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Tasblades
Lost in the Wilderness
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: November 25 2003
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Posted - November 30 2003 : 10:00:01 AM
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Right after Magua kills Uncas, the sister prepares to jump to her death. Maugua lowers his knife and beckons her to go with him. We have discussed this over at the Studigroup board and I wanted to get more thoughts. What do you think about Maguas heart in that scene? Was he being compassionate or was he just bluffing? I personally think he was being true to himself...he was really showing compassion. What do you think? :)
Peace
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Pike Bishop
Pathfinder
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: November 26 2003
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Posted - November 30 2003 : 10:54:48 AM
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My personal feeling.
I have never caught any hint of compassion in Magua. To me he seems almost impatient. "Come here Woman! Stop wasting time and come here!" I think he thought she was bluffing. |
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richfed
Sachem
USA
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Posted - November 30 2003 : 1:14:19 PM
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Well, from our interview with Magua himself, several years ago ... our take & his:
MP: That whole sequence was perhaps the very best in the movie. There’s been a lot of discussion and analysis on our board about that scene in particular. Every expression, every gesture that you made, Jodhi May as well, but especially you, was perfect. Very evocative sequence of expressions, emotions ... you seem to range from cold blooded and detached to surprised and even curious almost, pity almost ... then ending as though you’re just dismissing her.
WS: Exactly! You worded that so accurately ... that was great!
MP: That’s because you conveyed those emotions so perfectly. It was amazing. Tell us what Magua was thinking ... what were his emotions?
WS: Okay, what happened is I kill a guy ... look over and there’s this baby ... I think of my daughter ... I have a daughter about the same age ... I think of my daughter and I look up and at first it’s “here’s another enemy.” Then I see that it’s only a child, and a female child at that. So I think, “well, maybe I should take it and raise it” ... in terms of what Magua was thinking. Then it looks at me in fright and jumps and it comes back to me that “ oh, this is one of those people. One of those people and I don’t understand how they think anyway. It’s just as well.” And he walks off.
MP: That was a great scene. Why do you think Alice jumps off that cliff?
WS: I think she was terrified.
There you have it, from the horse's mouth.
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Tasblades
Lost in the Wilderness
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Posted - November 30 2003 : 2:10:54 PM
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Perfect!! He was a human you see! He felt pity as though it was only a child, then when she leaped, he easily detached from that feeling of compassion or pity for the "child".
Maugua reminds me of the Josey Wales character in that he was a good man that had bad things happen to him. I easily connect with what Magua must have felt. He only meant to destroy those that ruined his life. Another example is when he severly wounded Uncas and while Uncas lay on the rock, stuggling to get back to his feet, Magua could have finished him off, but instead, gave him a chance to stand and fight or leave. Ofcourse Uncas couldn't stand to do that...his pride was a greater force.
Yes, Wes gave an oscar performance in that scene, he understood Magua's heart very well and he knew how to enclose himself with Magua's character.
Good stuff!
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Highlander
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: February 04 2003
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Posted - December 02 2003 : 5:55:01 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Tasblades
Right after Magua kills Uncas, the sister prepares to jump to her death. Maugua lowers his knife and beckons her to go with him. We have discussed this over at the Studigroup board and I wanted to get more thoughts. What do you think about Maguas heart in that scene? Was he being compassionate or was he just bluffing? I personally think he was being true to himself...he was really showing compassion. What do you think? :)
Peace
I think that he was showing compassion.If you remember,he originally wanted both of Munro's children dead. |
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Scott Bubar
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: May 17 2002
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Posted - December 14 2003 : 4:13:02 PM
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I still think Jodhi jumped because she was having a bad hair day. |
~~Aim small, miss small. |
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Lurking Huron4870
Anonymous Guest
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: November 27 2002
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Posted - January 02 2004 : 6:20:40 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Scott Bubar
I still think Jodhi jumped because she was having a bad hair day.
She jumped becuase she wanted to say "got to blazes you evil person, I will die this way and not be your slave."
Magua is intrigued by what he percieves she will do and wants to save face by not letting a woman one up him by jumping. He is the looser in that battle, but of course will remain in denial like any red blooded man who is ruled by his ego!" |
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Marg222
Pathfinder
Netherlands
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: January 21 2004
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Posted - February 02 2004 : 05:59:02 AM
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I think that Magua is not showing compassion!! He just want to kill her, not let her take her own life...
Marg* |
I do not call myself subject too much at all... -Hawkeye |
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Lurking Huron8760
Anonymous Guest
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Posted - February 27 2004 : 11:30:13 PM
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I kinda wondered too. I'm skeptical about it. Personally (and I hope I don't sound dumb) I wondered why he actually wasn't glad she jumped off, since "bringing forth Munro's seed" was what he was trying to prevent all along. I dunno *shrugs* |
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Mylene
Pathfinder
Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: November 07 2002
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Posted - March 23 2004 : 06:31:07 AM
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I agree with the people who said Magua wanted to kill her. I mean, to me, its unlikely to have someone rip out a mans heart, and hold it bleeding in his hand, then turn a girl, and want to help her. He was just on a roll, and ran out of soldiers =\ that can be a problem |
Silence is golden...but shouting is fun! |
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Ithiliana
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: November 07 2002
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Posted - March 23 2004 : 4:56:29 PM
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actually, i think he wanted her as a concubine, because she was pretty and exotic and that way he killed two birds with one stone: on one hand, he gets a pretty girlfriend, and on the other, he can dispose of any children she has, getting rid of "munro's seed" and preventing it from going on to a third generation. |
Le Poisson Rouge Seudois du Chaos Conspiracy of One |
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Lurking Huron1563
Anonymous Guest
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Posted - March 29 2004 : 12:53:40 AM
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I think Magua was showing pity and compassion. He looked at her and knew that she was serious. I mean, his eyes and face changed; his eyes are kinda watery; and he even gulps while he is softly beckoning to her that he will take her and adopt her into his tribe. I feel pity for Magua...and Uncas. Those two characters are the richest ones from the whole movie I think. I thought he would have taken her back and made a wife out of her to make sure his seed would carry on. But after reading what he said himself in the interview, then yes, I could see him thinking of a woman child that he needed to protect. This was a big step in his character because he wanted revenge but turned the opposite direction and you see his heart and what he could have been like if he hadn't lost his whole family. He was made out to be the bad guy, but I think he was the most tragic because he was the way he was because of his great losses. Common back then and oh so tragic and true. |
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Lurking Huron0913
Anonymous Guest
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Posted - April 02 2004 : 12:13:19 AM
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Agree with you. I actually quite like the character of Magua and even root for him until he so brutally killed Uncas. |
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Lurking Huron4687
Anonymous Guest
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Posted - February 27 2006 : 4:28:33 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Tasblades
Perfect!! He was a human you see! He felt pity as though it was only a child, then when she leaped, he easily detached from that feeling of compassion or pity for the "child".
Maugua reminds me of the Josey Wales character in that he was a good man that had bad things happen to him. I easily connect with what Magua must have felt. He only meant to destroy those that ruined his life. Another example is when he severly wounded Uncas and while Uncas lay on the rock, stuggling to get back to his feet, Magua could have finished him off, but instead, gave him a chance to stand and fight or leave. Ofcourse Uncas couldn't stand to do that...his pride was a greater force.
Yes, Wes gave an oscar performance in that scene, he understood Magua's heart very well and he knew how to enclose himself with Magua's character.
Good stuff!
Peace
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Irishgirl
Council of Elders
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: February 14 2006
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Posted - February 28 2006 : 12:13:30 PM
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I like to think that he was showing some compassion towards Alice. He did not want her to jump. It kind of showed a softer side to Magua who up until that point seemed very strong and ruthless and out for his revenge against Monroe and the English. I liked the way he beckoned her to come to him with his hand. Still after she took a dive off the cliffside it was business as usual for Magua. Still hardly expected him to shed a tear over Alice as she was just his captive after all. Just my ramblings. |
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MeggieD
Colonial Settler
USA
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Posted - February 28 2006 : 12:17:14 PM
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I find it a little amusing that here Magua is trying to coax her off the ledge with the knife he killed her protector with in one hand and the man's blood all over his other hand.....Yeah, I'd jump too.... |
Uncas: "some food" |
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
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Posted - February 28 2006 : 1:35:23 PM
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What is there to guess about this? He said he wanted "both" of Monroe's daughters burned/roasted whatever. He kinda got over-ruled, and decided to head west, - wanted nothing more to do with the Mohicans. She was simply a captive, one he had no use for. Compassion with a knife, after he "just got thru slicing" whathisname's throat? |
you can keep "The Change" |
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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman
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Posted - February 28 2006 : 2:29:03 PM
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Magua had three goals, to kill Monro and his two children. He did kill Monro, and when he left the Huron village he had the understanding that Cora was to be burned. Of course, a swap was made, but he didn't necessarily know about that. So, figuring that two out of his three goals were accomplished, and he had just eliminated an obstacle standing in the way of his third, there is no reason to suppose that Alice was not to have been ritually tortured and burned. There are instances recorded where captives were treated well enough, even though they were to be killed later. I am sure Magua had rather have seen Alice tied to a stake than lying at the bottom of a cliff, but sometimes things just don't go according to plan. |
"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet" |
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Carter
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: August 28 2003
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Posted - February 28 2006 : 5:24:23 PM
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Wes has commented that while portraying Magua in this scene, that his thinking was to use the girl as a pawn and perhaps sell her back to the English for profit. He was probably thinking, "There goes my money." when she jumped. |
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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman
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Posted - March 01 2006 : 01:07:49 AM
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Probably thinking "That blond scalp sure would look good on my lodge pole, but, hey, that's a looooong hike down the rocks, and those other two yahoos are probably right behind that first one, so it's back to the lakes for me!" |
"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet" |
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
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Posted - March 01 2006 : 08:20:09 AM
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Exactly, - it's not like there's a shortage of scalps around. |
you can keep "The Change" |
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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman
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Posted - March 01 2006 : 11:14:34 AM
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But blond ones? A good blond scalp is hard to come by, and much in demand. Watch yourself, Carter. |
"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet" |
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Carter
Colonial Militia
USA
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Posted - March 02 2006 : 09:20:38 AM
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Nah, "highlighted" tresses like mine are easy to come by. Magua would have fared better to sell me back to the English (assuming of course he could find a buyer! ) I think I'm safe. LOL Carter |
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Mountain Man
Colonial Settler
USA
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Posted - March 03 2006 : 9:35:18 PM
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I would have just kept my head shaved. Why take a chance! |
Magua said, understand English very well. |
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