Posted by Kate on March 04, 2001 at 16:24:20:
In Reply to: Re: Am I Just 'Nitpicking'? ... Cameron's Cabin II & Ching's Artwork ... PS! posted by Rich on March 04, 2001 at 13:41:59:
Okay guys, I'm 'back from the wars'...
Rich: No to mention that Chingachgook merely OUTLINES the print that was already there, following its contour ...
Ah but... he makes a DEFINITE mark that defines the contours... that isn't a 'natural' mocassin mark. Even I, as a layman, would know that that mocassin had been outlined by a finger or stick - I would know that someone had been studying that print. And the chances are that it was 'foe' rather than friend. A 'friend' would have no need to be bothered about ANY footprints, mocassins or what-have-you.
Marcia: : Oh, one more thing...as for Chingachgook's outlining the mocassin print in the sand, I've always "understood" that he would have obliterated that before they left.
Yes, and perhaps he would, but... to obliterate also leaves a mark. It would be very difficult to obliterate the outlined mark without disturbing the print. If the print is disturbed, then anyone checking would see that someone had been messing with it.
Rich: Rich:They were in a hurry, in a life or death situation, there was nothing they could do about having 3 Englishmen with them, they HAD to stop & investigate - these were their friends, after all - yet, these considerations to better judgment aside, actually pausing to bury them would have been a dead giveaway that they were foe, not friends ... not to mention Bill's point about time ...
Yes, I agree and I've always seen the wisdom of moving on and not burying them. That, I didn't really have the problem with.
Marcia: "I can't believe my good friends have been butchered, and I'm still burdened with this TWIT who doesn't have a clue about what we need to do now!" He's trying his best to be patient, but so saddened by what he has just seen that he's NOT in the mood for more discussion at that moment. It works beautifully for me, every time.
Yes, I agree that he WOULD be more than a bit 'testy' with these three 'greenhorns' to the wilderness, especially when this woman insinuates that his reluctance to bury them means he doesn't care about them. But - I always feel it would be JUST AS EASY to have him spit at her something along the lines of 'Well, we could leave you here and YOU could dig until the Hurons catch you up, if it worries you that much!!'
It's really Michael Mann's explanation for the reason he did not bury them that always appalls me!! 'The Huron would know we had been by this way'!! After Uncas has left mocassin prints in the soot of the burnt cabin, when the girls and the soldier have left very distinct footprints around the area and after Ching rings the mocassin print with his finger - he's getting on Cora's case because the Huron might know they were there, if they dig graves??? Nope - I DON'T LIKE IT!! AND I WOOOON'T HAVE IT!!!
Rich: Rich: It's, in my opinion, a classicly beautiful scene, from the setting, the characters' stances, the lighting, to the eerie sound, to Uncas' tender touch of Alexandria, to Chingachgook's forcefulness, to Hawkeye's lump (in his throat!), to Cora's backing away ...
You're absolutely right and I feel exactly the same way... I think it's beautifully done - but the dialogue is just plain daft, at that point!
Marcia: : Or how brilliantly done his small gestures are, such as the gentle touch for Uncas, who is so obviously devastated by the Cameron's deaths. And then there's his...well, you get the picture, eh?
ABSOLUTELY!! And I'm with you all the way, in this respect. But it's that explanation in the 'Burial Ground' that just ruins my credibility.
Marcia: And one more quick thought: Cora & Alice are both standing away from the cabin, out in the grassy area where footprints would have been much less noticeable. This is not to say an expert tracker wouldn't have "sussed" them out (as Kate would term it), but still, not nearly so obvious to anyone looking for them as a group of fresh graves.
No, they wouldn't stand out as much as FRESHLY DUG GRAVES but... to the trained 'tracker's'eye (and most natives had that ability, in order to hunt and feed their families), I think it's pretty reasonable to assume that they would stand out quite a bit, particularly woman's and soldier's boot prints. I would assume that Huron and French would be pretty sure to know what marks a British soldier's boot would make. Being on the grass might make a BIT of difference, but they DO move over toward the footprint, and it is about that point that Hawkeye and Cora have their little 'exchange'... (excuse me, I think I might just have to go and check that point...)
Marcia: : A CHAMPION JOB OF NIT-PICKING YE'VE DONE, MISS KATIE!! But I think many of us have risen to the challenge (BAIT?) and expressed enough ideas here to at least cast "reasonable doubt" on all your nits!! (Sorry, Chris!)
Mmmmmmm, noooo, I can't say I'm convinced, Miss!! I'm afraid I STILL have a lot of trouble with that explanation in the Burial ground. Hawk could still do the lump in the throat, charged emotion bit but say something more appropriate, like 'it would take too long (though in terms more suited to the time period) but, I just don't want MM giving me all that 'they would know we had been there' flannel!!
Hey - I betcha ya' never knew that 'nits' could be related to LOTM!! Even within 'six degrees'!!! Well, there you go!!
Kate.