What The Hell Is With The Staring Scenes In This Film?

These stares conveyed strength of feeling, and either controlled anger or controlled passion. Less would have failed to convey that.

This was 18th century America, where you had to stare to get your point across instead of whining on an Internet message board. No offense to the OP, just making a point. Besides, the animalistic nature of staring was likely more relevant at that time

The scene with Hawkeye and Cora in (I think) the infirmary when they stare at each other is one of my favorite in the film. The audacity and forward expression of intent on Hawkeye's part when he stares at Cora, Cora seeing the stare but averting her eyes and finally confronting him with, "What are you looking at, sir?", him saying, "I'm looking at you, miss" and continuing to stare until she finally meets his gaze... it's just a marvelous scene. My favorite part is when Hawkeye finally turns away and walks out, Madeleine Stowe does this incredible acting job where she pulls the balancing act of expressing powerful emotions of emotional and sexual longing and want, expressing them with subtlety, and doing while not uttering a word.

Or, as you might say, just staring at each other.

Maybe some day you'll experience just what is happening when two people "just stare at each other without saying anything"