Why Alice jumped

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Read the the thread http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104691/board/nest/85800122

Alice jumped because her life had become intollerable. She was not nearly as strong willed as Cora and had become overwhelmed. She tried to kill herself earlier by jumping through the waterfall before Uncas stopped her. By the time she finally jumped she knew her father was dead, believed her sister was dead, and could only see pain in her future. She broke.

I tend to agree with the other posters, death was a better alternative to whatever Magua had in store for her. What would you do? Take the hand of someone who is vicious, holding a knife, and this is supposed to be your husband? Or, jump? I'd rather jump. After all she had been through I don't think she had the faith to stick around.

This scene is so powerful; I can watch it over and over. Here's what I see:

After Uncas is killed, she is bewildered and lost. I don't think she's thinking of suicide quite yet. She's unsure of herself but she knows she wants to be away from Magua and his troops--the only direction to do so is towards the cliff.

Magua's is playing this scene out in his mind a little faster than she is and I think he considers that she might commit suicide before she even does. He moves towards her in a threatening manner. This is Magua, after all, and his first recourse is force and intimidation.

Alice looks down, and for the first time consciously realizes what her subconscious was already putting into play. Maybe she looked down just to see Uncas, but when she looks up, she's changed. It's the strongest we have ever seen her in the whole movie. Her thing with Uncas is only in a fledgling state, and I don't see it as being a strong enough motivation by itself for her suicide. I do think she realizes that out of this whole ordeal, the only prize Magua has been able to get for himself was her. Now her only weapon against him is to take that prize away.

Magua sees the change. He's savvy enough to realize that this a force of will that Alice has never shown before. He's intrigued; I daresay he has found a new respect for her. He lowers his knife and extends his hand. It is intended to be non-threatening. He's switched from coercing to coaxing.

His gesture seals her fate. The change in Magua's demeanor proves to Alice that he has placed some value upon her. It's the only way she can hurt him. She steps off.

One of the reasons i like this movie is its subtlety. In the beginning, you could sense that Cora and Hawkeye are attracted to each other - though it is shown in a subtle way. The feelings between Uncas and Alice are even more subtle. There are one or two scenes where you will see Uncas gazing (longingly?) at at Alice. And there is one scene where Alice seems to return his gaze.
When Alice was taken away, it is evident in Uncas' reaction that he felt strongly for Alice. I think Alice likes UNcas, though not as passionately as he feels for her. Seeing him, her would-be savior, get killed might have snapped what little hope she had.

She didn't intentionally jump, she just forgot to hook up the bungee cord.

You have to be blind if you can't see the whole thing between Alice and Uncas

Omae wa mo shinderu