Re: ... And Natty's Wordy Reply

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:  What happened to all the cries of I-Want-A-Man-Who-Will-Talk-To-Me?

: : >>Hmmmmm...NATTY is that man???  Now you've got me!  All I can say is, while I want a man willing to LISTEN from time to time (with his heart), and share his innermost thoughts with me (assuming he has any), he does need to shut up now and again, doncha know!  If you can convince me that Natty can put a sock in it once in awhile, when things that don't require talking need doin', then maybe I'll concede that I need to take him more seriously.

: AHA!! An opening!! I always knew I could catch you!  Think about the Indian traditions - whenever one warrior spoke in council, he was allowed to say everything that was on his mind.  Then there would be a significant pause while the next speaker thought over what he had heard and considered his answer.  This was time to pass the pipe around, catch a little shut-eye, whatever.  Natty was thoroughly imbued with this tradition.  In Last of the Mohicans, for instance, there are numerous times when he, Chingachgook and Uncas are considering an issue or planning a strategy - or at the very beginning of the book, just discussing the differences between white and red history - and all consideration is given by all parties to listening attentively to the speaker and then taking a time of silence to formulate a response.  There were also many times throughout the books when Natty was "content to let the matter rest" without further argument or response, or when he simply removed himself and pondered something silently for what were to me rather awkwardly long periods of time - like he would move away and stand leaning on his rifle pondering deeply what he had just heard for 10 minutes before tendering a response. (Maybe that was when he was catching his nap, but we'll never know).

: Also, there was a phenomenal amount of action in all the books.  He couldn't have done all those heroic things if he hadn't shut up now and then.  Take for example, when he swam underwater from the caves at the falls in order to bypass the Indians and bring help from Fort Edward.  Surely he was not talking as he swam underwater.  Please tell me he wasn't.  I don't know - maybe I should go back and check the book again to make sure.

: Gayle


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