MovieChat Forums > The Last of the Mohicans (1992) Discussion > The Sachem's authority over Magua

The Sachem's authority over Magua

posted 9 years ago by jfitzpatrick3
10 replies | jump to latest

I am alway wondering why Magua just didn't murder Alice when he left the camp. Was he going to obey the Sachem's orders? He yells that they are dogs, that he will go to the other Huron, etc, and then he takes her with him? Did he want her murdered in a ritual way like the burning or was he really considering taking her as his wifem like the sachem said he should do

Perhaps when she was near the cliff and gestures to her invitingly did the Sachem's idea truly take root in his mind

What do you think?

"At the end of life, we will be judged by love" ST John of the Cross

[–] ronfirv 9 years ago

Let's just say his intentions were far from honorable.

[–] nutmustardxx 9 years ago

She was his trophy..he had nothing else to show for his great war tactics, the sachem didn't understand what magau had went thru. Magau didn't want to just kill her , he was still keeping her till he found some worth for her. And if he kept her as a wife , she's not bad looking. He knew she held some worth as daughter of grey hair war chief, although he was dead, magau could have sold or tradeD her. Good point though. He didn't seem too heartbroken when he she jumped. I liked magua he was a good warrior, he never asked his tribe to do anything he wouldn't and led them into battle.

[–] J-Street1 8 years ago

I agree with your sentiments of Magua. Wes Studi was robbed of a nomination here. He didn't portray Magua as a typical mustachioed villain. His character just sort of sneaks up on you. That subtlety by the end of the film, gives one the impression that he is this unstoppable force of nature. Great example of pacing, and a director not just going for big action scenes.

If this were made today, Hawkeye would be given the final kill because he's the big star. This was the best film of 92, hands down.

⚾

[–] LambAndLionMessiah 8 years ago

Like another poster said there is some worth to keeping her alive for profit. She would fetch a decent price and accalaim as Magua as a powerful warrior.

Perhaps another reason is that the Sachem might have succeeded in reaching through to Magua to a small extent about his hatred. Magua realizes that even after killing Munroe after obsessing about it for many years he is still not at peace. He realized that killing Munroe did not give him that. Would killing the daughters do that also? That could explain why he was also mad at the Sachem for him not wanting Alice dead also.

So when the Sachem tells the tribe that Magua is filled with hatred (I forget most of the speech now) Magua realizes the Sachem is right. And what is implied, but unsaid by the Sechem is that killing both the daughters would not heal his hatred. Naturally, Magua gets angry at him.

Remember how he reached out to Alice to come back from the edge? I provide that scene as proof that the Sechem got through to him a bit.

[–] ronfirv 8 years ago

Yr final sentence - Magua reached out, hardly to save her by encouraging her back off the edge of the cliff,but to kill her. Why otherwise did he hold the knife in his other hand as he did? Had his intentions been for the better, he would have put his knife back in the sheath. He also knew his enemies were only minutes away.

[–] whoiamnow 8 years ago

He lowered his knife to show that he did not intend violence on her. Here did not sheath is because he is a warrior and knows the enemy is near.

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[–] ronfirv 8 years ago

@whoiamnow, lowering his knife was one lie of a move to encourage her to think exactly what you stated. I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt Magua was going to kill her, as she was holding them all back by her weak, emotional state. She jumped to avoid his method of death for her and to be with Uncas in the after life.

[–] whoiamnow 8 years ago

Meh. He wanted to have wompum with her first. I think it would please him more to know that his blood was mixed with the white man's.

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[–] kenny-164 8 years ago

Magua's knife was out because he had just used it in killing Uncas. He merely had not put it away. When he saw that Alice saw he still had it, he lowered his hand and beckoned to her.

He was not about to kill her. That is a ridiculous take on this scene.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I hope you never have jury duty.