫西干人作为其代表作边疆五部曲皮袜子的故事最为出色的一部，以18世纪英法殖民混战为背景，对驻扎在北美的三方力量英国、法国和土著印地安人及其关系进行了生动的描写。对人物准确而生动的塑造无疑使这部作品具有了长久的生命力。本文选择了小说中的次要人物大卫进行了细致的分析，认为最后的莫西干人中大卫并不像人们所描述的是胆小、懦弱，而是勇敢善良、单纯质朴、富有责任心的一个次要角色。本文使用原型批评方法找出圣经中的大卫和次要人物大卫相似的性格特点，使大卫的形象更加清晰、准确的展现在人们的面前，使人们对大卫这个角色有一个更加全面、深刻的认识。关键词：最后的莫西干人；大卫；原型批评；次要人物IntroductionJames Fenimore Cooper was born on September 15, 1789, in Burlington, New Jersey. He died of dropsy on September 14, 1851. His major works are The Spy and Leatherstocking Tales which includes The Pioneers, The Last of the Mohicans, The Prairie, The Pathfinder, and The Deerslayer. The Last of the Mohicans is a pivotal work in Coopers first, remarkable decade of authorship, the 1820s, and in his career as a whole. This was his sixth novel, published in 1826, and its setting and themes are anticipated by several of the works that precede it. The Last of the Mohicans, by James Fenimore Cooper, is one of his masterpieces. Many people agree this novel is full of pessimism in terms of many people died in the colonial melee. As a result, lots of people do deep researches into the native literature, the tragic fate of Indians and race discrimination, such as, The Characterization of the last of the Mohicans from the perspective of race by Bai Juan and The Representative of Native American Literaturean Analysis of the Last of the Mohicans by Zhang Huicheng. There are also some other studies about the protagonists, just like An Analysis of “Hawk-eye” in the Last of the Mohicans from the perspective of Ecocriticism by Zhang Changhui. Nevertheless, they focus primarily on the race discrimination and the protagonists fate but fail to notice the progressive ideas related to the secondary character that also plays an important role in this fiction, even from the perspective of archetypal literary criticism. There is no doubt that some ideas displaced in the Last of the Mohicans do promote the advancement of peoples attitude toward many of society. This paper mainly centers on the secondary character, David, who plays a crucial role in this fiction and would discuss the Davids different identities, his belief and his contribution from a perspective of archetypal literary criticism. What the writer wants to stress here is that there are only little description of secondary characters, but they can modify the protagonists, promote the development of plot, heighten the atmosphere and highlight the theme. So the analysis of David can help readers have a clearer and deeper understanding of the book. Archetypal Literary CriticismArchetypal literary criticism, also called Myth Criticism, is a type of critical theory that interprets a text by focusing on recurring myths and archetypes in the narratives, symbols, images, and character types in a literary work. Since its advent, archetypal criticism has played an important role in “constructing macro structure of literature connecting different times and geographical locations” (朱刚，2006：188). Archetypal critics account for a universality in literature by pointing to recurring patterns and images that appear so deeply embedded in the human mind and culture that they strike a responsive chord in everyone. Its strategy is to back up from the text and try to find out the recurrences of certain archetypal themes, figures, images and narrative patterns.David in the BibleAccording to Holy Bible, David was the greatest king of ancient Israel, the period of his rule is the golden age of Israeli history and Israel gained great achievement in the field of politics and military affairs. Meanwhile, David seemed sincere, just and merciful and therefore contained the significance of theology and ethics. More important, the character of David was complicated and varied and therefore had the better value of literature. The identities of DavidAs a historical figure, David, Israels second king, the creator of the Davidic dynasty, “Israels greatest national hero”, “Israels most important king”, he surpass the boundaries of Jewish history and the history of the Christian Church to become a celebrity in the world. As a theological character of David, the man who tightly follows the Son of God, “the ancestor of Jesus Christ”, “the pre-table of Jesus Christ”, he has an important theological value. As a literary figure, he is a literary image of the multiple combinations of a personality and the most complex, most profound, most multi-faceted role in the Bible. The story of David has also become the peak of the Hebrew narrative art.The achievements of DavidDavid was Israels most influential king, the one of the gifts and talents of the Old Testament figure in Israels history, and his position is only second to Moses. He finished the domestic and volatile political situation after the death of Saul, and then he united the split north and south. He defeated the Philistines and other foreign enemies, and then chosen Jerusalem as its capital, finally set up a vast territory powerful kingdom. He governed the country for more than forty years and his fame was very prominent. The Davidic dynasty in the history of the Old Testament can reveal the great spectacular of the State of Israel. In fact, Davids many performances were very excellent. In contrast to Saul, he was known as “the joint of Gods own heart”. The excellent qualities of David when he as a king which reflected the true rule of God, that is, concern the things of God, longing for the wisdom and integrity, and well-being of the people of the God. Therefore, the era of David was the historical portrayal of the kinship of God.David in the Last of the MohicansBefore the discussion of the identities of David, it is necessary for people to know the appearance of David. In peoples eyes, this person is to the last degree ungainly without being in any particular manner deformed.He had all the bones and joints of other men, without any of their proportions. Erect, his stature surpassed that of his fellows; though, seated, he appeared contrariety in his members seemed to exist throughout the whole man. The ill-assorted and injudicious attire of the individual served to render his awkwardness more conspicuous. A sky-blue coat, with short and broad skirts and low cape, exposed a long thin neck, and longer and thinner legs, to the worst animadversions of the evil disposed. (14) The appearance of David makes people feel that he is somewhat special and different from others.The strangerThe technique of introducing “the stranger” was use before Coopers time by the English romantic, Sir Walter Scott, and by writers of the Gothic romances. The purpose was to introduce a mysterious character who later would be unveiled as an unexpected and important character in the development of the tale. Cooper used “the stranger” as an introductory name for David Gamut is not much in this vein. But it implies the identity of David.David as a stranger was mentioned many times. This “ungainly man” is pictured in considerable detail in Chapeter1 just as the above mentioned. Later, he joins Heyward and the Munro sisters in the wildness, being referred to several times as “the stranger”. When he approaches the party, he is called “the stranger”. When he first speaks, he is identified only as “stranger”. When he draws his book of hymns from his pocket, preparatory to breaking out into song, he is called “the stranger”. When he sings, accompanying himself “by a regular rise and fall of his right hand,” he is referred to as “the stranger”. In Chapter 6, when Hawkeye has his first talk with David, he is again referred to as “the stranger”, emphasizing the ideas that he is a “stranger” to Hawkeye. In Chapter 21, Heyward observes “a strange Indian” near the Indian camp. The “stranger” turns out to be David Gamut, dressed in Indian clothes. In Chapter 31, when Uncas and the war party are approaching the Huron camp, a “solitary individual” appears, coming from the direction of the Huron camp. Again, Hawkeye discovers that “the stranger” is David.The use of “the stranger” to describe David means that he is just someone along with them, and he cannot be paid any attention. So Davids existence has no any influence on the protagonists.The singing-masterDavids profession is an instructor in the art of psalmody and he is very proud of it, even sometimes his voice is an unworthy conjunction of execution and language in other peoples eyes. His singings are ubiquitous.Before his singing, he always takes a book from his pocket, and fit a pair of iron-rimmed spectacles to his nose, opens the volume with a care and veneration suited to its sacred purposes, then he would chose one which is suitable for the atmosphere. In the forest, Davids singing makes Alice think that he is a disciple of Apollo. The following is one of his songs:How good it is, O see, And how it pleaseth well,Together, een in unity, For brethren so to dwell.Its like the choice ointment, From the head to th beard did go:Down Aarons eard, that downward went, His garments skirts unto. See the Psalm 133 of Old Testament.In the cavern, the natural taste and true ear of David governed and modified the sounds to suit the confined cavern, every crevice and cranny of which was filled with the thrilling notes of their flexible voices. Even he was in illness, he also sang to encourage others. The melody, which no weakness could destroy, gradually wrought its sweet influence on the sense of those who hear it. In the war, he raised his voice to its highest tones, he poured out a strain so powerful as to be heard even amid the din of that bloody field. From the description of Davids singing, it is no doubt that David likes his work. Even he himself thought he was an unworthy instructor in the art of psalmody, he said that he could follow no other than his own high vocation, which is instruction in sacred music!The madmanFrom the appearance of David which have discussed above, he is somewhat special and he always sings something that the Indians cannot understand, so the Indians regard him as a madman. For Indians never harm a non-composer and venerate those whom the Great Spirit has visited in their intellects, he can save his life. As a madman, he could walk around camp freely. So he helped Heyward enter into the camp and found out where Alice was. At the most dangerous time, he helped Hawkeye save out Uncas from the Indian camp. When the Indians found that the madman had released the prisoner, he broke forth in a loud and impassioned strain and endeavored to smooth his passage into the other world by singing the opening verse of a funeral anthem. The Indians were seasonably reminded of his infirmity, and rushing into the open air, they aroused the village in the manner described. Then he again saved his life. Davids beliefThe above has mentioned Davids profession is an instructor in the art of psalmody, so there is not doubt that he is a Christian. Davids book, which was Davids favorite thing, is “The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New Testaments; Faithfully Translated into English Metre, for the Use, Edification, and Comfort of the Sanints, in Public and Private, Especially in New England”. His behaviors can also prove that he is a pious Christian. He compares himself to the David in the Bible, for example, he said that like the youth of the royal David David, the king of ancient Israel, was the major author of the Psalms of Old Testament , for the purposes of music, no syllable of rude verse has ever profaned his lips. And also when he was in the war he said that “If the Jewish boy might tame the evil spirit of Saul by the sound of his harp, and the words of sacred song, it may not be amiss.” See chapter 16 in Samuel1 of Old Testament, the original sentence is “Whenever the evil spirit sent by God came on Saul, David would get his harp and play it. The evil spirit would leave, and Saul would feel better and be all right again.” He has the traits of kind and brave of the Christians. When his companions persuaded he not to attend the war, he said “though not a vaunting and bloodily disposed Goliath See chapter 17, in Samuel1 of Old Testament, David defeats and kills Goliath by using a stone. ”, and “I have not forgotten the example of the Jewish boy The Jewish boy is the shepherd boyDavid.”. When he helped Hawkeye save out Uncas, he asked them not to seek no victims to his manes, but rather forgive his destroyers, because he was an unworthy and humble follower of God who taught people cannot take revenge. Davids contributionEven as a secondary character, Davids contributions are very obvious. As a stranger, he was requested by Heyward to take care of the two sisters in the war and at the most crucial moment; he raised a stone to throw on an Indian and killed him. As a singing-master, he accompanied Alice to sing some songs to comfort her and also he would sing some psalms to encourage his companions according to the situation. As a madman, he found out where Alice was who was hidden by the Indians and saved out Uncas by changing his clothes. Even at the dangerous moment, he asked Hawkeye to seek no victims to his manes, but rather forgive his destroyers. For he was an unworthy and humble follower of God who taught people cannot take revenge. The secondary characterDavidThere is a way to shape characters which can be only found in literary story that is secondary character. There is not only main role but also minor role in literature. The secondary character is not really able to shape the characters, but by the background of the secondary role, the theme of the article can become more prominent and distinct.David, the secondary character in the last of the Mohicans, only has a little description. He has different identities such as stranger, singing-master and madman. Even as a secondary character, he does many contributions to his companions. He is brave and kind-hearted, pure and simple, rich sense of responsibility.David, the important character in Holy Bible, is smart, handsome, and does many contributions to Israel. He makes a good impression in peoples mind. In terms of Davids personality, he as both bold and resourceful, both the truth in every possible way and pious, is indeed a multi-character combination of literary image.There is no doubt that the image of David in Bible is great in terms of his identities and his achievements. However, the image of David in the Last of the Mohicans seems so tiny in terms of his identities and his behaviors. But it is easy for people to find the similarities of the two characters, that is, they both are bold and rich sense of responsibility. So from discuss above, David, the secondary ch