Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but...

Posted by Sarah on August 15, 1998 at 22:40:43:

I know this has been a topic of heated debate lately and I hate to bring it up again but I feel compelled ...

I was watching on super-slow mo the scene of Uncas racing to rescue Alice (mostly looking for the spungy rock formations mushed by Hawkeye running by, which I finally saw) and I was watching Alice as she was being brought along by the Hurons. This time, I couldn't help notice the way she was looking around her -- above and beyond her immediate surroundings. She did so in such an INTERESTED way -- I was reminded of myself in nearby mountains some time ago as a geologist, looking around much the way she did. There is NO WAY she would have looked like that had she been as sunk as deeply into a mental "abyss" as people have made out. Jodhi May -- at that momemnt, wittingly or unwittingly -- indicated Alice's mind was still alive to what was going on. And shortly after, as Uncas first engaged Magua in fight, she lunged forward in such a way that indicated she was totally aware of what was going on.

All I'm saying is that I feel some of us observers have pushed deeper into this mental "abyss" than might be the real case -- even given English female 'sensibilities' of that time period. Cooper ascribed to Alice more accurate 18th-century sensibilities than Jodhi May gave her. I have been a far more avid student of 18th and early 19th century English literature than 18th-century America, and am familiar with what was expected of a girl of Alice's age at that time. Jodhi gave us a bit more modern portrayal (which I certainly don't mean to fault, as I thought Jodhi May played her extremely well and am an avid Uncas-Alice Type).

All I ask is for more MODERATION in describing Jodhi's Alice's mental state than some have/do ascribe to her.

Cheers,
Sarah
PS -- I finally saw the Huron/Hawkeye musket blooper where the dead Huron drops the gun below the rock, and next it's right by his hand as Hawkeye grabs it on the run -- Now you don't see it, now you see it! How did they let these things slip by!!!

Follow Ups:

• Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Jo 22:37:53 8/17/98 (4)
  • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Chris 17:03:14 8/23/98 (3)
    • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Sarah 07:29:55 8/24/98 (2)
      • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Ayesha 12:19:05 8/24/98 (1)
        • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Katherine 13:39:06 9/09/98 (0)
• Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Marcia 10:18:04 8/16/98 (1)
  • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... and a PS Marcia 10:47:43 8/16/98 (0)
• Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Ayesha 23:51:07 8/15/98 (9)
  • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Katherine 07:17:44 8/17/98 (0)
  • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Ayesha 10:02:07 8/16/98 (7)
    • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Marcia 10:06:36 8/16/98 (6)
      • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Jenny 02:25:09 8/17/98 (0)
      • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Scotto 11:37:37 8/16/98 (4)
        • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Marcia 11:46:54 8/16/98 (3)
          • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Kathy S 13:28:32 8/16/98 (2)
            • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Marcia 13:43:49 8/16/98 (1)
              • Re: Alice: Sorry to bring her up again, but... Ayesha 17:34:33 8/16/98 (0)

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Comments:
: I know this has been a topic of heated debate lately and I hate to bring it up again but I feel compelled ... 

: I was watching on super-slow mo the scene of Uncas racing to rescue Alice  (mostly looking for the spungy rock formations mushed by Hawkeye running by, which I finally saw) and I was watching Alice as she was being brought along by the Hurons.  This time, I couldn't help notice the way she was looking around her -- above and beyond her immediate surroundings.  She did so in such an INTERESTED way -- I was reminded of myself in nearby mountains some time ago as a geologist, looking around much the way she did.  There is NO WAY she would have looked like that had she been as sunk as deeply into a mental "abyss" as people have made out.  Jodhi May -- at that momemnt, wittingly or unwittingly -- indicated Alice's mind was still alive to what was going on.  And shortly after, as Uncas first engaged Magua in fight, she lunged forward in such a way that indicated she was totally aware of what was going on.

: All I'm saying is that I feel some of us observers have pushed deeper into this mental "abyss" than might be the real case -- even given English female 'sensibilities' of that time period.  Cooper ascribed to Alice more accurate 18th-century sensibilities than Jodhi May gave her.  I have been a far more avid student of 18th and early 19th century English literature than 18th-century America, and am familiar with what was expected of a girl of Alice's age at that time.  Jodhi gave us a bit more modern portrayal (which I certainly don't mean to fault, as I thought Jodhi May played her extremely well and am an avid Uncas-Alice Type).

: All I ask is for more MODERATION in describing Jodhi's Alice's mental state than some have/do ascribe to her.  

: Cheers, 
: Sarah
: PS -- I finally saw the Huron/Hawkeye musket blooper where the dead Huron drops the gun below the rock, and next it's right by his hand as Hawkeye grabs it on the run -- Now you don't see it, now you see it!  How did they let these things slip by!!!


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