Posted by Heather on November 03, 1997 at 13:18:22:
In Reply to: Re: Alice, Magua, Uncas... posted by Elaine on October 31, 1997 at 07:51:06:
: : Mike wrote:
: : : I'm curious about what an Eastern Woodland Native's attitude towards suicide would have been at that time. Would they have admired Alice for her courage, or thought she was crazy?
: : Oh, Mike...great question! Please, anyone with information on the culture in question, let us know how suicide might have been viewed in this instance.
: Well, Marcia, since you asked ... Magua, as an Eastern Woodland Indian, would have seen Alice's action as a desperate, cowardly deed. Alice's refusal to go on might have been admired had she exhibited some spunk, or a little "I dare you to kill me" stance. But she didn't do that. She had lost her will to live, her strength to go on. Alice was progressively sinking into a depressing stupor. During the Massacre Valley scene, when that very large Ottawa was directing his predatory attention toward Alice, she just stood there. Not an ounce of resistance. No spunk, no spark, no will. Had Cora (who was a breed apart from Alice in the bravery department) not intervened and jumped the Ottawa, Alice would have been dead; and she didn't care a bit. (And this was prior to Uncas' death.)
: On the cliffs, when Alice halted and refused to go on, she was at the end of her rope. Magua was perplexed by this, but once his captive thwarted his plans for a Huron *wedding*, he continued on his merry way. Wes Studi's performance here was outstanding, btw... His presence was dominating throughout the film, but this scene in particular was a real work of art. His posture, hand gestures, and facial expressions were masterful.
: E
You know what always bugged me the most about the scene, you guys? The fact that Alice just stands there! She pulls her hands, and is freed by her "captors" right before Uncas stabbed that final time and then thrown to his death, and she just turns away! I hate that!!!
: Heather